Fix Your Own Home Fixtures With a Faucet Repair Kit

Many faucets produce leaks in the handle area. A little troubleshooting can usually uncover the problem and fix it.

First, remove the decorative cap on each handle with a flathead screwdriver and look underneath to expose the set screw or handle screw. Loosen these with a wrench or pliers to allow you to pull the handles off.

A leaky faucet can cause significant water damage and increase your utility bills. It can also lead to mold problems. In most cases, the problem can be fixed by replacing parts or tightening connections. If these home fixes fail, it may be time to call a professional plumber for assistance. Visit https://www.plumbing-express.com/ to learn more.

A major problem with faucets is that the parts can wear out or become loose over time. This causes the water to leak from the connection points and down the pipe. The best way to prevent this problem is to make sure that all the screws, nuts and bolts are tightened properly. You can also use a plumber’s tape to wrap all the threads on any exposed parts of the plumbing.

The most common leaks from a faucet are from the handle area. This is usually caused by an O-ring that has worn out or cracked. The O-ring is located inside the handle and seals the inner valve seat to prevent water from seeping down. Leaks from this area can be easily repaired by replacing the O-ring.

Another common source of leaks is from the spout. The valve seat can wear out from repeated usage or from sediment build-up. This causes the valve seat to become corroded and leak from around the spout area. This is usually a quick fix for a professional plumber since most of the parts are readily available in most hardware stores.

It is important to remember that when working on a leaky faucet, you must first turn off the water supply. This can be done by turning off the main water valve under the sink or by shutting off the valve in your home’s basement. Attempting to work with the water still running can result in flooding and water damage.

It is also a good idea to check the drain and P-trap for looseness. These are often the source of leaking from a faucet and can be fixed by using plumber’s tape or epoxy. If the problem is due to a broken plumbing pipe, it will be more difficult to repair and should be addressed by a professional plumber immediately.

Disassembly

A leaking faucet can be the result of many different issues, but sometimes all it needs is some disassembly. Shut off the water supply line and remove the handle from the faucet. The screw that holds the handle on is usually concealed by a plastic cap, which can be lifted with a thin-bladed screwdriver to reveal a screw that needs to be unscrewed. Some handles may have a decorative sticker that also needs to be removed before accessing the screw. If you are having trouble removing the cap, try using some penetrating oil or WD-40 to loosen it.

When you have the handle off, look at the valve body to see if it has any mineral buildup that needs cleaning. If it does, you can try soaking the valve seat in white vinegar to remove any grime or mineral build-up that has built up over time. This is a cheap, easy fix that could make the difference between having to replace your cartridge or not.

If the cartridge is still leaking, you’ll need to remove it from the faucet body and replace the rubber seals. Before attempting to remove the cartridge, take note of its orientation so that you can properly re-install it in the future. You’ll need to know if the cartridge is installed with its retainer ring facing up or down, and you’ll also want to make sure that there are no cracks in the disc cartridge.

Once you’ve cleaned the parts, you can begin to reassemble your faucet. First, place a sink basket strainer in the drain to catch any falling parts as you remove them. Next, remove the set screw that holds the cartridge in place by turning it counterclockwise with an Allen wrench or screwdriver. Then you can remove the cartridge and the plastic cam and packing nut that is held on by the screw. Next, you can remove the adjusting ring and the dome-shaped cap that holds the adjusting rod in place with a pair of tongue-and-groove pliers.

Once you’ve removed the adjusting ring and the caps on the cam and packing, you can then remove the Nylon cam and the rotary ball that is inside the faucet. Lastly, you can remove the circular rubber seals and springs within the mechanism by removing their caps with a screwdriver.

Replacement parts

Keep faucets running smoothly with replacement parts for kitchen, bathroom and shower fixtures. Find faucet stems and cartridges, a variety of handles including lever handles, cross handles, single handle trim and blade handles, as well as supply lines to connect faucets to the home water line. Stock up on o-rings, washers and pipe cement to keep leaks at bay, or upgrade to smart water leak detectors for added protection from potential damage to the home.

For commercial faucets, PlumbersStock carries thousands of options to help keep sinks and showers flowing seamlessly. Browse kits, covers, knobs, inserts and more to replace worn out components, or find a new handle or head in a matte black, brushed bronze or polished chrome finish to suit your bathroom decor.

The simplest way to identify and find the correct replacement part is by entering your product model number into the search box. This will help to narrow down the results and guide you through a step-by-step process that will result in a link to a detailed product page listing out all of the compatible parts.

Installation

If your problem is simply a worn seal or washer, it should be fairly easy to replace them and get the faucet back in working order. However, if the valve seat is corroded or loose, you might need to replace the whole cartridge. If this is the case, it is a good idea to buy a complete faucet repair kit so that you will have all of the parts you need in one place. This can also save you time and money since you won’t have to make several trips to the hardware store looking for individual components.

First, you must turn off the water supply. The shutoff valve is usually located under the sink, or in the basement. This step is essential, because attempting to work with small parts while the water is still running will cause a spray of uncontrolled water that can soak and flood your bathroom. Next, remove the faucet handle by unscrewing the screw that holds it with a flat-head or Phillips-head screwdriver. Often there is a decorative cap that covers the screw, and this should be removed with a utility knife or pliers before you can unscrew the handle.

Once the handles are off, you can see the stem and the packing nut that holds it in place. If you don’t have a wrench, use the tips of your pliers to remove the brass retainer clip from the handle shaft. This will allow you to pull the stem straight out, exposing the O-ring and seat washer for replacement. Be sure to coat any new washers with plumber’s grease before putting them in.

Next, depending on the type of faucet, you will need to take out the cam washer and cam, which may require a screwdriver. If the cartridge is a ceramic-disk, you will need to remove the escutcheon cap or bonnet, which is a piece of rounded metal that covers the disk cylinder. After these are removed, the rest of the reassembly process is the same as for any other faucet. Be sure to test the water flow once all of the reassembled parts are in place.