Drip … Drip … Drip … If that sound is giving you a headache, you are not alone. In many instances, a dripping faucet can be fixed with just a few easy steps.
The first thing you’ll need to do is ask yourself is, “What kind of faucet do I have?”
There are 4 common types of faucets: Compression, Ceramic-disk, Cartridge and Ball.
The most basic type is a compression faucet. It has 2 handles, one for hot and one for cold. The other 3 types all have only 1 handle and requires a different approach that will be explained in a future blog.
How Do You Fix a Leaky Compression Faucet?
1. Turn off the water to the sink.
2. Plug up the sink drainage with an old towel, so that losing small parts down the drain don’t become another problem to solve.
3. Remove each handle by prying off each cap, unscrewing and removing the handle.
4. Use a wrench to remove the exposed nut and pull out the stem. You should now see an O-ring and a washer. The cause of your dripping is probably that worn out washer.
5. Take the old washer to your local home improvement store to match the size. You might want to pick up a small amount of plumbers grease at the same time, if you don’t have any on hand.
6. Coat the replacement washer with plumbers grease and put your parts back together in reverse order.
7. Once you are sure you have everything installed, remove the towel from the sink drain, and turn your water back on.
How did you do? We hope your dripping is a thing of the past!
If your dripping problem isn’t fixed, you probably need to get more experienced help. Check out our money saving coupons and then give us a call. The Bienvenu family has been helping New Orleans with all their plumbing needs since 1937.
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