From Faucet Repair to Faucet Removal…We’ve Got You Covered!
A dripping tap is the most common faucet repair job for the family handyman. It is important to fix a dripping faucet in a timely manner to avoid wasting money. This is especially true if you are paying for water from a city supply or if the tap is dripping hot water. In most cases a dripping faucet is caused by a worn out seal or washer. Replacing this seal or washer will remedy the problem.
Here are the tools you may need: Screwdriver, oil (to help loosen off rusted parts), pliers or adjustable wrench, replacement parts (seals or washers)
Faucet Repair: Steps for Fixing a Dripping Tap
This faucet repair job is a fairly straight forward one. Since water enters your taps under pressure, and the seal or washer is what usually holds the water back when the tap is in the off position, this is likely the part that needs to be replaced. Start by shutting off your water supply. Next you will need to remove the tap handle. To do this you will need to remove the screw cover by popping it out of place ( It is usually a fancy round button and is located on the top of the faucet handle) in order to get to the screw holding the faucet together. Once you have removed the handle you will need to remove the now visible nut with your pliers or adjustible wrench. Next you will need to remove the screw that holds the washer. Now you should be down to the root of you problem. Replace the old washer or seal with a new one identical to the one you have removed.Replace screw and washer if damaged and reassemble tap in reverse steps until complete. Turn on water supply and test for drip.Voila! You have performed your very own faucet repair!
It is rare, but in some cases it is necessary to remove and replace the entire set of taps in order to remedy the problem.
Steps to Removing the Entire Faucet:
First shut off the water supply
To remove the old faucet you will first need to remove the mounting nuts. If they are rusty and stubborn you may want to spray them with oil and leave a few hours, then loosen. By placing the drain cover in the sink drain you can prevent dropping pieces/tools down the drain hole. Disconnect the old faucet from the hot and cold water supply. Some faucets are top mounted and some are bottom mounted. The top mounted taps will need to be detached from under the faucet handles. Once you have loosened off all the connecting parts, pull straight up on the taps to remove them. If they don’t come out easily you can pry underneath them with putty knife to loosen them a bit. Be careful not to scratch the sink if you if you are not replacing it also.
Remove any residual caulking or build up that may be present from around the old faucet. Silicon remover works great and is available at your local hardware store.
See faucet installation page for instructions on how to install your new faucet.
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