Fixing a leaky kitchen faucet is an easy DIY task, but it can be difficult to find the time with so much else on your plate.
You might not even know that you have a leaky kitchen faucet until you see water all over your floor or notice increased water bills.
For this reason, it’s important to periodically inspect all of the plumbing in your home for leaks and other problems.
The following are some common causes of leaks:
- The most typical cause is a damaged washer. If the leak persists, replace the washers and seats with new ones. This can be done in minutes by removing the handle from underneath it first (most handles unscrew counterclockwise) then remove any visible bolts before finally uninstalling your faucet (usually just twisting or prying).
- Loose connections are also another common cause of leaks. This can be fixed by tightening the faucet to the sink and any other piping that may have become loose over time via a wrench or pliers.
- The o-rings on your fittings, including those at the base of both handles, should be replaced every year or two years depending on how often you use your tap; this is an easy fix to try before doing anything more involved like replacing washers as well.
If you have a leaky kitchen faucet, there are two parts that could be the issue: the washer and the stem.
The best way to know for certain which part is leaking is to remove it from your faucet and take it somewhere where you can see if water leaks out of either end while sitting flat on its side (e.g., underneath a counter).
If one or both leaks then this will help narrow down what needs replacing and how easy/hard the fix may be.
Always remember to turn off any running water before beginning repairs as well as use gloves when handling wet plumbing components.
A few things worth noting about repairing kitchen fixtures in general is that they might need re-piping should they be older than five years and/or have been replaced before.
Depending on the age, there might also be a need to replace any rubber washers or o-rings that are present in either parts of the faucet.
These wear out after time so this is an extra step you may want to take as well when replacing your leaky kitchen faucet.
Some helpful hints for making sure all your plumbing is in good shape.
It includes checking and tightening connections, replacing o-rings on faucet fittings (including those at the base of both handles) every year or two years depending on how often you use your tap.
And getting an annual plumbing inspection to make sure all is well.
Step by Step Instructions
- find the right replacement parts online before starting any work so that there would be no surprises; this makes it much easier as if you had everything ready when needed without having to spend time running around looking for something else.
- Turn off water supply valve located under sink in order to cut power supply from main line outside house.
- Loosen the stem nut and remove old faucet from sink; in my case, I unscrewed it by hand. Remove o-rings and set them aside to reuse later if possible.
- Apply a thin layer of Teflon tape onto threads on new faucets before screwing into place – this is what was missing when removing the leaky one!.
- Make sure you use enough so that there’s no space for water or other fluids to seep through without getting caught up with sealant first.
- Then tighten until snug as usual but not too tight like last time. (You don’t want your replacement leaking!)
- Don’t forget about those previously mentioned o-rings at the base of both handles before attaching to the sink.
- Replace all washers if needed, and let it dry completely for a day before turning on water supply again.
Finally, Check your work by filling both bowls with water – there should be no leaks!
If you’re still getting some leakage from somewhere in kitchen faucet or handles, just tighten everything up until it stops dripping
If all else fails with repairs then it’s best to call a licensed plumber who can determine at what level specialty tools will be required for your specific issue.
Conclusion
By following this guide, You should be able to fix most leaking kitchens fairly quickly yourself so long as you have some basic knowledge about non-electric plumbing repair techniques!
If not, we recommend hiring an experienced plumbing professional to fix the leak for you.
