How To Handle a Leaky Faucet

11/24/2021 (Permalink)

Repair your leaky faucet as soon as possible to avoid water damage in your Clearfield, UT home.

A leaky faucet may seem like a minor annoyance, but it can cause a spike in the utility bill as well as significant water damage if it is allowed to persist. Knowing how to fix a leaking faucet, therefore, is a useful skill for homeowners in Clearfield, UT. Here are some simple steps to follow to ensure that you do the job correctly.

3 Steps to Handle a Leaky Faucet

1. Repair Water Damage

A dripping faucet is likely a sign of a mechanical problem, and that means the water may not just be dripping into the sink and flowing safely down the drain. Faucet repair should start with assessing the damage to the surrounding cabinet. If there is a problem, call local water restoration professionals such as SERVPRO. SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for many insurance companies for several reasons:

• 24-hour emergency response
• Certified technicians
• Service warranties
• Easy-to-access Claims Information Center
  

To fix the issue, technicians must turn the water off to the faucet. Then they tear out damaged materials and rebuild the cabinet. Once the damage is repaired, it's time to fix the faucet to prevent future problems.

2. Identify the Problem

There are many issues that can cause a leaking faucet. In a compression faucet, the seat washer may need to be replaced. A ball faucet includes various components such as O-rings, cam washers, valve seats, and springs, that could be faulty. If you have a cartridge faucet, the O-ring is the likely culprit. Once you have identified the part that is causing the problem, you simply replace it and reassemble the faucet in the reverse of the order you used to take it apart.

Sometimes, all that you need to do is tighten a part of the faucet's mechanism. Most homeowners already have the tools to do this at home. If you need a part or a tool, you can typically find it at the local hardware store.

3. Know When To Ask for Help

If you can't find the problem or the steps you take don't fix it, it is time to call the plumber. Finding a certified professional to take care of the issue does more than just restore the use of the faucet in a timely manner. It also helps you avoid further water damage that occurs due to an unresolved issue.

Filing an insurance claim for water damage can be tricky. It's even more difficult when the problem is exacerbated by poor repair decisions. If you can achieve a fixed leak, that's great. However, if your efforts don't yield the necessary results, you could set yourself up for a large out-of-pocket expense if your mistakes lead to further damage. Knowing when to admit you need help can save you a lot of time and money.

Fixing a leaking faucet is usually easier than it seems. Once you learn how all the parts fit together, reassembling the fixture with new parts is no problem. The bigger issue is often the water damage resulting from the leak. A quick call to SERVPRO, however, gets the affected area repaired and restored in no time.