It isn't uncommon to see homeowners losing sleep over a leaky kitchen faucet. It may be just a trickle of water, but it amounts to a colossal waste of money and scarce resources. But the good news is that this inconsequential, yet very grating problem can be fixed rather easily without any professional help or hi-end plumbing tools.
Simple Steps That Promise A Quick-Fix Solution
Here are simple steps that teach you how to repair a leaky kitchen faucet with functional tools like a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench:
- Faucets are generally categorized into four types- ball type, ceramic disc, cartridge or compression type. You must be very sure about the one installed in your kitchen.
- The process starts with targeting the shut-off valve under the sink. Turn off the water and drain the contents of the pipe too.
- Cover the sink drain to prevent any small parts of the faucet from falling inside it.
- Starting with the faucet handle, unscrew all parts carefully, without losing track of their order of installation. This prevents any kind of confusion after repair. Collect all the parts in a cloth, and keep aside safely.
- Cover the jaws of the wrench with duct tape to prevent any damage to the fixtures.
- Now it's time to assess the damage. In case of a cartridge, ceramic disk or ball type faucet, the villain of the piece is generally the O-ring. Sometimes, it may be a double whammy, with a completely corroded valve seat as well. If it's in order, then you may have to shell out less than $20 and replace the entire assembly.
- Compression faucets are invariably plagued by worn-out seat washers. Once the handle is taken off, the packing nut needs to be unscrewed with a wrench. Remove the stem and change the damaged part.
- Apply plumber's grease or Vaseline on the same. A scouring pad or distilled white vinegar is applied to do away with the mineral deposits on the faucet parts.
- Once the faulty part is replaced, tighten all screws and replace the faucet handle cap.
- Turn on the water, and voila! Your leaky kitchen faucet is past tense.
So without any further ado, get your tools and fix this banal problem at once.