While leaky faucets and fixtures may seem like a minor inconvenience, they can lead to wasted water, annoying noises, and even increased water bills. Here, the trusted plumbers at Bewley Plumbing will explore ways to repair faucets and fixtures and get them functioning correctly.
Preparing to Repair a Faucet or Fixture
To prepare for a faucet repair, take the following steps:
- Ensure the drain is blocked off with a rag or stopper to prevent items from falling in when you are working.
- Have a clean workspace where you can lay out the components of your faucet or fixture in the order you’ve removed them.
- Get the necessary tools together.
- Make sure you have the needed replacement parts, so they can be easily swapped out.
Repairing Faucets
Some common causes of faucet leaks include:
- Deteriorated rubber washers or seals — These parts can harden over time and not work as well as they should, causing leaks to occur.
- Corroded valve seats have corroded — A valve seat creates a connection between the faucet and spout. If this corrodes, water may leak through.
- Damaged or loose O-rings — An O-ring is a little rubber ring used to make a water-tight seal between certain types of faucets’ handles and spouts.
- Worn cartridges or ceramic disks — Newer faucets utilize a ceramic disk or cartridge to control the water flow. In the event they are damaged or wear out, water may leak.
- Excessively high water pressure — If water pressure is too high, it can strain faucet parts, potentially causing leaks.
Depending on the type of faucet you have, the repair process will look different. The following are four main types of faucets and how to repair leaks in each.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Tools
- Utility knife
- Needle nose pliers
- Screw driver
- Small slotted screw driver
- Adjustable wrench
- Crescent wrench
- Blunt screwdriver
- Spanner wrench
- Soft scouring pad
- Hex-key wrench
Note: You may not need all these tools at the same time. Depending on your faucet and the problem you’re trying to fix, first determine which tools you should have on standby.
Materials
- Non-toxic and heat-proof plumber’s grease
- Replacement faucet cartridge
- Replacement seals
- Distilled white vinegar
Repairing a Leaking Cartridge Faucet
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Materials
- Replacement O-rings
- Replacement cartridge
- Non-toxic and heat-proof plumber’s grease
- Step 1. Turn off the water supply to your sink.
- Step 2. Pry the decorative cap from the top of the handle.
- Step 3. If the cartridge is held in place by a threaded retaining clip, remove it using a pair of needle-nosed pliers. Next, remove the cartridge by pulling it straight up.
- Step 4. Take off the spout and cut off the old O-rings with a utility knife. Before installing the new O-rings, coat them with a non-toxic and heat-proof plumber’s grease.
- Step 5. To replace the cartridge, match the length of the old cartridge with the new one, and ensure the stem end, where the faucet handle attaches, also matches.
Repairing a Leaking Compression Faucet
Please note that depending on the location of the leak in your compression faucet, you may not need to complete all the steps.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
- Tools
- Screwdriver
- Crescent wrench
- Adjustable wrench
- Materials
- Non-toxic and heat-proof plumbing grease
- Replacement O-ring
- Emory cloth
- Replacement valve seat (If original needs to be replaced)
- Step 1. Turn off the water to your sink.
- Step 2. A leak in a compression faucet is often caused by seat washers. Pry off the decorative cap on the handle with either a utility knife or a small slotted screwdriver to reveal the attachment screws.
- Step 3. Remove the handle screw using a screwdriver, then pull the handle off.
- Step 4. Unscrew the packing nut with a crescent wrench and remove the stem from the faucet body using an adjustable wrench.
- Step 5. Unscrew the rubber washer at the bottom of the stem, so that you can remove and replace the seat washer.
- Step 6. Coat the washers using a non-toxic and heat-proof plumbing grease.
- Step 7. Remove the stem from the packing nut, then replace the O-ring, which is often the cause of leaking handles. Be sure to replace the O-ring with one that is the correct size for the faucet. Before putting on the new O-ring, be sure to coat it with a non-toxic plumbing grease.
- Step 8. A retainer is a recessed disk where the washer sits. If the retainer has been damaged, grind it to make it flush and replace the retainer ring with a new one. After this, if the sink is still leaking, it may be because the valve seat is pitted.
Step 9. To fix the pitted seat, take out the stem and use an emery cloth to sand the seat’s top end to make it smooth.- Step 10. If you are unable to repair the seat, you’ll have to replace it.
Repairing a Leaking Ceramic Disc Faucet
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Tools
- Screw driver
- Blunt screw driver
Materials
- Soft scouring pad
- Distilled white vinegar
- Replacement cylinder kit (optional)
- Step 1. Turn off the water supply to your sink.
