Small leaks on a faucet can later affect the water bill so much. Thus, it is advisable to deal with them as soon as possible. Fixing broken faucets is easy with the right procedures. So, here are steps on how to repair leaky faucets—single valve, compression type.
Things Needed:
Two sets of monkey wrench, a roll of Teflon sealer, a rubber washer (as needed), and a new faucet set (as needed). These are vital in the basics of fixing broken faucets. Before touching the damaged valve, make sure these things needed in how to repair a leaky faucet are ready.
Shutting Off the Main Valve
The first step is to turn off the main water valve. This is where the main water supply enters a property. It is often located near the water meter. Or, if available, just turn off the shutoff valve found directly under the sink. To avoid wasting too much water as one is fixing broken faucets, this main tap should be closed. Carefully twist the valve stopper and check by opening the faucet to see if water still runs through it. When cutting off water supply through the main valve near the meter, check if the meter indicator has stopped moving. If it has, then proceed with how to repair a leaky faucet.
Checking and Repairing a Leaky Faucet
First, loose the screw on top of the control valve handle. Then, take off the control valve itself by loosening it by its threaded spindle. Check if the stem rubber washer inside is still whole or worn out. If worn out, simple remove and replace with a new one. Then replace the control valve and the screw on top. Open and close faucet to check for anymore leaks. This is the simple way of how to repair a leaky faucet.
However, if it still leaks, the entire faucet set may have to be replaced. If this is the case, fixing broken faucets will have to be a bit more complex. With the use of two monkey wrenches, detach the faucet from the tube. One wrench holds steadily and securely the tube jutting out of the wall; the other one is used to carefully rotate the faucet counter clockwise.
When the faucet has detached, cover the jutting threaded tube with Teflon tape. Do it with 6 to 7 layers or rounds, stretching the tape a bit as it is wrapped around. Replace the new faucet set by carefully and slowly attaching it through the wrapped threaded tube. Tighten carefully with the use of both wrenches acting in opposite direction.
