Do you need faucet repair? First it started small and was easily fixed by turning your faucet knob or nozzle a bit tighter. Then you noticed that the leaking resumed, but it couldn’t be fixed by tightening the nozzle this time. In spite of you yelling at it when it awoke you from a perfectly refreshing sleep, the faucet still didn’t stop leaking.
What’s Your Next Step?
While you likely need to services of a qualified plumber, don’t rush off to phone one quite yet. Instead, take a step back and think about how you want to communicate with this professional. Doing so can save you a huge headache — and possibly even a dollar or two.
What Can You Expect if You Don’t Know What’s Causing Your Faucet to Drip?
Did you know that a faucet that drips continuously brings with it numerous pains besides annoying you? There are a host of issues that you might face if you continue to live with a leaking faucet.
Unsightly water stains — that can also be difficult to remove without regular maintenance — are often one of the most visually arresting issues that you will face. If you are like many homeowners, you simply won’t feel like your sink is clean unless it is stain free then you’ll be particularly bothered by this fact. Having to remove the water stains each time you clean your sink will also increase the time this chore takes you.
If your sink’s drain is blocked by either food or dishes, or if the stopper is down, that continuously leaking faucet can take an unexpected turn and become a small flood. Imagine coming home after a long day at work only to discover that a waterfall has erupted in your kitchen and provided you with an increasing pool of water on your floor.
One of the most painful issues that you might face when it comes to a leaking faucet is the increase in your utility bills. Some homeowners are unpleasantly surprised at the fact that something they thought was pretty harmless actually carries a rather large price tag.
Benefits of Faucet Repair for Leaks
Like most other issues in your home, the more quickly you address your leaking faucet, the better. By knowing the cause of your faucet’s continuous dripping, you’ll have peace of mind. You won’t have to worry about coming home to a small flood, for example. The money you pay to have your leaking faucet repaired can be recouped in lower utility bills.
The 7 Common Causes of a Leaking Faucet
1. Damaged parts
Your faucet is designed with several important parts that — if they’re damaged — can cause it to leak. Compression type faucets are those that have a separate hot and cold handle as well as a washer, often sustain damage to their stem assemblies that can cause them to leak.
2. Worn out cartridge
Cartridge faucets are designed with a stem cartridge that is movable. When that cartridge begins to go bad, it can lead to the faucet leaking.
3. Water pressure
A reduction in the water pressure of a particular faucet is often caused by a broken pipe. If you’ve ruled out other possible causes, it could be that a broken pipe is interfering your water pressure with the result being that you have a leaking faucet. A professional plumber should check the integrity of your pipes.
4. Broken pipe or fitting
In addition to broken pipes, a fitting that is not in good repair could also cause your faucet to leak. Clips and valve assemblies that are worn out can allow water to drip continuously from your faucet.
5. Hard water build up
Hard water can affect more than the look of your clothes. The chemicals that are contained in it can wear away at the rubber washers that are designed to help prevent water leakage.
6. Failing O Rings
Your faucet handle is held in place with a stem screw that has a small disc, or O ring, on the end of it. Over time, that O ring can become damaged, loose or even wear out, and make your faucet leak.
7. Loose handles
There’s no doubt about it — your faucet handles get a great deal of use. Over time, you might find them becoming loose with you having to readjust them over and over again. Eventually, you might even notice some moisture near the handles that then turns into a telltale leak.
A leaking faucet isn’t usually considered an emergency issue by professional plumbers. It is, however, a chronic problem that should be addressed as soon as possible. Doing so can help give you peace of mind while saving you time. Call KB Complete when you need faucet repair or replacement!