- Step 2. Push back the handle to reveal the set screw.
- Step 3. Take off the escutcheon cap. Unscrew the mounting screws on the disc cylinder. Lift the cylinder out.
- Step 4. Use a blunt screwdriver to lift the neoprene seals out of the cylinder. You’ll need to replace any damaged seals.
- Step 5. Clean the cylinder openings with a soft scouring pad and distilled white vinegar.
- Step 6. Replace the seals and put the faucet back together.
- Step 7. Move the faucet handle to the “ON” position and slowly turn the water on. If the water is turned on too fast, it might fracture the ceramic disk.
- Step 8. Although it’s generally not necessary, if you are going to replace the entire cylinder, get it in position and use the new mounting screws to secure it.
Fixing a Leaking Ball-Type Faucet
A ball-type faucet has many parts that can make it hard to find the leak’s source. To keep things simple, if you want, you can get a replacement kit and install all new parts.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
- Tools
- Pocket knife
- Hex-head
- Adjustable pliers
- Spanner wrench
- Needle-nose pliers
- Materials
- Ball-type faucet repair kit (optional)
If you don’t have a ball-type faucet repair kit
- Two replacement springs
- Two replacement valve seats
- Cam cap
- Rubber gasket
- Step 1. Turn off the water supply to your sink.
- Step 2. Pry off the small index cover located on the faucet’s side using a pocket knife. This will expose the hex-head screw.
- Step 3. Use a hex-key wrench to remove the screw. Then, pull the faucet handle off.
- Step 4. Take off the cap and collar using adjustable pliers.
- Step 5. If you have a faucet repair kit, use the included tool to loosen the faucet cam. Then, lift it out with the rotating ball and cam washer.
- Step 6. Remove the rubber seats and springs in the faucet body with needle-nose pliers.
- Step 7. Put a new spring and rubber seat on a pencil tip. Lower the pencil down into the faucet to put the spring and rubber seat into position.
- Step 8. Repeat the process to install the second seat and spring.
- Step 9. Put the stainless steel ball back in. Be sure to align the stainless steel ball’s keyway with the corresponding tab found in the faucet body.
- Step 10. Install a new cam cap and rubber gasket on top of the stainless steel ball.
- Step 11. Position the cam cap’s keyway with the corresponding slot.
- Step 12. Tighten the top cap assembly back on the faucet by hand.
Step 13. Tighten the nut with a spanner wrench to create the appropriate tension on the stainless steel ball.
When to Contact a Professional Plumber for Your Faucet
Although you can do many types of faucet repairs yourself, there are some cases where you may need to contact a professional plumber. These include:
- The faucet body has irreparable or extensive damage.
- If you don’t feel comfortable doing the plumbing work or don’t have the proper tools.
- Certain intricate plumbing arrangements might need specialized knowledge.
- If, after trying to repair the faucet, the leak is still there, or trying to repair the faucet causes additional problems, it’s a good idea to contact a professional.
How to Fix a Leaking Showerhead
A leaking showerhead can be a real annoyance. Here, we’ll cover how to repair one.
Before Beginning the Repair
To repair your leaking showerhead, it’s important to determine what type of leak you have.
Leaks Occur When the Shower Head is On
If your showerhead has a leak when it is in the “ON” position, it may be due to the shower’s holes being clogged with buildup. If this happens, the shower head will need to be repaired or replaced.
Leaks Occur When the Shower Head is OFF
If the shower head leaks when it is turned off, there’s a good chance that the faucet valve is old or defective and needs to be replaced.
Repairing the Showerhead
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Tools
- A plastic bowl
- A small scrub brush
- Channel lock pliers (optional)
- A damp washcloth (optional)
- Nylon scrub brush
- A towel (if necessary)
Materials
- Thread-sealing tape (Telfohn tape)
- White vinegar
- Step 1. Removing the Showerhead: Before you begin, ensure the shower’s faucet handle is completely set to “OFF”. Use your hands to turn the showerhead counterclockwise to remove it. If you are having trouble turning the showerhead by hand, you can use a damp washcloth for a better grip or a pair of chain-lock pliers.
- Step 2. Cleaning the Showerhead: The showerhead has a screen, rubber O-rings, and potentially other internal components. Check to see if they are intact, blocked with sediment, or damaged. If the inside of the showerhead is dirty, clean it. Do this by submerging your showerhead in a white vinegar-filled bowl for one to two hours. After doing that, rinse the parts off with cold water before you reassemble them.
