| Did you know that you can fix a leaking shower | | | | nut is to see if there is a gap opening up between |
| faucet and save hundreds of gallons of water in one | | | | the nut and the valve body as you loosen the nut. |
| year? Most people just think of a dripping faucet as | | | | The valve stem itself will also usually turn when you |
| an annoyance and don't realize how much precious | | | | have the right one. If you have loosened the packing |
| water is being wasted one drop at a time. The good | | | | nut by mistake, don't worry, you will adjust it before |
| news is that almost anyone with a few basic tools | | | | you are finished anyway. Go ahead and remove both |
| can learn how to fix most dripping faucets. | | | | stems and keep up with which one is which, it |
| Let's start with the basics. Faucets have one primary | | | | matters on many valves. |
| purpose, to allow the water in your pipes to be used | | | | After you have the stems out you should be able to |
| in a controlled manner. This means that they have to | | | | find the washer on the "inside" end. If it is nicked, |
| open to allow water out of the pipes and close to | | | | torn or brittle it is likely the cause of your drip. Even |
| keep water in the pipes. Not rocket science, right? | | | | if it looks brand new, go ahead and replace it. You've |
| The closing part is what we want to concentrate on | | | | already come this far. You can get replacement |
| here. | | | | washers at almost any hardware store. Sometimes |
| There Are Two Basic Faucet Designs | | | | you may want to replace the whole stem, especially |
| Faucets drip when they fail to completely trap the | | | | if the handle end is stripped out. It's best to just take |
| water in the pipes. Most faucets use one of two | | | | the stem with you to the store and see if you can |
| basic methods to stop the water flow. Some, | | | | match it up. Most Do It Yourself stores have |
| primarily older designs, use rubber or neoprene | | | | replacement stems for many popular brands. If your |
| washers which tighten against a "seat" and block the | | | | valve has a center diverter valve to switch the |
| flow of water. Drips from these faucets are | | | | water from the tub spout to the shower head the |
| addressed by replacing the washers and/or seats. | | | | same process applies. Many times it is easier to |
| We'll talk about how to do that in a minute. Most | | | | replace the diverter stem than to repair it. This really |
| other faucet designs involve some sort of cartridge. | | | | depends on the design of the stem. |
| Some people call these "washerless" faucets. | | | | How Are Your Seats? |
| Repairing newer style water faucets like these usually | | | | One more thing to check is the seats. These are the |
| involves replacing the cartridge(s). | | | | part of the valve body that the washer tightens up |
| Washers And Seats | | | | against to stop the water flow. If you can get your |
| Older faucet designs often use washers to block the | | | | finger inside the valve, feel of the seats and see if |
| water and keep it in the pipes. Tightening the handle | | | | they feel rough. If so, it would be best to replace |
| compresses the washer against a "seat" and seals | | | | them if you can get them out. The inside of the |
| the opening, thus stopping the water flow. If you | | | | seats, which is where the water flows through when |
| need to do a bathtub faucet repair on a three< | | | | the valve is open, usually have either a hex or square |
| handle wall faucet you probably have this type. You | | | | recess. Special seat wrenches are used to remove |
| will also run into this style if you need to fix a leaking | | | | the seats. You can usually get these wrenches at the |
| shower faucet that has two handles. Many sink and | | | | same place you get the other parts and they're not |
| lavatory faucets also use washers. | | | | expensive. You just stick the wrench through the |
| One way to tell whether or not your faucets use | | | | seat and unscrew it. The replacement seats screw |
| washers is to see if the handle gets harder to turn | | | | back in the same way, just put a little pipe dope on |
| as you turn it off. If turning it really tight stops the | | | | the threads before you install it. |
| drip, this probably, but not always, means that you | | | | Put It All Back Together |
| have washers. If you do have a dripping faucet that | | | | Once you've figured out what needs to be replaced |
| has washers, the basic repair process is very similar | | | | and have done that, you just need to put everything |
| whether you need to know how to repair a shower | | | | back together. If your valve has packing nuts don't |
| faucet,repair a leaking tub faucet or fix a dripping sink | | | | put the trim back on until you have turned the water |
| faucet. There is, however, one important difference. | | | | back on. Once the water is on, go ahead and stick |
| Bathtub Faucet Repair | | | | the handle on for a second and open the valve. Make |
| The one critical thing to remember when fixing a | | | | sure no water is leaking around the stem. If it is |
| leaky bathtub faucet is that you will have to turn the | | | | leaking, with the handle opened half way, snug down |
| water off to the entire house before removing any | | | | the packing nut until the leak stops. Easy does it. If |
| parts other than the outer trim pieces. If you're not | | | | you get it too tight the handle willbe hard to turn. |
| sure which pieces are trim, just turn the water off | | | | Now finish installing the trim pieces and you are done. |
