It’s time to fix a leaky faucet. How does that sound to you?
If you’re the type of go-get–’em DIYer that likes to learn how to do new things, then you should go for it.
On the other hand, if the thought of figuring out which of the four types of faucets you have, making a trip to the hardware store, and following detailed step-by-step guides sounds intimidating, you might want to call a plumber.
Four Types Of Faucets
The first step, if you’re going to fix it yourself, is to figure out what kind of faucet you have:
-
- A compression faucet typically has two handles to control the amount of hot and cold water. Most inexpensive bathroom faucets fall into this category.
- A ceramic disk faucet also typically has two handles with one or two ceramic disks inside. You can tell them apart by the way they feel when you turn them on and off — a ceramic disk faucet has a smoother feel — or by opening them up.
- A ball faucet is common in bathroom sinks. It has a ball bearing inside a single handle that rotates and slides back and forth to control the flow and temperature of the water.
- A cartridge faucet has a cartridge that rotates inside a single handle to allow water to flow. High-end kitchen faucets usually have a cartridge.
Turn Off The Water!
We can’t tell you how many nightmare scenarios we’ve heard about fixes gone wrong — or at least gone really splashy and wet.
It’s simple enough to avoid a flood in your bathroom, kitchen, or utility room: Shut off the water supply beneath the sink by turning the valves completely, counterclockwise, before starting your repair job.
You do not need to turn off the main water supply to do this repair.
Make Sure You Have The Right Tools — And Reliable Instructions
Once you’ve figured out what kind of faucet you have, you’ll need to gather a couple of tools. Typically, a pipe wrench or channel-lock pliers, a Phillips screwdriver, and needle-nose pliers are the tools you’ll need to make this repair.
Next, look up detailed instructions about how to repair your particular type of leaky faucet. They’re all different mechanisms and require different parts. (Even if you have a worn-out O-ring, one of the most common culprits of the leaky faucet, you need to replace it with an exact replica. There are no interchangeable parts that can be used in multiple types of faucets.)
The best thing to do is find a number of reliable tutorials online for your type of faucet and review them carefully before you begin. Then get the parts you need and proceed, following the instructions carefully.
The Benefits Of Hiring A Plumber To Fix A Leaky Faucet
If you’d rather skip the YouTube tutorials and get an expert in to fix your leaky faucet, you’ll get some benefits other than not having to DIY it:
- The job will be done right. No accidental wrong parts, mixups that turn into bigger problems, or repair redos because you put it back together incorrectly.
- A reputable, experienced plumber will be able to tell you the state of your faucet. Does it just need a simple fix or is the problem more complicated? If the latter, is it worth the cost of replacing the faucet or not?
- If you do end up needing to replace the faucet, your plumber can act as a guide to help you choose a new piece of hardware that will get the job done for a long time to come.