The sound of a leaky faucet is enough to annoy most homeowners. A steady drip, drip, drip sound coming from one of your faucets is cause for concern. You might not think that something as small as a dripping faucet can impact your bank account, but this type of plumbing leak could cost you more than you think.
A faucet that leaks at a rate of one drip per second will waste 3,000 gallons of water each year. That is enough water for the average person to take 180 showers. Fixing a leaky faucet can eliminate water waste and significantly reduce your plumbing costs in the future.
Replace the Washers
Does your faucet have separate handles for hot and cold water? These types of faucets are referred to as compression faucets. A compression faucet uses rubber washers as a buffer between metal components. Over time, the washers can begin to corrode.
Damaged or deteriorating washers can cause your faucet to leak. Replacing the washers is simple. You just have to remove each handle, locate both washers, then replace them with new ones. An experienced plumber can do the job in just a few minutes if you would rather leave your faucet repair to a professional.
Replace the O-Ring
An important component in any faucet design is the O-ring. An O-ring is installed inside the handle of the faucet. Its primary purpose is to create a watertight seal around the base of the handle. When the O-ring becomes damaged, the waterproof seal is broken.
You will notice that water is leaking out from the base of your faucet handles when an O-ring needs to be replaced. If you don't want to take the time to disassemble the faucet yourself, have a plumber come and replace a damaged O-ring in a matter or minutes.
Install a New Cartridge Valve
Cartridge faucets are an alternative to compression faucets. Instead of featuring two separate handles, a cartridge faucet has a lever that is raised and lowered to access the water supply. Moving the lever to the right or left will change the water temperature.
If a cartridge faucet is leaking, you will probably need to install a new cartridge valve to eliminate the leak.
Since cartridge faucets are complex and contain a number of small parts, it's best to have a plumber handle the installation of a new cartridge valve. This will ensure that your faucet continues to function smoothly once the cartridge valve has been replaced.
To get help with your leaky faucet, contact a professional offering plumbing services in your area.
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