|
Average Guy DIY | ||
How to fix a leaky faucetFaucets typically leak because of worn out o-rings. Drips start small and then grow into full streams. Stopping the dripping faucet in the bathroom is easy, so there is no excuse to stop that drip. You don't need to buy a new fixture, you just need replacement cartridges or correct sized o-rings. I started by determining the manufacturer of the faucet. 
This faucet was a Delta and I found their markings on the stopper. However, I recommend finding a manfacturer's name on the actual faucet, because a fixture can be replaced and the stopper may remain from the previous faucet. After you know the fixture's manfacturer, hit your local hardware store to pick up either the correct o-rings or cartridges. 
Delta uses cartridges with the o-rings included. You could try to find the correct o-ring and just replace that on the existing cartridges, but I didn't want to waste time with multiple trips to the hardware store, so I just bought the cartridges (~$10/cartridge). 
I bet you have noticed the black mold on the caulking behind the bathroom faucet. Don't worry, Average Guy shows you how to fix that, too. Visit how to remove and repair moldy caulk project. 
Step one, whenever doing any plumbing, is to shut off the water supply, so I did that. I also placed a rag over the drain, so no unwanted items would travel in there. The problem was underneath the handles, so I had to remove the handle in order to fix a leaky faucet. Most faucets have a small cap that covers the screw, not the case here, but if it does, carefully remove the cap with a flat head screwdriver or a putty knife. I removed the screw and pulled the handle up and off. I grabbed my channel-locks and tried to remove the nut holding the cartridge in. But... 
Instead of the nut turning nicely, the whole faucet handle started to twist. This only happened on the cold handle, the nut on the hot handle unscrewed nicely. So I had to remove the cold side handle in order to unscrew the nut without twisting the handle around. I removed the nut on the bottom of the handle located under the sink. I also disconnected the cold water line, so I could pull the handle up. After pulling the handle up, I was able to grab a nut on the bottom side of the handle and use that to hold the faucet from twisting when unscrewing the nut that holds in the cartridge. 
After removing the cartridge, I pushed the new cartridge in place and re-assembled the rest of the handle in reverse order of removing it. Replacing the cartridge on the hot side of the leaky faucet was much easier since the handle did not twist when I loosened the nut. I was able to replace the cartridge without removing the handle from the bathroom sink. 
Check out the picture of the old cartridge. This one was removed from the hot water side. Notice the o-ring is stretched and no longer fits snug. 
I double checked all of my connections and then turned the water supply back on. I then checked all of my connections again to make sure I did not distrub anything and introduce a new leak in the plumbing. I checked to see if the faucet operated properly and most importantly I checked to see if I was successful in fixing a leaky faucet. Submit to:
|
Tools for the Job |
||
sitemap disclaimer
|
|||
