Tired of hearing that drip, drip, drip?
Learn how to stop a leaky faucet in its tracks!
Drip, drip, drip! It’s a common sound that you might hear coming from a leaky bathroom faucet. But what you might not know is that that the annoying dripping can send over three gallons of water down the drain in a day.
If you leave it that way for a year, you’ll find that you could fill a swimming pool with the amount of water that you wasted. Not to mention a couple of hundred dollars in annual utility costs!
Top Reasons Why Your Faucet Might Be Leaking:
#1. Bad O-Ring
#2. Worn Out Cartridge
#3. Corroded Valve Seal
#4. Worn Out Washers
#5. Worn Out Seals
#6. Water Pressure Issues
#7. Loose Parts
#8. Broken Parts
Our plumbers at John the Plumber discuss more and what you should do to fix them. Don’t worry; if you need a hand you can give us a call (we’ll treat your home like our own)!
Reason #1. Bad O-Ring
If you have a leaky cartridge faucet, this is likely the culprit. The cartridge is a valve that controls the flow of water into the faucet spout and over time, the O-ring inside can get loose or worn out. O-rings help prevent water from leaking out from around the base of the spout, and if the O-ring wears out, you’ll see water at the base of your facet each time you turn on the water.
If your sink handle is leaking, a bad O-ring is likely the cause, and is an easy fix!
Reason #2. Worn Out Cartridge
If you have a faucet with two handles—one for cold, and the other for hot—then you have what is called a cartridge-style faucet. The cartridge controls the flow of water into the faucet spout, so if your faucet is dripping, one of the cartridges could be damaged.
A leak in a cartridge faucet could be caused by the cartridge itself, which often means the cartridge needs to be replaced. If this is the case, you will need to get a matching replacement cartridge to swap it out with.
That annoying dripping can send over three gallons of water down the drain in a day.
Reason #3. Corroded Valve Seal
If the leak seems to be coming from the faucet’s spout, the valve seat may be corroded. The valve is a component that connects the faucet and the spout. A buildup of sediment from hard water can corrode the valve seat and eventually cause a leak.
You can prevent this by regularly cleaning the valve seat.
Reason #4. Worn Out Washers
Another common cause of leaking is a worn-out washer that rests against the valve seat. Over time, the friction between these two parts can cause the washer to wear out, thus allowing a leak. Faucet leaks can also occur if the washer is the wrong size or if it was installed incorrectly.
Reason #5. Worn Out Seals
Over time the inlet and outlet seals of your faucet can become corroded by the accumulation of hard water sediment, just like valve seals.
Reason #6. Water Pressure Issues
If your faucet only seems to drip at certain times during the day, your home’s water pressure could be the culprit.
Although it is nice to have high water pressure, it can also cause a leaking tap since pressure that is too high can mess with the water flow in your pipes. Water won’t be able to flow smoothly from its destination when the pressure is too high, creating a backup. This excess water needs to find another route, so it will start leaking from your taps and faucets.
Reason #7. Loose Parts
Faucet parts can come loose over time which in turn can cause your sink handle to start leaking. Tightening the adjusting ring or the packing nuts will usually fix the leak!
Reason #8. Broken Parts
If you notice a water leak coming from the pipes or components underneath your bathroom or kitchen sink, it might be caused by a broken pipe or plumbing component. Don’t try to fix this on your own! A small water leak could become a much bigger job if repaired incorrectly!
While many faucet leaks can be fixed in a DIY project, a professional plumber from John the Plumber should be called in for all broken pipes or larger leaks!
Leaky Faucet? Call in the Plumbing Pros!
Tired of that leaking faucet? Don’t wait! Call in the pros from John the Plumber to fix the issue at the source so you don’t have to waste water or pay higher utility bills. If these simple fixes don’t solve the leak, we are happy to replace your faucet for you!
Say goodbye to that drip, drip, drip! Call John the Plumber today; 954-781-4823!