How to fix a leaky faucet?

There are few things more frustrating than a leaky faucet. The dripping can be aggravating and even lead to damage of your sink area. However, fixing this piece is a job that can often be completed on your own, with just a few simple tools.

Find the Leak

With the different types of faucets available today, there are multiple areas from which the leak may occur. One of the most common places for faucet leaks is the stem or cartridge. This is an internal part of the faucet that regulates the flow of hot and cold water. The handles are usually connected to the stem cartridge and move the part. Check this area for leaks first.

Repair or Replace

With some leaks, you may find it hard to access the part of the faucet where the leak is occurring. In addition, even when you reach the area you may need a special tool to remove the damaged part. If this is the case, you have two options: you can call a professional for repair or you could replace the entire faucet. If you have a basic or inexpensive faucet, replacement may be more economical. In fact, you can even upgrade to a higher quality faucet at this time. The difficulty level of replacing your faucet is not usually too challenging.

Finish Up

When you have repaired the leak or replaced the faucet, check every connection and make certain your faucet is tightly attached and ready to go. Then, test out the faucet on hot water, cold water, high flow, and low flow. Assuming everything works as expected, you are good to go.

While fixing a leaking faucet is a project that many people can complete on their own, the answer is not always crystal clear.