How to Ready a Leaky Faucet

Fix a dripping kitchen faucet with replacement parts.

Time

An hr or less

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Less than $twenty

Introduction

Yous tin fix almost any drippy single-lever kitchen faucet in nigh an hour. Nosotros'll show you how. The repair is a lot easier than you might call back, even for a plumbing novice.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Faucet repair kit
  • O-ring seals

Doing your own faucet repair may seem daunting, but once you learn the nuts, modern faucets are fairly easy to repair. In fact, the hardest pace to fix a leaky faucet is normally finding the right replacement parts. In this commodity, nosotros'll tell yous how to find replacement parts and show yous how to stop spout drips on the three main types of single-lever faucets: rotary ball, cartridge and ceramic disc. Nosotros're showing kitchen faucets and kitchen faucet repair for a dripping faucet, but you lot tin can set up most single-lever bathroom faucets using the aforementioned procedures. We'll besides show you how to cease leaks around the base of the spout and fix leaking faucets.

The tools y'all'll need for this how to fix a leaky faucet project vary a niggling depending on the faucet you're repairing. You'll probably need an Allen wrench to remove the handle. Buy a set of pocket-sized Allen wrenches and yous'll be prepared for all kinds of leaking faucets. Most repairs also require screwdrivers and a pair of large slip-articulation pliers.

Projection footstep-by-pace (18)

Footstep 1

Rotary Ball Faucet Anatomy

  • The diagram beneath shows the parts and associates of a rotary ball faucet.
    • Notation: Nosotros recommend that yous purchase a repair kit that includes the ball, springs, seats and O-rings for the spout, besides as a small repair tool. With this kit, you'll be prepared for most any repair.

Footstep 2

Loosen the Allen Screw

  • Then turn off the water supply to the dripping faucet.
  • Elevator the handle and pry off the decorative embrace to expose the Allen screw.
  • Plough the spiral counterclockwise until information technology'due south loose enough to elevator the handle upwards from the stalk.
    • Note: If water is leaking out around the base of operations of the faucet handle, you may be able to prepare the leak past removing the handle and simply tightening the adjusting ring slightly. Plough it clockwise with the spanner tool included in the repair kit. If the faucet drips from the end of the spout, replace the seats and springs.

Footstep three

Remove the Cap

  • Unscrew the cap by turning it counterclockwise with a slip-joint pliers.

Step 4

Remove the Rotary Ball

  • Lift off the plastic cam and packing.
  • Elevator out the ball and inspect information technology.
  • Replace the brawl if information technology's scratched, cracked or visibly worn.

Step 5

Remove and Supplant the Seats and Springs

  • Lift out the two rubber seats and springs with a screwdriver.
  • Drop the new springs in the recesses and press the new rubber seats over the peak with your fingertip.
  • Align the groove in the brawl with the pin in the socket and drib the ball in.
  • Align the lug on the plastic cam with the notch in the valve trunk and set information technology over the brawl.
  • Thread on the cap with the adjusting ring and tighten it with the slip-joint pliers.
  • Turn on the water to check for leaks.
    • Pro tip: If h2o leaks from effectually the ball stem, use the spanner tool to tighten the adjusting ring until the leak stops.
  • Supersede the leaking faucet handle and you're done.

Follow These Nuts for All Faucet Repairs

Before you start, examine the dripping faucet closely to make up one's mind where the water is coming from. Leaks around the base of the spout require a different repair than a drip from the end of the spout.

And so plow off the water supply to the dripping faucet. Yous'll probably find shutoff valves nether the sink. If those valves don't work or if y'all don't take whatsoever, you'll have to close the main water valve to your entire habitation. After yous turn off the h2o, open up the faucet in the centre position to relieve water pressure and make sure the water is shut off. Finally, encompass the sink drain holes with strainer baskets or rags to avoid losing pocket-sized parts down the drain.