- Step 3. Wrapping the Pipe Threads: Use a small nylon scrub brush to clean the shower arm’s threads. Use thread-sealing tape (sometimes sold under the name Teflon tape) to wrap the threads counterclockwise one to two times around.
- Step 4. Reassembling the Showerhead: Put the showerhead back on the shower arm by threading it on and tightening it by hand. Briefly turn on the shower faucet to check if it is working properly. If the showerhead keeps dribbling, but only when the shower faucet is turned on, you may want to look into replacing the whole showerhead.
Fixing a Leaking Showerhead Cartridge
The majority of single-handle shower faucets utilize a replaceable cartridge inside the body of the faucet. This cartridge controls the flow of water and the mix of hot and cold water with rings and seals. If the cartridge isn’t properly sealed, water will slowly trickle up the showerhead even if the shower is off.
Tools and Materials You’ll Need
Tools
- Flat head screwdriver
- Utility knife (if chalk bead needs to be cut through)
- Towel (if necessary)
- Chanel lock pliers (depending on the cartridge)
- Hex wrench (may be needed)
- Manufacturer-specific cartridge removal tool (optional)
Materials
- Replacement Cartridge Kit
- Step 1. Shutting the Water Off:
- Shut the water off to the shower controls.
- A house could have an intermediary fixture shutoff valve on the other side of the shower, commonly, behind a wall panel.
- A shower faucet may have shutoff valves built into it. The shutoff valves here will be visible when the escutcheon plate has been removed. To stop water flow here, use a screwdriver to turn the valves to stop the flow of water from the cold and hot supply tubes that go to the faucet’s body.
- If there isn’t a shutoff valve for your shower, you will have to turn off the water using the main shutoff valve.
- Step 2. Removing the Faucet’s Handle
- Place a towel on the drain to help stop small items from falling in it while working on the faucet. There’s a good chance your shower faucet’s handle will have a cap at the end that can be removed by carefully prying it from the wall using a utility knife or screwdriver. Once the cap is off, remove the handle screw. In certain circumstances, a hex wrench might be needed to unscrew the handle screw.
- Step 3. Removing the Escutscheon Plate
- An escutcheon, also known as a face plate, generally covers the faucet valve. You can remove an escutcheon by unscrewing it. The chalk bead around the escutcheon may need to be cut through to remove it.
- Step 4. Removing the Retaining Clip
- A metal retaining clip generally holds the faucet cartridge in place inside the faucet body. Use a flathead screwdriver to gently pry off the U-shaped retaining clip. Remove any washers from the end of the cartridge.
- Depending on the shower faucet, a hex nut may need to be removed before the cartridge can be taken out.
- Some manufacturers have specific cartridge removal tools to make removing their specific cartridge easier.
- Step 5. Sliding the Cartridge Out
- Slide the cartridge out of the faucet body. The cartridge generally slides straight in and out, so you shouldn’t have to twist or turn it. However, for certain cartridges, you might need channel lock pliers to grip the stem and remove the cartridge by twisting it.
- Step 6. Installing the New Showerhead Cartridge
- Generally, the new showerhead cartridge will slide right into the faucet body if the tab on the cartridge is correctly aligned with the faucet body’s groove. Once the showerhead cartridge has been installed, reattach the retaining clip and hex screw if necessary. Ensure that any washers that have been removed are replaced.
- Step 7. Reattaching the Handle and Escutcheon
- Reverse your earlier steps to reassemble when putting the handle and escutcheon back on. You may need to reapply caulk when reattaching the escutcheon. Remember to turn the water back on from the source. Make sure your shower is working correctly by firmly turning it off and on a few times. You’ll be able to tell if the new cartridge is correctly controlling the flow of water.
When to Contact a Plumbing Professional
Most shower head leaks can be resolved by cleaning the shower head’s internal components and replacing the cartridge. If you’ve done both as described above and you still have a leak, you should contact a plumbing professional.
Fixing Leaking Bathtub Faucets
Leaking bathtub faucets can waste water and increase your home’s water bill. Here, you’ll learn how to repair leaking single- and two-handled bathtub faucets.
Single-Handle Bathtub Faucets
Single-handle faucets generally control water flow using a metal, plastic, or rubber valve cartridge system. A single-handle bathtub faucet leak may be caused by a worn-out or corroded rubber O-ring or valve cartridge.
You’ll need the following tools and materials:
Tools for Single Handle Faucets
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Flathead screwdriver
- Adjustable screwdriver
- Allen wrench set
- Needle-nose pliers
- Cartridge puller
- Towel (If necessary)
Materials for Repairing Single-Handle Faucets
- Replacement valve cartridge
- Step 1. Turning the Main Water Valve Off
- Start by turning off the main valve to shut off water to the faucet.
