Emergency Local Plumbers in Youngstown, OH and nearby cities
Emergency Local Plumbers in Youngstown, OH and nearby cities
A steady faucet drip wastes water and raises your bills. Many homeowners ignore it, thinking it’s no big deal or that they’ll get around to it eventually, but a leaky faucet could be a warning sign of bigger troubles ahead. If you catch it early and fix it right, you’ll avoid water damage. Mr. Rooter Plumbing can help. Read more to find out how to perform a faucet repair and what to do if the leak keeps coming back.
Before you grab a wrench, you need to figure out what kind of faucet you’re dealing with. Most homes have a compression faucet or a cartridge-style faucet. Knowing the difference is important when choosing the right replacement parts and repair steps. A compression faucet has separate hot and cold handles that you turn clockwise to close. Inside, there are rubber washers that get pressed down to stop the flow of water. The washers wear out, and that’s usually what causes the leak. If your faucet drips after the handle is fully closed, and it’s an older model, you probably have a compression faucet. A cartridge faucet uses a single lever or a pair of handles that move up and down instead of turning. Inside is a plastic or metal cylinder that controls the water flow and temperature. When this part gets clogged or worn out, you’ll notice leaking from the spout or around the base of the faucet. Take a moment to inspect where the water is coming from. Is it dripping directly from the spout or pooling around the base? Is it only leaking when the faucet is turned on, or does it leak constantly? These small clues point to the cause and help you decide whether you need a washer, an O-ring, or a full cartridge replacement. If you're unsure, a plumbing repair service can quickly assess it and tell you exactly what part has failed.
One reason faucet repair feels overwhelming is because people try to do it without the right tools. You don’t need a truckload of gear, but you do need a few essentials to do the job cleanly and avoid damaging the faucet. Here’s what you should have on hand:
Before removing anything, plug the drain. It’ll save you from losing screws or washers down the sink. Lay a towel over the surrounding area to protect the sink finish and catch any water. Keep your parts organized as you remove them. It’s easy to forget which way things were installed once everything’s out of the faucet. Once you’ve opened the faucet body, inspect the parts for signs of wear. Cracked cartridges, flattened washers, and dry O-rings are all common culprits. Always replace the worn part with the exact match. If you’re not confident about which model you have, remove the part and take it with you to the hardware store. Or call a trusted plumber to identify and install the right one for you.
You don’t have to shut off water to your entire home just to fix a single faucet. There’s usually one located nearby that saves you time and avoids disrupting everyone else in the house. Look under the sink. Most have individual shutoff valves, or angle stops, attached to the supply lines. There’s usually one for hot water and one for cold. Turn each valve clockwise to close it. Once you’ve shut off both, test the faucet to make sure the water flow stops completely. If your sink doesn’t have shutoff valves, or if they’re stuck or leaking, you’ll have to use the main water valve to the house. Angle stops are a great way to isolate a repair, and it’s worth having a plumber replace or add them if they’re not working. Don’t skip this step. Starting a faucet repair without turning off the water is a fast way to soak your floor, your tools, and yourself.
Have you followed all the steps, replaced the part, and reassembled the faucet, but it still leaks? First, don’t panic. Faucet leaks that persist after a repair usually come down to one of a few simple issues:
At this point, it’s worth calling in a plumbing repair service. Persistent leaks could indicate hidden corrosion inside the faucet body or damage to the valve seat itself. A qualified plumber can disassemble the faucet, inspect all the inner surfaces, and handle repairs. They’ll also double-check for signs of deeper leaks, which is something DIY repairs usually miss. What looks like a simple faucet drip can sometimes be the sign of a deeper issue, like a pipe crack or hidden fixture failure. Professional leak detection will give you a second set of eyes that can save you from future trouble.
Fixing a leaky faucet is usually within reach for a confident homeowner, but even with the best intentions, repairs can go sideways. Worn valves, the wrong replacement part, or internal corrosion can make the job incredibly stressful. Mr. Rooter Plumbing offers dependable replacements. Our plumbers are trained in leak detection, faucet repair, and new installations. If your faucet is still dripping or you want to make sure the repair holds up long-term, give us a call and schedule an appointment.
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