Drip, drip, drip—those might as well be the “cha-chings” of your water bill slowly going up. A leaky bathroom or kitchen faucet is frustrating enough, but the extra expense adds insult to injury. Fret not, though, and don’t dial the plumber’s number just yet. With a few supplies and basic tools, you can likely tackle this repair on your own.
Why Is My Faucet Leaking?
Unfortunately, there are several common causes of kitchen or bathroom faucet leaks. Faucets feature a wide variety of moving parts; if any of them wear out or malfunction, you could have a leak on your hands.
Some of the most common culprits of dripping faucets are loose screws, washer problems, and corroded o-rings or valve seats. Once you discover the reason for the leak, you’ll need to determine whether to repair or replace the faucet with the help of a plumbing professional.
How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Leaky Faucet?
The cost to repair a leaky faucet depends on whether you DIY the fix or hire a professional plumber near you to handle the job. On average, the price of hiring a plumber for a small job, such as fixing a faucet, ranges from $ 125 до $ 350. If you tackle the leaky faucet yourself, you’ll only need to pay for the appropriate tools and materials, which varies based on the type of faucet and its issue.
How to Prep to Fix a Leaky Bathroom or Kitchen Faucet
Before you begin, you must identify what kind of faucet you have. There are four types of faucets that fall into two basic categories: washer and washerless. Compression faucets are the only washer type, while the other three (cartridge, ceramic disk, and ball) are washerless. Here’s how to determine which type you have.
Компрессионный кран
Эта медитация double-handled faucet allows you to control water flow by turning the handles clockwise or counterclockwise. This “compresses” a neoprene or rubber washer, creating (or releasing) a watertight seal. Activating these requires a bit of elbow grease, as the compression mechanism needs pressure to work. Due to the inevitable breakdown of its flexible material, the washer is often to blame when this type of faucet leaks.
Шаровой кран
A popular option for kitchen sinks, ball faucets are single-handled with a “ball” joint that rotates in all directions and controls water temperature and pressure. The internal ball has slots, which control the mixing of cold and hot water. Although these aren’t as prone to leaks as compression faucets, their moving parts tend to give way over time.
Картридж Faucet
Cartridge faucets can be single- or double-handled, with a cylindrical metal “cartridge” that moves to open or cover holes, starting and stopping the water flow respectively. This cartridge also rotates to control the water temperature. Two-handled cartridge faucets can look like a compression faucet, but they are much easier and smoother to turn since there is no “compression” mechanism to activate.
Керамический диск
Это single-handled faucet with the most modern, reliable design—the latest and greatest in faucet technology. It features a cylindrical body topped with a single lever that controls water flow and temperature. An inner chamber houses both cold and hot water, and two ceramic disks control the proportion of each. These disks have corresponding holes that match up as you turn the water from hot to cold, determining how the temperatures will mix.
The great thing about ceramic disk faucets is that they rarely, if ever, need repairs. Soaking the faucet parts in vinegar or calcium remover to remove buildup will usually solve any leaking issues. However, if anything goes wrong with the moving parts, you’ll need a local plumber to fix them.
When a pipe bursts, you’ve got to act fast and know where the water shut-off valve is
Как исправить негерметичный кран
Now it’s time to stop that leaky faucet from dripping. Check out the following methods for repairing different types of leaky faucets.
Fixing a Leaky Compression (Washer) Faucet
Turn off the water shut-off valves. Locate the valves—check right below the sink basin and near the back wall—and turn them clockwise until fully tightened. If this isn’t an option, you can also shut off the water main.
Drain the faucet of any leftover water before starting the repair process.
Plug the drain with a stopper or a rag.
Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws and remove the handles from the faucet.
Use a wrench to remove the nut and expose the stem, which sits atop the seat washer.
Pull out the stem to expose the O-ring, which will be thinner than the seat washer.
If the leak was coming from the faucet’s handles, examine the O-ring and find a replacement at the hardware store if needed.
Remove the washer, which is typically held in place by an upside-down screw.
Take the old washer to the hardware store to find an exact replacement.
Coat the new washer in plumber’s grease before replacing it.
Fixing a Leaky Ball Faucet
For ball faucets, the repair method depends on where the leak is coming from. If the base of your faucet leaks, try this repair tactic.
Turn off the water shut-off valves. Locate the valves—check right below the sink basin and near the back wall—and turn them clockwise until fully tightened. If this isn’t an option, you can also shut off the water main.
Drain the faucet of any leftover water before starting the repair process.
Plug the drain with a stopper or a rag.
Find the set screw on the underside of the handle and loosen it with an Allen wrench until you can lift off the handle.
