If your bathroom sink leaks or drips when the faucet is turned off, there is most likely a problem with the seal inside the faucet head, enabling water to run through or drip.
Consider whether you can fix the leak in your bathroom sink yourself before calling a professional plumber. You might be able to stop faucet drips and leaks by learning how to disassemble the faucet and replace the replacement parts. Gather the following equipment and supplies to get started on this DIY project:
The methods below will show you how to identify which side of the faucet is leaking as well as how to remove, repair, and replace the faucet head.
Turn off the water supply to the faucet
You must first turn off the water supply. This can be accomplished by turning the shut-off valves under the sink. Start by shutting off the cold water valve alone to see which side of the faucet is leaking. Turn off the hot water valve if the water continues to drip. Turn off both valves once you’ve determined which side of the handle faucets is causing the problem.
The valves under the sink don’t always turn. If this is the case, turn off the property’s main water valve. This is the water meter on the outside. To switch off the water valve, open the water meter lid and crank the knob inside clockwise. A specific key is required for several main water valves. Contact your local municipal water service to receive this information.
Remove the faucet
There are a variety of faucets that require different removal techniques, but their architecture is generally the same.
Before you begin, turn both knobs to the “on” position to drain any remaining water from the faucet. To avoid losing any parts or tools, make sure the sink drain is closed. To protect the sink’s surface, place a towel inside.
Remove the screw on the faucet handle with an Allen wrench (this specific screw is also sometimes referred to as the set screw). You can remove the decorative cap by gently pulling it off with a Phillips flathead screwdriver if one is present. Remove the handle to access the faucet cartridge, which is situated inside the faucet.
Remove the faucet cartridge
To unscrew the hex on top of the faucet cartridge, you may need to remove a “beauty ring” with a crescent wrench. The cartridge should then simply remove itself from the faucet. Simply grip the cartridge firmly and pull upwards to remove it.
After removing the old cartridge, use a clean towel to thoroughly dry the area and components. You’re now ready to swap out the old cartridge for the new one.
Replace the faucet cartridge
Install the replacement cartridge by inserting it and pressing it into position. Reattach the “beauty ring” with a crescent wrench or pliers, being careful not to overtighten and strip the packing nut.
Reinstall the faucet
You’re ready to reinstall the faucet handles on the sink now that you’ve replaced the old, worn-out components.
Set the screw with an Allen wrench over the freshly installed faucet cartridge and place the handle over it. Open the water valve once everything is in position and secure. Before checking for leaks, make sure the sink is clear of any tools or other debris.
Slowly turn the hot and cold water handles to the “on” position to avoid damaging the newly installed components. Allow one to two minutes for water to run to clear any debris that has accumulated on the new pieces. This prevents the aerator from becoming blocked. Keep an eye out for any evidence of leaks during this time. If the aerator is slow, immerse it in vinegar to clear out the debris.
Call an expert
If your faucet is still leaking after following these instructions, you may need the assistance of a professional plumbing firm. DIY can become complicated when dealing with more complex issues. You may wind up inflicting more harm than good without specialized tools and knowledge, necessitating the quick hiring of a plumber.
It may be time to replace the faucet if you’ve had it for a long period. Faucets, like any other home appliance, have a limited lifespan and will need to be replaced at some point. If there are leaks in multiple spots around the faucet or replacement components are no longer available, it may be time to consider replacing it with a newer model.
You can also enroll in a house warranty with Cinch Home Services to be proactive about possible leaks. We can connect you with a local service provider who can assist you stop the leak with a service call.
Why isn’t my sink faucet turning off?
You can rest easy if the sound of a dripping faucet keeps you awake at night, and you’re concerned about how much water you’re squandering. Fixing a leaky faucet is simple and affordable; even the most inexperienced DIYer can do it.
Most faucet repair kits can readily detect and repair the most typical causes of a leaking faucet: a worn washer or gasket, a loose O ring, and rust in the valve seat. Leaks in bathroom, shower, and kitchen faucets are most commonly caused by damaged or degraded faucet parts, especially if your property has an older model.
What’s the best way to turn off a faucet that won’t turn off?
