Leaking is the most common problem that occurs in faucets and it can be an expensive one, too. It doesn’t take long for the dripping water to start affecting your water bill significantly, so don’t ignore a leaky faucet! Luckily, a leaky faucet is also one of the easiest problems to repair on your own.

When the faucet is turned off, the watertight seal (usually a washer) is pressed against the faucet seat. Turning the faucet on removes the seal from the faucet seat which lets the water out. A leaky faucet signifies a broken washer or faucet seat, and all you need to do is replace the washer or repair the faucet seat.

Directions on how to stop a leaky faucet in bathroom:

1. Turn off the water for either your home or—if you have individual switches—for that specific area of your house.

2. Remove the faucet handle that is attached to the main faucet. There’s a small screw on top or on the back that may be hidden by a cap that you need to either pop or screw off.

3. Remove the packing nut with an adjustable wrench.

4. Unscrew the stem from the faucet by turning in the same direction as you would to turn on the faucet.

5. Remove the screw that holds down the washer.

6. Examine both the washer and the stem, replacing one or the other if they are damaged.

If you can not tell whether your washer and stem are damaged, are having issues unscrewing the faucet, or do not have the time needed to fix your leaky faucet, use the free TalkLocal to find a qualified plumber in your area right now! They will do the searching for you and match you with up to three local professionals who can help you with your problem at your convenience.

This entry was originally posted on Monday, August 20th, 2012 at 2:00 pm and is filed under Plumbers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.