| first just in case. Once you have turned off the main | | | | Repairing Newer Style Water Faucets |
| water to the house you can begin taking things apart. | | | | If you have a newer, "washerless" type valve the |
| There are lots of different brands and designs of | | | | repair process is similar, but usually easier. Many of |
| faucets out there and they all come apart a little | | | | these type valves use a self contained cartridge. If |
| differently, so you will have to sort of feel your way | | | | the valve starts to drip, just replace the cartridge |
| through. | | | | and you're done. You still need to turn the water off |
| Removing The Trim | | | | and remove the handles and trim. The cartridge is |
| The first step is to remove the handles. This is | | | | usually held in place by a retaining nut on the valve |
| usually done by removing a cap to expose the handle | | | | body or, in the case of most Moen valves, by a |
| screw and then removing the screw. Next, remove | | | | retaining clip. Simply remove the cartridge and put |
| the handle. This may require a little finesse, as the | | | | another one in it's place. If your hot and cold are |
| handles sometimes get stuck in place. One trick is to | | | | backwards when you finish, turn the water back off, |
| place the handles of a pair of channel lock pliers | | | | pull the cartridge back out, turn it over 180 degrees |
| behind the valve handle, one on each side, and tap | | | | and re- install it. |
| evenly on the handle to nudge it loose. If this doesn't | | | | Delta Style Valves |
| work you can buy a special tool to remove handles | | | | One other common design that is considered |
| but these tools are sometimes hard to find and | | | | "washerless" was made famous by Delta and copied |
| usually a little patience is all you need to do the trick. | | | | by several other makers. It uses little "cup" seals that |
| After he handles are off, there is usually some sort | | | | fit over springs recessed in the back of the valve |
| of sleeve over the stem itself. This typically has to | | | | body. The springs press these "seals" against the |
| come off too. Once again, there are many different | | | | cartridge and regulate the flow through little tapered |
| configurations. One popular design uses threaded | | | | openings in the cartridge. If you have one of these |
| plastic tubes to connect the trim sleeve with the | | | | and it's dripping, changing these springs and seals will |
| valve. Other types have the sleeve threaded directly | | | | usually correct it. Here's a tip. Once you have the |
| onto the valve. You will have to figure this step out | | | | cartridge out of the way, insert a phillips screwdriver |
| before you can proceed. If you can determine what | | | | into the seal and pop both the seal and spring out. |
| brand valve you have there is a good chance of | | | | Stick the new ones on the end of the screwdriver to |
| finding instructions on-line. | | | | help guide them into place. This is especially helpful if |
| Now For The Root Of The Problem | | | | you don't have long slender fingers. |
| Ok, so you have removed both the handles and any | | | | Delta, and a few imitators, also have a faucet design |
| remaining trim sleeve from the valve. Now you are | | | | that uses a ball instead of a cartridge. This is not as |
| ready to get to the root of the problem, your | | | | common in tub or shower valves but there are |
| valve> stem. The washer is almost always at the | | | | plenty of them out there. The springs and seals are |
| other end of the valve stem from the handle. Usually | | | | the same but there are lots more o-rings and parts |
| the stem is threaded into the valve body and you will | | | | to deal with. The good news is that these parts are |
| just need to unscrew it to remove it. Here's a tip. | | | | readily available. While it's a little more complicated |
| Stick the handle back on for a second and open the | | | | than learning how to repair a Moen kitchen faucet, |
| valve half way. This relieves pressure on the stem | | | | which is a piece of cake, it is still easier than working |
| and makes it easier to unscrew. | | | | with most washer type faucets. |
| Now you just need to make sure you are loosening | | | | These Techniques Work In The Kitchen Too |
| the correct nut. Lots of valves have a packing nut | | | | Armed with the knowledge you've gained in this |
| around the stem. It is usually a little smaller and just in | | | | article you now not only know how to repair a |
| front of the actual connection with the valve body. | | | | shower faucet and to repair a leaking tub faucet, but |
| The packing nut's purpose is to squeeze some special | | | | you can apply these skills to many other faucets as |
| packing material around the stem to prevent water | | | | well. After fixing a leaky bathtub faucet, stopping a |
| from leaking around the stem when the valve is in | | | | dripping outside hose faucet will be a breeze. The |
| use. Loosening the packing nut won't help you, you | | | | techniques that you will use to complete a |
| need to get your wrench on the actual connection to | | | | "washerless" bathtub faucet repair can be used when |
| the valve body. By the way, a deep socket is often | | | | repairing newer style water faucets of all kinds. |
| the only tool that will work to remove the valve | | | | Whether you have an old dripping tub faucet or a |
| stem. | | | | newer kitchen faucet that just won't quite shut off |
| Removing The Valve Stem | | | | you can now fix it. So put these new skills to use, roll |
| The easiest way to make sure you have the correct | | | | up your sleeves and stop that drip! |