Pay shut attention to the club and orientation of parts as you remove them. A digital camera or video camera is handy for recording each step in example you lot forget. For easier reassembly, set the parts aside in the order they were removed. When all the parts are out, inspect the interior of the valve for bits of deteriorated gaskets or mineral deposits. Apply a material or fine nylon annoying pad to clean the surface. Loosen mineral deposits past soaking them in vinegar.

Wearisome h2o flow can be caused by plugged holes in the faucet body. Use a small screwdriver or penknife to make clean them out. Earlier yous supplant worn parts and reassemble the faucet, hold a rag over the dripping faucet and open the water shutoff valve slightly to flush out droppings that may have been loosened during the cleaning and inspection.

Afterwards the faucet is reassembled, open up the faucet to the middle position and gradually open the shutoff valves to plow on the h2o. Leave the faucet open until water flows freely and all the air is out of the pipes. If the water period through the faucet is wearisome, the aerator may be plugged. Unscrew the aerator and clean it out.

Accept the Former Parts to the Store to Find Replacements

Y'all'll ofttimes find the brand name stamped on the faucet. And this data volition help when it comes time to notice repair parts. But in nigh cases, the safest bet is to take the worn parts to the store with you.

If you have a Delta or other rotary ball faucet, you're in luck because you'll find repair kits in virtually hardware stores and home centers. Cartridges and repair kits for Moen "cartridge type" faucets are likewise readily available. But if you accept another brand or a disc-type faucet, you may accept to order parts, since there are too many variations for most stores to go on in stock. Information technology helps to know the faucet'southward model name or number when searching for a replacement cartridge. Otherwise, have the cartridge with you to the store so you can match it to a photo in the parts catalog.

Plumbing supply specialists are also a proficient source of repair parts. If you're having trouble finding parts, telephone call the manufacturer of your faucet for assistance.

Cartridge-Mode Faucet Beefcake

  • Cartridge-style faucet parts and assembly.

Pace six

Remove the Allen Screw

  • Gently pry off the handle cap with a pocketknife.
  • Plough the Allen screw counterclockwise to remove information technology and lift off the handle.

Pace seven

Remove the Metal Handle Adapter

  • Unscrew the dome assembly under the handle.
  • Unscrew the metal handle adapter and elevator it off.
  • Lift off the plastic pivot terminate.

Step 8

Have Out the Retainer Nut

  • Remove the retainer nut by turning information technology counterclockwise with large slip-joint pliers.

Step 9

Remove the Retainer Clip

  • Pry out the brass retainer prune with the tip of a screwdriver.
  • Take hold of the prune with pliers and pull it the rest of the style out to avoid losing information technology.

Step 10

Twist Loose the Cartridge

  • Loosen the cartridge by slipping the plastic spanner cap (included with the new cartridge) over the cartridge and twisting information technology back and forth.

Step 11

Replace Worn Parts and Reassemble the Faucet

  • Grab the cartridge stalk with pliers and pull it straight upwardly and out.
  • Replace worn parts.

Step 12

Reassemble the Faucet

  • Reassemble the faucet in the reverse order.
  • Pull the stem up before inserting the cartridge.
    • Annotation: You may accept to twist the cartridge slightly to line it up for the contumely retainer clip.
  • Use the plastic spanner cap or the tips of needle-nose pliers to rotate the cartridge.
  • Slide the brass clip into the slots in the valve body to hold the cartridge in place.
  • Look for the small notch on top of the stem and rotate the stem until the notch faces yous.
  • Install the remaining parts and reattach the handle.
    • Annotation: The directions that come with the stem volition assist orient yous here.
  • Test the faucet.
    • Notation: If the hot and cold water are reversed, only remove the handle, dome assembly and handle adapter and rotate the stem 180 degrees.

All About Cartridge-Style Faucet Repairs

Many faucet brands use a cartridge of some type. Here nosotros bear witness how to supercede a Moen cartridge, but the process is similar for other brands. To stop drips at the spout or correct problems with hot and cold mixing, remove the cartridge and either supersede the O-rings on the cartridge if they're worn or replace the entire cartridge. Take the cartridge to the home center or hardware store to observe a replacement.

