If you’re hearing a drip, drip, drip coming from the bathroom, what’s your first thought? Do you think about how you wish your kids would turn off the sink after using it? Or do you groan because that sound means that you’ve got a leaky faucet again? Sometimes, the solution isn’t as simple as going in after your kids leave and making sure that the faucet is turned off. And if this is a problem that keeps repeating, then something’s definitely wrong with your faucet. Here are a few possibilities as to why your faucet is leaking:
- Broken washer: A faucet is made up of some bigger parts like the spout and the handle, and then a bunch of little parts that keep the faucet together and running smoothly. One of those parts is the washer, which is the piece that sits on top of the valve seat. If the washer gets old and worn or was not properly installed, the faucet can start leaking.
- Worn O-ring: The O-ring is a circular rubber part in the faucet. This piece is located inside of the spout and is responsible for preventing a leaky faucet. When this part gets old, water is allowed to escape and begin leaking from the spout.
- Corroded valve seat: When a valve seat is working the way it should, you’ll be able to turn the handle to switch the water on or off. A corroded valve seat isn’t able to perform the compression function to keep the faucet from leaking.
For more information or help with your leaky faucet, give us a call at On-Deck Plumbing today!