A faucet – whether its kitchen or bathroom, is by far the most used plumbing fixture in the house. A good quality faucet can last you at least 15-20 years depending on frequency of use and quality of water.

Usually, the location of the leak can give you a good idea of what might be causing it. Here are some of the most common reasons for a leaky faucet:

Broken Cartridge

The water keeps dripping from the faucet, even when it’s off is usually a sign of a broken cartridge. Modern faucets, unlike older models, use plastic cartridges. That means they break more often and there is no way to fix them. The good news is that the cartridges itself do not cost a lot of money (usually between $40-80). The bad news is that it’s very hard to do on your own, especially if you don’t have any experience. This is a type of work, you might want to call a professional for.

Worn Out O-Ring

When you see water coming out of the faucet body, it’s usually a sign of a bad o-ring. You can easily purchase new o-ring at any home store, like Home Depot or Menards. There are lots of different sizes, so it’s good to bring the old one with you. That way you can make sure you get the right part. In order to replace an o-ring, you will need to disassemble the faucet. Then you will need to replace a faulty part and reassemble it back. You do not need a full set of plumbing tools, a simple wrench and a screwdriver is all you need. Do not forget to shut off the water under the sink before you start the repair.

Worn Out Washer

Another reason for a leaky faucet might be the washer. With the worn out washer, you will typically see the water coming out of your faucet handle. Much like o-rings, washers come in plenty of different sizes. Before you decide to get a new one, make sure to pull out the old washer. With a simple set of tools you can easily unscrew the problematic faucet handle. After that you can just remove the old washer and replace it with a new one. Be careful not over tighten the handle when you’re done.

Loose Faucet

Sometimes you will see the water dripping from the faucet under the sink, or around the base of the faucet. In many cases a simple tightening up of the faucet will stop the leak. Make sure to use proper set of tools for this type of work. It’s important so that you do not damage your faucet or over tighten it your faucet. 

Broken faucet

Sadly, faucets do break. In most cases leaky faucet can be repaired. But sometimes, especially when it’s old, it’s simply not worth investing in repair. If you have tried all of the tips described above and nothing helps – consider replacement. When buying a new faucet, you want to get a good quality brand. It’s a long term investment that will save you money overtime. Faucets with extremely low cost will not last you long. In addition, you may have multiple issues, spending lots of money on repairs and plumbing specialists.

Another important tip is to always save your receipt. Most faucets have limited warranty and you might want to use it.

If you don’t have any plumbing skills or simply prefer a professional to take care of repair or replacement, do not hesitate to contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help.