Faucet Leak Repair 101

A faucet leak is one of the most common home improvement problems. From bathrooms to kitchens, worn out washers, seats, o rings, and seals can cause a faucet leak that ranges from inconvenient to catastrophic. Most leaky faucets are within reach of your average homeowner to fix if you have the right tools, though many homeowners choose to call in a professional plumber to ensure the job is done right. Here’s a list of some common faucet leak problems and how to fix them.

The Compression Faucet Leak

The first step of identifying any leaky faucet is figuring out what type of faucet you have. Compression faucets are older, though still fairly common. They generally consist of a faucet with two knobs, one for cold water and one for hot. When the knobs are turned open, the faucet is opened and water is allowed through. These faucets tend to fail when the washers on each knob fails. To fix these faucets, you’re usually looking at a simple washer replacement.

The Washerless Faucet Leak

The other type of faucet that is common in most households is of the washerless variety, though the term “washerless” is a bit misleading. These faucets still have washers of different varieties, but they also have a host of other components that allow them to operate and that can fail and cause leaks. These types of faucets include ball faucets, disk faucets, and cartridge faucets. While washerless faucets are generally more reliable and last longer than compression faucets, fixing leaks in them can also be more of a challenge.

Whether you plan to fix your faucet leak yourself, or prefer to hire a professional to come solve your problem for you, it’s a good idea to call a plumber to help you address your problem. Most plumbers will be happy to walk you through a simple faucet repair on the phone, giving you basic guidelines and outlining the tools and parts you’ll need to get the job done right. And if you’re not into do-it-yourself repairs, they’ll be more than happy to come out and take care of your faucet leak for you.

Plumbing Tips

Know Your Plumbing

The plumbing system in your home should have a series of emergency shutoff valves. We recommend that you find, identify, and tag these valves so that you can be familiar with their location in case of an emergency.

Kitchen Shutoff Valves

Below your kitchen sink, you should find shutoff valves for both the hot and cold water. In some cases, the valves may be below the kitchen in the basement, or they could be installed both below the sink and also in the basement.

Bathroom Valves

In your bathroom, there are valves for the lavatory, toilet, and bathtub. The lavatory valves usually can be found below the fixture. Tub valves can be in the basement or behind an access plate behind the faucet controls behind the decorative cover. The toilet has a single cold water valve, normally installed below the water tank.

Main Shutoff Valves

The water line coming in from the street is often connected to the water meter, followed by a master shutoff valve for the entire home. By closing this valve, you will shut off the water throughout the house. This is an instant action for serious emergencies.

Hiring A Professional Plumber When Remodeling Your Bathroom

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Undertaking a major renovation project that involves plumbing, such as a bathroom remodel, can be a hectic and tense process. In order to help simplify the process, Louisville, KY homeowners need to be able to have access to all necessary information, ahead of time. One piece of information that the homeowner needs to know about, prior to the bathroom renovation project, is who they should hire to provide all of the plumbing services. Working with an experienced professional plumber who is not only both licensed and bonded but who also has experience in bathroom remodeling projects is tremendously important. When homeowners hire professional plumbers with this criteria it will help to guarantee that their bathroom renovation project will be completed according to their wishes.

When taking an existing master bathroom in Louisville, KY and redesigning it with an elaborate makeover, that will match the needs and wants of the owner such as modern upgraded vanities or perhaps a steam shower, the project will often call for additional and sometimes extensive plumbing work. And although this can take more time and money, it is imperative that the homeowner take the time to hire an experienced professional plumber that they can trust to make sure their wishes are met during the remodeling project. A homeowner in Louisville, KY wants to be sure that when their bathroom remodeling project is complete it is truly a place of serenity where they can relax and unwind. Whether a homeowner in Louisville, KY is making major or minor improvements to their bathroom, hiring an experienced professional plumbing company, such as ASI Plumbing, will provide them piece of mind that their remodeling project will turn out as they had envisioned.