Replacement cartridges for Moen faucets include a plastic spanner cap that allows you to twist and loosen the cartridge to make it easier to pull out. Don't exist surprised if the cartridge seems stuck. It may take considerable force to pull it out. Actually stubborn cartridges may crave the use of a special cartridge-pulling tool.

Ceramic Disc Faucet Anatomy

  • Parts and associates of ceramic disc faucets.

Pace 13

Unscrew the Handle

  • Pry off the decorative screw cover with your fingernail or the tip of a knife.
  • Unscrew the handle screw by turning it counterclockwise with an Allen wrench.
  • Lift off the handle.
  • Unscrew or unclip the cap.

Step 14

Remove the Disc Cartridge

  • Remove the screws that concord the disc cartridge to the faucet trunk and lift out the cartridge.

Step xv

Supervene upon the Seals in the Cartridge

  • Inspect the cartridge for mineral buildup and carefully clean information technology out.
  • And then replace the rubber seals on the underside.

Step 16

Replace the O-Band Seals

  • Lift out the plastic disc (on some faucets) and supervene upon the O-rings under it.
  • Inspect the holes in the faucet body and make clean them out if they're chock-full.

Ceramic Disc Faucets 101

Ceramic disc valves are merely another type of cartridge. Discs inside the cartridge control the water flow. This blazon of valve is sturdy and reliable and rarely needs fixing. In fact, many manufacturers offer a lifetime guarantee on the cartridge. If yours is damaged, bank check with the manufacturer to see if it's covered by a warranty.

Leaks tin outcome from faulty condom seals or a croaky disc within the cartridge. Since information technology's difficult to spot a cracked disc, and disc cartridge replacements are very expensive, information technology's best to offset by replacing the seals and reassembling the faucet. Then if the faucet however leaks, remove the disc cartridge and accept it to the store to lodge a replacement.

Early versions of ceramic disc faucets may exist more delicate and can crack if subjected to a nail of pressurized air. That's why it's important to leave the faucet open as y'all turn the water back on. This allows air trapped in the lines to escape. When the water runs smoothly, information technology's prophylactic to plow the faucet off. Manufacturers have improved the strength of ceramic discs on newer faucets to withstand air blasts, equally well every bit abrasive debris that may become dislodged from the inside of pipes.

Stride 17

Repair a Spout Leak

  • Remove the handle and cartridge.
  • Twist and pull up on the spout to remove information technology and expose the O-ring seals.
    • Pro tip: The diverter valve controls water to the sprayer. Their advent varies considerably among brands, only you'll usually observe them under the spout. If your sprayer isn't working properly, first clean information technology in vinegar or simply replace it. If this doesn't work, the diverter valve may exist chock-full. If information technology doesn't simply pull out, contact the manufacturer or ask a knowledgeable salesperson for help with cleaning information technology.

Step 18

Supersede the O-Rings

  • Slip the tip of a screwdriver under the O-rings to slide them out of the groove.
  • Install the new O-rings and lubricate them with plumber's grease.
  • Reinstall the spout.

Leaky Spout Basics

Leaks effectually the base of operations of the spout are caused by worn O-rings located under the spout. All that's usually required to access these O-rings for replacement is to wiggle and pull up on the spout to remove it.

Depending on the dripping faucet, y'all'll also have to remove the handle and other parts to access the spout. Be persistent. The spout may be a footling stubborn. Spout O-ring kits are bachelor for many faucets, or you tin have the quondam O-rings to the hardware store or plumbing supply store and match them up with new ones. Retrieve to pick up a small-scale toothpaste-blazon tube of plumber's grease while you're at that place.

Additional Data

  • Figure A: Ball faucet parts
  • Figure B: Cartridge faucet parts
  • Figure C: Ceramic faucet parts