- Put a towel on the drain to stop small items from falling down it.
- Step 2. Removing Faucet Handle
- Unscrew and remove the screw found on the single-faucet handle using an Allen wrench set.
- Slide the handle off, then take off the escutcheon.
- Using needle-nose pliers, grab the top of the U-shaped wire retainer clip and lift straight up to take it off.
- Step 3. Removing and Replacing the Valve Cartridge
- Take note of the position of the valve cartridge. Using needle-nose pliers or a cartridge removal tool, grab the end of the cartridge and pull it out.
- Take care to insert the new cartridge in the same position and push it in by hand.
- Put the retainer clip back in.
- Step 4. Putting the Faucet Back Together
- Turn back on the main water valve slowly.
- Using a flashlight, look for leaks around the faucet area.
- Put the faucet escutcheon back and reattach the faucet handle.
Double-Handle Bathtub Faucets
A leaking double-handle faucet is probably caused by a cracked, corroded, or heavily worn-down rubber washer inside the metal faucet seat. Water can leak from the faucet if the rubber washer can’t hold it back. The majority of double-handle faucet leaks can be solved by replacing the rubber washer.
You’ll need the following tools and materials:
Tools:
- Flathead screwdriver
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Allen wrench set
- Adjustable wrench
- Needle nose pliers
- Cartridge puller
- Seat wrench (if replacing the faucet seat)
- Towel (if necessary)
Materials:
- Two replacement valve seats
- Rubber flat faucet washer and a screw kit (assortment)
- Step 1. Determining Which of the Two Faucets is Leaking
- You’ll need to find out if the hot or cold faucet is the source of the leak. You can do this by feeling what temperature the dripping water is.
- If the dripping water is cold, the problem is with the cold side of the faucet. If the dripping water is warm, the issue is with the warm side of the faucet.
- If the faucet has a slow drip, turn off the hot or cold water supply—be sure to only do one at a time. If the drip continues after the hot or cold water supply has been turned off, the leak is coming from the other side.
- Step 2. Turning Off the Water
- Locate your home’s main water supply shut-off valve and turn it off.
- Open up your bathtub faucets to allow any remaining water in them to drain.
- Place a towel on the drain to prevent items from falling in it.
- Step. 3 Removing the Faucet Handle
- Using a flathead screwdriver or butter knife, pry the metal or plastic cap covering the faucet handle screw.
- Use a Phillips head screwdriver to unscrew the faucet head screw.
- Remove the handle by pulling it straight out. The screw might still be inside the handle, but will come out once the handle has been removed.
- Take off the decorative metal or plastic trim plate, also known as an escutcheon, that goes over the pipe opening by unscrewing it or pulling it straight out. You may need to remove a small set screw at the escutcheon’s side using a Phillips head screwdriver.
- Step 4. Taking Off the Stem Assembly
- Use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the brass nut that holds the stem assembly in position. Then remove the stem assembly by pulling it out.
- Step 5. Removing and Installing a New Rubber Washer
- Look at the backside of the stem assembly.
- Unscrew the set screw that holds the rubber washer in place with a Phillips head screwdriver.
- Get rid of the old washer.
- Take a cleaning cloth and clean the back of the stem assembly.
- Put the new rubber washer in the assembly.
- If included in the kit, use the included screw.
- If there is no new screw in the kit, clean the old one and reuse it.
- Step 6. (Optional) Replacing the Brass Faucet Seat
- Check the brass faucet seat for signs of damage using a flashlight.
- If you encounter wear, corrosion, or nicks on the cone-shaped part, it will need to be replaced.
- Use a seat wrench to unscrew the faucet seat and take it off.
- Put the replacement faucet seat onto the seat wrench, then screw it in.
- Be careful not to drop the old or new seat into the opening in the wall.
- Step 7. Putting the Bathtub Faucet Back Together
- Put the stem assembly back into position and use the brass nut to secure it.
- Put the escutcheon back.
- Slide the faucet handle back into position on the stem.
- Screw the faucet back on.
- Reattach the cap cover by snapping it on.
- Step 8. Testing the Faucet to Ensure it Works
- Make sure that the faucet is off.
- At the water main, SLOWLY turn back on the water to full pressure.
- Turn on the faucets for a few seconds and turn them off to check for any leaks.
When to Contact a Professional Plumber for Bathtub Faucet Leaks
If the above repairs haven’t worked, you’ll want to contact a plumber. If you don’t have the right tools or the faucet body has significant damage, it’s a good idea to contact a plumber.