When you turn the handle on your kitchen faucet, it will not turn off, and water will continue to flow. Is this anything that you’re experiencing?
All of these issues are reasonably simple to remedy, but they will necessitate the use of the proper tools and mechanical understanding. We’ll delve deeper into these three difficulties and how to address them. But first, let’s turn off the water in your faucet.
- On the wall, there should be two valves (one marked “C” for cold and the other “H” for hot). The water should cease running if you turn these to the OFF position.
Let’s take a look at why your kitchen faucet isn’t turning off and how to fix it.
On a faucet, what is an o-ring?
One or more O-Rings are used on kitchen faucets to keep water from seeping out around the spout base. When the O-Ring goes out, water will appear at the base of the spout every time the water is turned on.
What’s the best way to disassemble a two-handle faucet?
Using a pipe wrench or tongue-and-groove pliers, loosen the cartridge holding nut. Remove the nut from the faucet body by unscrewing it completely.
If there is a brass screw at the top of the cartridge, take note of it. When the setscrew on the faucet body is tightened against the cartridge shaft, it serves to reinforce it. Because not all replacement cartridges come with a new screw, you may need to remove the old one and reuse it in the new one.
How can I tell if my faucet cartridge is defective?
Replaceable cartridge valves are common in single-handle kitchen and bathroom faucets. Water pouring from the spout, difficulties regulating the water temperature, hot water entering cold water outlets such as toilet supply lines, and inadequately heated water at some faucets are all signs that a cartridge faucet needs to be repaired.
Because hot and cold water supplies meet at single-handle faucets, the last symptoms arise. A faulty faucet can allow both types of water to enter the pipes of the other.
Cartridge faucet problems usually indicate that the rubber O rings inside the faucet have worn out or that the cartridge channels have become clogged. The O rings and, if necessary, the cartridge must be replaced as part of the repair.
Turn off the water supply to the faucet before disassembling it to access to the cartridge. To do so, look beneath the sink for the two shutoff valves that control the plumbing leading to the faucet.
Why is my water running after the main has been turned off?
Water continues to flow after the mains have been turned off because the mains could not have been turned off properly. One cause is that the valve has not been turned far enough to shut off the water supply, and the other is that the valve is broken and needs to be replaced.
This could take roughly 30 seconds once the mains have been turned off and one tap is running.
The majority of the time, water valves become seized, which means they won’t shut off. This is especially prevalent with valves that haven’t been used in a long time and have a lot of scale and other minerals built up on them.
Are all O-rings on faucets the same size?
- AS568 Sizes Laminated Size Chart – Stop by this page to download our handy flip chart with the silhouettes of 239 distinct o-ring sizes.
- Place your o-ring on this molded sizing cone to determine if it’s the same size as one of our 184 most popular sizes.
- Sizing Gauge This sliding gauge measures an o-interior ring’s diameter up to 13 inches.
- Calipers are a type of caliper. This sliding tool, which can measure the diameter and length of several components, including o-rings, is a favored instrument for precision measurement. Most calipers will only extend 6 inches, therefore bigger than 6″ IDs will require a different tool.
- O-Sizer This specially designed o-ring measuring tape is available in three sizes and may be used to measure the ID of metric and AS568 o-rings up to 26″ in diameter.
- Pi-Tape The most accurate tool for measuring an o-interior ring’s diameter. Pi-Tapes are metal precision-engineered tapes that are used to measure the diameter of a round object. The thousandths of an inch (.001″) will be measured on each Pi Tape. Depending on the ID you need to measure, there are a variety of sizes available, but the most frequent sizes are 2-12″, 12-24″, 24-36″, 36-48″, and 48-60″.
- O-Ring Installation Tool The PRO TOOL V quickly and safely installs o-rings into the groove. Using this ergonomic o-ring installation equipment, you can protect the groove and the seal.
What is the cost of replacing O-rings?
Depending on the make, model, and year of your car, replacing your fuel injector O-rings could cost anywhere from $150 to $400. Jerry, a registered broker and vehicle insurance comparison website, explains how to replace your fuel injector O-rings in the video below.