A leaky sink faucet that just won’t quit is nothing short of torture for your ears. Drip, drip, drip, it goes, all day and all night, no matter how much you adjust (or smack) your faucet.
If your leaking faucet is about to get on your last nerve, our experts are here to help. In this guide, a professional plumber in Seagoville, TX, explains what causes a leaking faucet and how to fix it.
What Causes a Leaky Sink Faucet in Seagoville Homes?
Why exactly do faucets leak? Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common causes.
- Faulty O-ring: The O-ring is a little rubber or plastic disc with a circular shape (hence the name). Its job is to form a watertight seal between the spout and the faucet handle. Over time, O-rings can become brittle and crack, resulting in leaks. A faulty O-ring is the likely cause if your faucet is leaking at the base.
- Damaged or poor-fitting washer: The washer is a small part that sits against the valve seat of your faucet. Friction causes the washer to break down over time, and boom, you have a leak that’ll require washer replacement. Your faucet could also leak if you installed the wrong-sized washer.
- Damaged cartridge valve: The cartridge valve controls how much water flows through your faucet. When you turn the handle one way, water gushes out. Turn it the opposite direction, and the flow stops. Or at least, that’s how it should be. If your cartridge valve is busted, you’ll probably notice a steady stream of water flowing from the faucet at all times.
- Loose fittings: Your faucet has plenty of parts, many of which you can’t see unless you take the whole thing apart. These nuts, bolts, and other bits can come loose, causing a leaky sink faucet.
- Valve seat corrosion: The valve seat’s job is to connect your sink’s spout to the faucet. Sediment can build up here, causing the valve seat to corrode and let water flow through. This is probably the issue if your faucet is leaking around the nozzle or spout.
- Too-high water pressure: Leaks commonly crop up when the water pressure is too high. You might have to install a water pressure regulator to fix your leaky sink faucet.
- Pipe leaks: The worst-case scenario is that you’ve got a pipe leak you haven’t found yet. Leaking pipes can cause water to gush out of your faucet at an alarming rate. Look carefully for signs of a leak, such as puddles under the sink and water stains on your walls.
How To Fix a Leaky Sink Faucet
Can you fix a leaky sink faucet yourself? In many cases, yes. Here’s how to bring peace and quiet back to your Seagoville home:
- Shut off the water supply before you start working (it’s usually located under the sink).
- Using an Allen wrench or screwdriver, remove the handle from the faucet so you can see the components inside.
- Inspect all of the parts, including the washer, O-ring, faucet aerator, and stem assembly, for damage. Replace any that look broken or worn-out.
- Clean the components with a soft brush or damp cloth.
- Reassemble the faucet (be sure you put all the parts back where they belong before closing everything up).
- Turn the water supply on and test the faucet to see whether or not you’ve fixed the leak. If it’s still leaking and you don’t want to dive back in there, it’s best to call a pro for help.
Why Hire an Expert for Leaking Sink Repair?
If you don’t have the know-how to fix your leaking sink faucet, you’re better off calling a plumber for repairs. Doing so comes with perks like these:
- Saves time: Do you truly want to spend your weekend messing around with a busted sink? We didn’t think so! Skip the hassle and hire us instead.
- Top-shelf tools: Some leaky faucets need more than a basic wrench and screwdriver to fix. When you call a plumber, they’ll bring professional-grade tools, sparing you the expense of buying them yourself.
- Avoid water damage: Your faucet may be dripping now, but it could start gushing if you damage something during your DIY fix. Plumbers know what they’re doing and won’t damage your pipes.
Leaky Sink Faucet Driving You Nuts? Call Our Seagoville Plumbing Pros
Skip the stress and headache of do-it-yourself faucet repair and call our plumbing experts at Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating. We’re Seagoville’s top choice for plumbing and AC services.
To schedule repairs for your leaky sink faucet, call today.