Use a spanner wrench to tighten the collar, working clockwise.
Replace the handle and turn the water back on to test for leaks.
If that doesn’t work, shut off the water again and remove the handle.
Remove the spout to examine the O-rings.
Pry out any worn O-rings with the hook of the spanner wrench.
Find replacement O-rings in the repair kit and coat these in heatproof plumber’s grease.
Put the new O-rings in place using the spanner wrench.
Replace the spout and handle.
Turn on the water and test for leaks.
Fixing a Leaky Cartridge Faucet
Turn off the water shut-off valves. Locate the valves—check right below the sink basin and near the back wall—and turn them clockwise until fully tightened. If this isn’t an option, you can also shut off the water main.
Drain the faucet of any leftover water before starting the repair process.
Plug the drain with a stopper or a rag.
Remove the retaining clip with pliers if needed. This is the small, circular, threaded piece that holds the cartridge in place.
Pull the cartridge up to remove it. Note its position and orientation for when it’s time to put it back.
Use a small flathead screwdriver to remove the seat and seat spring.
Drop in the new seat spring.
Use your finger to push the new seat into place.
Spread plumber’s grease around the base of the cartridge.
Align the notches and push the cartridge back into the faucet.
Use a wrench to tighten the large retaining nut.
Replace the faucet handles.
Turn the water supply line on and test the faucet.
Fixing a Leaky Ceramic Disk Faucet
Turn off the water shut-off valves. Locate the valves—check right below the sink basin and near the back wall—and turn them clockwise until fully tightened. If this isn’t an option, you can also shut off the water main.
Drain the faucet of any leftover water before starting the repair process.
Plug the drain with a stopper or a rag.
Remove the dome-shaped escutcheon cap, which is right beneath the handle and typically made of metal.
Unscrew the disk cylinder and remove it.
Remove the round neoprene seals on the underside of the cylinder, using the tip of a flathead screwdriver if needed.
Soak the disk cylinder in calcium remover or white vinegar for several hours.
Replace the seals if they appear worn. Bring the old seals to the hardware store to find an exact match.
Rinse the disk cylinder and put the seals back into place.
Replace the cylinder and the faucet handle.
Turn the water supply line back on and gradually test the faucet.
Tips for Dealing With a Leaky Faucet
Keep these helpful tips in mind while you repair your leaky kitchen or bathroom faucet.
Keep a Bucket Handy
When making DIY repairs to a leaking faucet, it’s a good idea to keep an empty bucket underneath the sink to catch any water or debris that may leak out. That way, you can minimize the mess and make the clean-up process easier.
Check for Aerator Clogs
After completing the faucet repair process, you should run a quick test to ensure that your sink’s aerators aren’t clogged. The aerator is the piece that screws onto the end of the faucet spout, and it can hinder water flow if blocked. The test is simple: Run hot and cold water for a few minutes to ensure it’s flowing smoothly.
Recognize When to Replace the Faucet
In some cases, your faucet issue may require you to replace it instead of repair it. Luckily, DIY faucet replacement is relatively straightforward and it should take about 5 hours to complete. If you don’t feel comfortable replacing the faucet on your own, hire a local plumber to get the job done.
Сделай сам против. Наем профессионала
If you invested a lot of cash in your faucet, or believe the leak is coming from a larger plumbing problem, contact a local plumbing repair technician. As with any DIY vs. hiring a pro dilemma, springing for a licensed professional will save you time and effort, as well as prevent any potential damage to your plumbing system.
How to Repair a Leaky Ball Faucet
Боб Формисано — лицензированный архитектор и строитель с почти 40-летним опытом строительства новых домов и восстановления старых домов. Одной из его специальностей является ремонт старых систем, построенных еще в 1920-х годах, включая оцинкованные водопроводные трубы, проводку с ручкой и трубкой и многое другое. Его статьи о ремонте дома для The Spruce написаны более 10 лет назад.
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Ричард Эпштейн — лицензированный мастер-сантехник с более чем 40-летним опытом работы в сфере сантехники для жилых и коммерческих помещений. Он специализируется на оценке, а также проектировании и инжиниринге сантехнических систем и работает в одной из крупнейших в Нью-Йорке профсоюзных строительных компаний по сантехнике.
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Ель / Кевин Норрис
- Время работы: 30 минут – 1 час
- Общее время: 30 минут – 1 час
- Уровень навыка: Новичок
- Ориентировочная стоимость: от 15 до 25 XNUMX долларов.
