A dripping faucet is more than just a nuisance. It costs you money too. Just one leaking faucet wastes about five gallons of water a day and more than 2,000 gallons per year. If it’s a hot water faucet that leaks, then your cost is even greater because your water heater has to work overtime to keep the water in the tank hot as the heated water drips out of your faucet and goes down the drain.
Faucet repairs on a leaking compression type faucet is pretty straightforward, but if you are not comfortable doing the work yourself, call a reputable plumber.
Compression type faucets use a rubber washer that seals against the seat to control the flow of water. The rubber washer gets hard and brittle over time and begins to leak.
To repair a leaky compression type faucet, first turn off the water to the faucet. The shutoff handle is usually located under the sink. Then, remove the faucet handle. The handle is held on with a single screw that may be under a decorative cap. The cap can be carefully pried off with a thin screwdriver or knife blade.
Once the handle is removed, you may need to remove the cover over the valve stem assembly. This either screw on or is held in place with a knurled nut. Now that the valve stem is exposed, you are ready to remove the valve assembly. Unscrew the valve assembly using a wrench or deep socket.
At the bottom of the valve stem, you will see the old washer held on with a single screw. Remove the washer and replace it with a new one of the proper size. Reassemble the faucet, check for leaks, and you’re done!
