Did you know that a small faucet leak can waste 10,000 gallons of water per year? If you want to save the environment and your wallet, you should know how to fix a leaking kitchen faucet.
Luckily, some leaks are easy to repair yourself. Follow these steps to get your faucet back in good shape, but don’t be afraid to call for expert kitchen faucet repair in Castle Rock, CO, if you need help.
Gather Your Supplies
Before you start to fix your leaking kitchen faucet, you’ll need some supplies. The exact supplies you’ll need will depend on the configuration of your kitchen faucet.
However, it doesn’t hurt to gather a wrench, Phillips screwdriver, O-rings, and a new cartridge or stem. Kitchens usually have good lighting, but you might want a flashlight to use when you start removing parts of the faucet for better inspection.
Take a look at your faucet to see what supplies will come in handy. If you can’t tell, you can start to remove the faucet. Then, you can pause the work to go buy what you need, but it’s easier to have everything on hand before you start.
You won’t have to stop in the middle of the job, and you can get it done faster. However, you may want to hold off on buying specialty supplies until you determine the source of the problem.
Turn the Water Off
Once you have everything you need, you’re not quite ready to start taking the faucet apart. First, you need to shut off the water.
You may be able to shut off water only to the leaking kitchen faucet. However, you can shut off water to your entire house, especially if you have other plumbing problems.
If you shut off the entire system, make sure you pour yourself some water and use the restroom. Alert anyone else who’s home to do the same.
That way, you can take your time as you repair the faucet leak.
Take the Faucet Off
Now, you’re ready to remove the faucet to figure out why the kitchen faucet is leaking. The exact steps you take to do this will depend on the type of faucet you have.
You might find a screw behind the handle, in which case you’ll need an Allen wrench or hex key to remove it. If your faucet handles feature a cap, you can use a screwdriver to take it off.
Do a quick Google search to find the specific steps for your faucet handle. Then, you can use the materials you have or go out and get what you need.
Replace the Cartridge
One of the many causes of kitchen faucet leaks happens within the cartridge or stem. This is the part of the faucet that separates cold and hot water.
Take a wrench and use it to loosen the packing nut. Remove the nut and set it somewhere safe, and you should be able to pull the cartridge or stem right out.
Assuming the cartridge is the source of the leak, you can get a new cartridge. Consider the brand and model of the faucet so that you can order the correct parts.
You can also bring the cartridge with you to a hardware store near Castle Rock. Then, an employee can help you find the right replacement.
When you get home, clean and dry the parts around the handle. Swap out any O-rings around the housing that look old and might be causing the leak.
Reinstall the Faucet
Now, use your wrench or screwdriver to replace the faucet handle on top of everything. Make sure you tighten the handle enough so that it doesn’t allow for any leaks.
However, you also want to make sure you can turn the faucet on and off. Of course, the way you’ll do this depends on the handle you have.
Consider the steps you took earlier, and do them in reverse order this time. Then, you should be able to get the faucet back on properly.
Turn the Water On
Turn your water back on and let some water run from the faucet. Run hot water and cold water for a few minutes to make sure you get a continuous flow.
If not, that means there’s a problem with the aerator, which goes on the end of a faucet spout. You’ll need to remove and clean the aerator if water isn’t flowing as it should.
So make sure you keep your tools nearby as well as a clean, dry cloth. Of course, if everything is working properly, you can move on to the next task of your day.
Contact an Expert
If you’re not comfortable fixing a leaking kitchen faucet yourself, that’s totally fine. You can bypass all of the previous steps and call a plumber in the Denver area.
They can come out and inspect the faucet for you. Another benefit of this is that they’ll often have a lot of the tools and supplies necessary to fix the faucet.
That way, you won’t have to spend money or time searching for the right replacement parts for your sink. If the plumber doesn’t have what you need, they should know exactly where to get it.
Now, maybe you tried to fix the faucet leak yourself, but the kitchen faucet is leaking still. It can be hard to put everything back together correctly.
Fortunately, an expert can help you in that case. They can discover what you did wrong, and they can make sure the faucet is able to work well.
Replace the Faucet
In some cases, you may need a new faucet to fix the leak. This can happen if a lot of the parts have worn down, especially if you have an older faucet.
You might not be able to find replacement parts for your faucet model. Head to your local hardware store to shop for a new one, and that may solve your issue.
How Will You Fix a Leaking Kitchen Faucet?
A leaking kitchen faucet can be annoying, but it could also cost you money thanks to a higher water bill. Luckily, you can take some steps to fix the problem yourself.
If you’re not comfortable doing that, be sure to contact a plumber you trust. They can help you determine the cause and offer a solution.
We know how tough it can be to repair a faucet leak, and we can help. Contact us to schedule a visit with our plumbers in Castle Rock, CO.
