Learn how to repair leaking faucets by replacing gaskets, O-rings or other mixers, integral or basin faucet pairs.

Written by: Hebe Hatton Posted on May 27th 21

Everyone should know how to fix a leaking faucet at home. Because the sound of dripping water is not only one of the most annoying sounds that everyone who walks on the earth knows. However, if your kitchen or bathroom faucet leaks from the water outlet or handle, it is also a complete waste of water and money.

Whether you are using a mixing faucet, an integrated faucet, or a pair of basin faucets, this is one of the easiest home repairs that you can identify and DIY. Learn how to quickly repair a dripping faucet, and then ask a plumber through the step-by-step instructions below-with some professional tips from experts in the plumbing industry.

Before attempting to use these steps to fix a leaking faucet, first determine the type of faucet you are using, as this may help you identify the problem. 

Most home kitchen and bathroom sinks will have one of the following types of faucets: mixing faucet, you can use its two handles to control the water temperature, for cold and hot water; traditional basin faucet, there are two independent faucets ( One for heat and one for cold) or integrated faucet, you can control the temperature and water flow through a lever.

Generally speaking, if the faucet handle leaks, the O-ring needs to be replaced, and if it is the water outlet, it is a gasket. 

Different types of faucets usually cause different leaks. If you are using a traditional faucet, the main cause of leakage is usually the need to replace gaskets or O-rings. 

Ray Brosnan of Brosnan Property Management said: "A leaky faucet is definitely a nightmare. The constant dripping of water can make anyone crazy, but what causes it? There are several different reasons, but it usually comes down to an O-ring. You have a stem screw that fixes the handle of the faucet with a small disc called an O-ring attached to it. Over time, it may become loose or even worn, which can cause dripping near the faucet. To solve this problem , Just replace the O-ring, you can buy it at any good hardware store, this is a very simple job.

Bathroom maintenance, DIY enthusiast, and founder of Smartlydwelling.com, Aleksandar Pecev, added: “Most of the time, the cause of damage to seals or gaskets is aging and continuous use. This is called wear and tear. The items are perfectly normal. Fortunately, there is a simple repair method, so all you need to do is replace the gasket with a new one, replace the old seal with a new model (or use plumber's tape to reseal them) or tighten Any loose connectors that may exist between the power supplies.

For modern/integral faucets, the ceramic filter element may be damaged. Moreover, you can replace it yourself by following the steps below.

Note: High water pressure may also be the root cause. If the water pressure in your home is too high, it will cause problems with the water flow in the pipe and prevent the water from effectively flowing from the faucet to the faucet, and the water will start to flow back. Since it has nowhere to go, it will drip from the tap or handle. However, this is a problem that plumbers need to solve because they will be able to fix it quickly and easily.

Pecev suggests to start here,'If you have a dripping faucet, then the source of the leak is clear, and that is outside the water spout. If there is water around your faucet, it may mean that your leak is around the joint or hinge. If there is a leak under your sink, it is likely that there is a problem with your supply line or sewage pipe.

Then you want to know which part to replace for your faucet type. You can usually judge which mechanism and faucet valve you are using by the degree of rotation of the faucet handle. A full circle usually represents a traditional rubber gasket. Quarter rotation usually means the type of ceramic disc found in modern and/or one-piece faucets. If you can and are not sure, please check your manual.

Before repairing a leaking faucet, you must turn off the water supply to the water supply system. To do this, you need to find the stopcock or isolation valve that is usually located under the sink. Most sinks have two valves, one for hot water and one for cold water. We recommend that you turn off these two taps during work, even if only one tap is leaking. Do this by turning the valve until you can no longer turn it. Then turn on the faucet until no more water comes out, which will help release the pressure in the pipe. 

'Close the cock under the sink or the water meter under the road/house. Once your water is off, turn on the tap for a minute or two to make sure the system is empty. Add perception.

This step will vary according to the type of faucet you are using, but before you perform any operations, please plug the sink to prevent any important things from flowing into the sewer. 

Now, what you are looking for is a screw that allows you to remove the faucet. In some models, it is located under the hot and cold cover. You can remove it by hand or eject it with a flat-blade screwdriver. If you want to prevent leakage in the integral faucet, you can usually find the screw under the temperature indicator button. 

After removing the screw, remove the faucet head; you may also need to remove the cover until you see the brass valve. To make things easier to reassemble, please arrange the parts you removed in the order you removed them. 

Brosnan suggested that "take a screwdriver, open the cover of the faucet to expose the valve stem screw we mentioned earlier, unscrew it, then grab the handle and pull it straight up." You may also need to remove all the decorations there. cap. Then, place the pliers or wrench on the bottom of the valve and turn it counterclockwise to loosen it from the faucet body. If the base seems to be stuck, pull up to remove the valve and O-ring.

'According to your leak point, take the faucet apart. This may mean removing it from your work surface, or it may just be that you need to remove the faucet. If you suspect that the leak is under the sink, disconnect the supply line. If you are a neurotic person, or you have not performed this type of task before, feel free to take pictures or note how the faucet is separated. Add perception.

Depending on the type of faucet you have and the type of repair you need to perform, the steps will vary. If you are using a traditional faucet, please read on to learn how to replace the gasket or O-ring; if you are using an integrated lever faucet, please skip to step 6 to learn how to replace the ceramic disc.

For a traditional faucet, use an adjustable wrench to clamp the brass valve and turn it until it feels loose enough that it can be removed by hand. Then unscrew and remove the gasket, check if it looks damaged or worn and replace it with a new one (you may only need to clean it to escape). Screw on the valve again, and then reinstall the faucet in the same way as it was disassembled.

The O-ring looks like a slightly larger gasket and is located at the bottom of the nozzle. You can use a flat-blade screwdriver to remove it, or if you know it really needs to be replaced, you can use scissors to cut it off. Replace the O-ring and reassemble the faucet in the same way as the faucet. 

For a one-piece faucet, remove the brass valve (also called ceramic disc valve core) in the same way and use an adjustable wrench to screw it in until it feels loose enough to be removed by hand. Then screw in the new faucet and put it back in the order in which it was opened. 

Simply reopen the isolation valve to get your water running again. 

Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as a guest writer. As a renter, she is always looking for creative ways to make her apartment feel like home. She likes boho and 70s style, and is a big fan of Instagram, using it as a source of inspiration for interior design.

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