How do you stop a sink from dripping constantly!?

Question

I checked the washer and the little screen in the faucet thing on the end of the spout where the water comes out, but the hot and cold handles that you turn to get the water out...if you turn them tightly the water slows down or speeds up slightly..the drip slows or speeds up when you twist them, is this something we can fix or am i looking at a plumber here??

Answer 1

If it's not a cartridge type and uses washers in the handle as you suggest, the most likely cause is the seats that the washers close against are corroded. These can be removed and replaced. You need a special tool (not very expensive) to remove them. The main problem may be figuring out which seat you have. If you don't know the maker/model of the faucet, you may have to take one out and take it with you to a good hardware store. Locate the source of new seats while you're finding the tool to rmove the old ones.

Really not too difficult a task for a middle level DIYer.

Answer 2

It is definitely something you can do yourself. There are hundreds of brands of faucets, so try and determine what brand faucet you have. The age of the faucet will determine what type of "seat" you have, and that is half the battle. How the faucet comes apart is another story. Most faucets will have a screw on top of the handle. You might have to remove a decorative cap. Once you unscrew the screw, the handle should lift off. Now you should see some type of nut. This must be removed to get the stem out, (if yours is a stem type), or the cartridge, (if yours is a cartridge type. A stem type will have a small screw on the bottom, holding a rubber washer in place. For an emergency repair, you can flip this washer over and reinstall it. It will work fine, until you can get a new washer. Next, there is a seat, down inside the body of the faucet. This requires a seat tool, available at your local hardware store. You should look inside and check the shape of the inside of the seat, to see if a 4 sided seat tool is required, or a 6 sided tool is required. Unscrew the seat by turning counter clockwise. Once you have removed the seat, look at the top where the rubber seals against it. You will most likely find a pit or a worn down area, this is nhow the water is "leaking" by the rubber washer. Make sure you take this seat to the store with you, so that it can be checked on a guage, so that you get the proper replacement. Now install in the reverse order, and you are done. If you have a cartridge type, remove the cartridge, and down inside the faucet, there are 2 rubber seats, with springs under them. Most often all you need are these seats and springs. Replace both sides at the same time. Don't try and scrimp and just replace one side, or you will be doing this all over, in the very near future. Good luck, and if you have any trouble, you can always call a plumber. He has all the tools, and most times, will have the parts on his truck. DIY is good, but sometimes people bite off, more than they can chew.

Answer 3

If you've changed the faucet washers and the drip is still there, the valve seats are worn. You can change them using a valve seat wrench available anywhere plumbing supplies are sold (they only cost a couple of bucks). I just changed them in one of my bathroom showers ... it's simple.

First, turn off the water feeder valves. Then remove the valve assembly and, using the valve seat wrench, wind out the old valve seat and then thread in the new one. Make sure your faucet washer isn't cut up from the old seat (change it if you see any nicks or cuts), re-seat the faucet valve, turn the water on by opening the feeder valves again, and you should be good to go! It's very easy ... good luck!

Answer 4

Sounds like the the faucets need a new washer installed on the valves. It is easy to do. All you do is turn the main valve off got your water that goes to nobs, take the handles off, take a wrench and unscrew the valves and then replace the washer with a screw driver. Follow what you did in reverse and you installed everything and turn the master valve back on and you have it fixed and you saved the price of a plumber.

Answer 5

The aerators are not the difficulty, extra probably it somewhat is the springs and or seats that want changing or the o rings which while they start to visit pot will reason the leaking. Aerators mixture the water with air because it comes by the faucet end, they don't preclude nor reason your sink to leak. you will desire to substitute the O rings, whether or not they be plastic or rubber, or the springs and seats looking on your sort of faucet. you extremely should have your maintenance team handle this difficulty, additionally on the grounds that those taps get lots use the taps themselves would desire to be worn, in which you will would desire to incorporate new taps to end the leaks. Have somebody respected check out this difficulty and are available lower back with a value estimate to your concern.

Answer 6

Well, sounds like you're curious enough to do this yourself. Do you have a separate water shut-off tap below your sink? If so, shut off the water to the tap and turn the taps on to drain the remaining water out. You likely need to replace the washers in the hot and cold water taps. If you can take the taps off (adjustable wrench required) you can take the parts with you to your home hardware store, buy replacements and replace the washers yourself !

Answer 7

Well, i bet you can find a tutorial on the net about this.... All you have to do is replace the gasket on the faucet, but you'll have to open it... Or, better yet, call an plumber and tell him you need a gasket replaced....
Or a cork would do an excellent job.

Answer 8

the seat is pitted where the washer sits if the washer is good. Yo can get a seat dresser tool which will make the seat smooth again

Answer 9

you may need a new faucet because the handles are worn. which you and a friend could change yourself.

Answer 10

you will need to replace the bushings in your leaky facet knob go to home depot they give you a quick how to on it too