The kitchen sink is usually affected by different kinds of problems. Aside from a clogged drain, a broken faucet is one of the most difficult and most common because people cannot perform daily tasks normally without water. After continuous use, the gaskets eventually wear out, loosen up and cause water to drip. There is really no need to hire expensive professional services especially for those who know how to fix a kitchen sink.
Materials Needed
Only a few simple materials are needed to complete this moderate task. Among these are a penknife, a Phillip?s screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. In addition, you must also have a cloth and clean gaskets. With these items available, you can start with the following steps right away.
Steps
Under the sink, open the cabinet and then look for the cold and hot water valves. Turn them in clockwise direction. After this, check if there is still water on the faucet. In case the valves are stuck in the ?on? position probably due to corrosion, just shut the main water switch off temporarily while you are working on the sink. Go back under the sink and then replace the valves if they are faulty.
Go to the faucet and then observe the handle. There, you can find a little circular faceplate concealing a screw. Get the penknife and then pry it off to expose the screw. If a penknife is not available, you can instead use a lobster pick or any item with a sharp point. Get the screwdriver and then slowly remove the screw. Secure it in a safe place for later use. Hold the top of the handle and then slowly pull it off the faucet.
At the inner part of the handle, you can find a rubber gasket and a nut holding the cartridge. Gently remove the gasket and check if it is worn out or cracked. In case it is fine, just clean it with a nice clean cloth. If damaged, try to replace it with a new one. Remove the cartridge by unscrewing it. In case it is damaged, bring the cartridge to the nearest hardware store and buy a replacement.
If the problem is only the gasket, you do not have to replace the entire cartridge but this specific part only. Return all the various parts of the faucet and sink in the reverse order you removed them. Turn the main water switch on. Expect a no-drip faucet and a fully functional sink.
Additional Tips and Other Helpful Information
In order to prevent screws and any part of the sink from going down the drain, put the drain stopper before working. When buying new gaskets, be sure to bring the old ones with you so that you can buy the right size of gaskets you need to fix the problem.