Repairing a leaky faucet is a very common home plumbing repair. However, because there is a wide variety of faucet types found in the home, even this easy repair can seem a bit daunting. For example, a single-handle faucet may be either a ball-type faucet, a cartridge faucet, или disc faucet, and the repairs are quite different for each type, even though they look very similar from the outside. And each faucet design may have variations from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Ball-Type Faucets
This project discusses repairing the special type of washerless faucet known as a ball faucet. A ball faucet has a single handle that controls a special plastic or metal ball inside the faucet body. This ball has chambers or slots in it, along with rubber O-rings and spring-loaded rubber seals. As the lever is moved, the ball’s position inside the faucet body controls the flow and mixture of hot and cold water coming out of the faucet. When the handle is operated, there is a distinct feeling of the ball rotating smoothly inside the body of the faucet. It is quite different from the operating “feel” of a single-handle cartridge faucet, in which you can usually feel a cartridge lifting and rotating when the handle is operated.
The ball faucet was brought to market in 1954 by Delta faucet and made popular as a single lever kitchen faucet by Delta Faucet and its DIY brand, Peerless, starting during the 1970s. This type is also popular as a bathroom faucet.
These faucets have no traditional washers that leak, but they do have spring-loaded rubber seals. These faucets may begin to leak when the seals dry out, when the springs weaken, or when the rotating ball becomes cracked or acquires a mineral buildup. Finally, the spout itself has rubber O-rings that can dry out and cause leaking around the base of the faucet.
Repairing Ball-Type Faucets
A ball faucet may leak due to worn internal parts.
- If the faucet leaks from the base around the bottom of the spout, this is usually caused by a worn O-ring at the bottom of the faucet body.
- If the faucet is leaking from the tip of the spout or aerator, then water is not being properly controlled by the lever ball or the spring-loaded rubber seals. In this case, the rubber seals may be worn, the springs may be worn, or the control ball itself may be damaged.
To determine the cause of the leak, you’ll need to disassemble the faucet (a very simple job) and visually inspect the parts. For simplicity, you may choose to replace all parts rather than diagnosing the specific reason why the faucet is leaking.
Faucet repair kits are widely available for many different ball faucets and they include everything you will need for the repair. The kits are specific to certain models, so make sure you buy one for your exact make and model. Some kits include the control ball assembly, while others include only the springs, seals, and O-rings. The ball may come in a plastic or brass version; the brass ball versions are a bit more expensive but they last longer.
Most repair kits include O-rings, cams, cam washers, rubber seals, and springs, as well as a helpful little tool that has an Allen wrench on one end and a spanner tool on the other side for tightening the faucet locking ring.
How to Fix a Leaky Faucet: Rotary-Ball Type
Knowing how to fix a leaky faucet will save money, and it’s easy. To fix a leaky rotary ball faucet (or rotating ball faucet) you usually just tighten the cap or cap-adjusting ring. Tightening the cap works because most leaks in rotary ball faucets occur around the handle or spout. If that doesn’t stop the leak, buy a repair kit and replace the faucet’s internal parts.
Gather your materials, turn off the water, and empty the pipes.
You’ll need a hex wrench, screwdriver, silicone grease, and utility knife as well as a repair kit for your brand of faucet (which includes O-rings, seats, and springs) and a replacement faucet ball, if needed. Shut off the water under the sink, and let the faucet run until water stops.
Loosen the setscrew in the faucet handle.
Use a hex wrench to loosen the setscrew.
Remove the handle and unscrew the cap.
Use a rag or a pair of cushioned pliers to unscrew the cap.
Remove the cam assembly from the faucet.
The plastic cam and cam washer are usually one piece.
Remove and inspect the ball.
Lift out the ball. Inspect each part for damage. Replace with parts from the kit as needed.
Insert the tip of a screwdriver into the rubber seat and pull it out.
It may take a couple of tries to remove each seat in the faucet body, so be patient.
Use the same method to remove each spring.
You may need to twist the springs slightly to break them loose from the faucet body.
Remove the spout assembly to access the O-rings.
Simply lift off the spout and pry off the old O-rings. Cut them off with a utility knife if necessary.
Grease the faucet and install new O-rings.
Coat the faucet body lightly with silicone grease, and install new O-rings.
Install the new springs and seats by pressing them in place with your fingers.
Be sure to insert the springs before the seats.
Insert the ball so that it sits snugly.
The small tab on the ball should fit into the notch in the faucet body or the faucet won’t work.
Screw on the cam and cap and reinstall the handle.
Tighten the setscrew in the handle with a hex wrench.
If your faucet has a plastic ball, replace it with a metal one. Plastic types can wear out in less than a year, which means that you’ll be doing this repair again before you know it.
