Aside from the annoying dripping sound it produces, a leaking faucet in your kitchen can also cause higher water bills. Fortunately, this problem is just easy to fix yourself with the necessary tools for the job. You can just follow this guide:
1. Identify The Type Of Faucet You Have.
The most common kitchen faucet comes in 4 main types, which are the ball, disc, cartridge and compression. While the first 3 are washer-less, as they do not use either rubber or neoprene washers, the last one is our basic or traditional washer-faucet, which would leak and drip due to the washer inside it.
2. Turn Off The Water Supply.
You will normally find the shut-off valve right under the sink, but in some cases, you would find it hidden inside a floor cabinet. Turn it off and then turn the faucet on, making sure that nothing should come out. This is important before removing the faucet to avoid spills during such a work.
3. Start Fixing Your Faucet Depending On Its Type.
Ball-Type Faucet
This faucet can be pretty complicated, using a lot of different parts. Your best solution to repair it is to purchase a replacement kit. However, if it is an older faucet, you may have to replace the whole fixture, which is a more expensive route.
Disc-Type Faucet
A modern, single-lever faucet, it uses a pair of ceramic discs that slide across each other to handle the water’s flow speed and temperature. If it leaks, it could mean that one of its seals is damaged. First, you should find the set-screw and loosen it just enough for you to take the handle off. You should then find the escutcheon cap under the removed arm, take it off and place it aside. Pull out the cylinder by unscrewing the mounting screws and try to see if the neoprene seal is worn or if there is any sand under the collar. You can either clean or replace it before putting everything back together. If it still leaks, then you might have to replace the cylinder.
Cartridge Faucet
Remove the decorative cap on the handle, take out the screw, push back the handle and pull it off. You might also find yourself dealing with a threaded retaining clip that keeps the cartridge in place, but you can extract it with a pair of needle-nosed pliers. Pull the cartridge up and out to expose the spout, chop off the old O-rings to be replaced by new ones, and put everything back together.
Compression Faucet
Unscrew the cylinder to replace the worn-out washer. When everything is in place, re-screw the screw. It is time to put everything back together. Make sure that, when replanting the valve, it is pointed in the same direction it was before you began dismantling components. With a wrench, tighten the packing nut. Turn the water back on to see if the dripping has stopped.
A leaking kitchen faucet can waste a lot of water for no purpose in the long run. Ignored, it is not only noisy, but will also cost you money. With this guide, you will be able to fix the problem in no time.