How to fix a leaky compression faucet

Leaky faucets are undoubtedly very annoying. It also consistently wastes water. Waste of water is undesirable under all conditions. It is harmful to a sustainable environment and also for your pocket. A faucet over time wears out, and leaks are common due to this. Fixing a leak is very easy and one of the “do it yourself” tasks. You can do it by following a few simple steps. Here you will find all the necessary steps to fix a leaky compression faucet.

First of all, you need to know a little about compression faucets. Faucets with compression washer are called a compression faucet and they have survived for a long period of time. This old faucet model can be mostly found in older homes. They use a washer and the compression is achieved by tightening the faucet handle. This tightening shuts off the water. It is normal for the washer to wear out over time and thus it fails to stop the water completely. You can easily fix this by replacing the washer by following some really simple steps. If you want to completely change the faucet then there is a great resource about top rated bathroom faucets.

Proper preparation will give you the upper hand while fixing a leaky faucet by yourself. We have already mentioned that the steps associated to fix a leaky faucet are very simple. You can get the best result by strictly following them step by step. Let’s get started with the steps.

The steps associated to fix a leaky faucet are listed below:

• Get the supplies
• Turning off the main water supply
• Removing the faucet handle
• Removing the valve stem cover
• Removing the valve stem assembly
• Removing the stem washer
• Replace the old washer with the new one
• Putting everything back together or reassembling

Get the supplies:

You will need the following supplies to fix a leaky faucet:

• Channel-type pliers
• Small flat-blade screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Replacement stem washer
• Plumber’s grease
• Plumbers tape

Turning off the main water supply: Once you are done collecting the supplies, you are ready to start. First of all, you need to completely shut down the hot and cold water supply lines that are connected with the faucet. Do not forget this otherwise, things will get out of hand.

Removing the faucet handle: Now you have to remove the faucet handle. You will find that it is attached to the faucet valve stem assembly with the help of a screw. Depending on your faucet condition you may find the screw at plain sight or under a decorative cap. Remove the cap to get to the screw. Most decorative caps pry off easily. Finally, remove the screw with the help of the Phillips screwdriver.

Removing the valve stem cover: At this point, you may find a valve step assembly cover over the valve assembly. This is mostly found in single-handle faucets. Remove the cover by unscrewing it with the help of pliers.

Removing the valve stem assembly: You have come a long way. Now remove the valve stem assembly. You have to unscrew the valve stem assembly all the way and finally pull it out of the faucet body.

Removing the stem washer: Now that you have successfully removed the valve stem assembly, quickly locate the old washer sitting on the bottom end of the valve assembly. You will find that a screw is holding the old washer in place. You must be cautious now as the screw can be deformed. It has been with water for a long period of time so it is expected to be worn. Carefully remove the brass screw that is holding the washer in place. After successfully removing it, clean the end of the washer holder thoroughly. A perfect cleaning will ensure that the new washer sits cleanly into the valve seat.

Replace the old washer with the new one: It is finally time to replace the old washer with the replacement. Replacements are sold as faucet repair kit so finding a replacement is not a problem. You can also opt to replace the o-ring to be on the safe side. Finally, secure the new washer in its place with the brass screw.

Putting everything back together or reassembling: One last step is left and it is reassembling the faucet. You need to put everything back together as they were before with the replacement washer. That was it. You have successfully repaired a leaky compression faucet. Did you find it easier than expected?

Leaky faucets are undesirable and they are annoying as mentioned earlier in this post. Fixing a leaky compression faucet is not that difficult if you have the proper mindset and the right tools. You can refer back to this article to fix a leaky faucet by following the above-mentioned steps. To conclude enjoy a leak-free faucet.