Many people think that a tiny, annoying drip coming from your faucet isn’t a big deal, but consider this: according to the U.S. Geological Survey’s drip calculator, one faucet in your home that drips ten times a minute will cause you to waste three liters of water a day (over three hundred gallons a year)! If you have a leaky faucet, it’s wise to get it fixed promptly so you don’t find yourself paying for water you didn’t use.
However, it helps to first understand why your faucet is dripping. Here are the 6 most common causes of a leaky faucet.
1. A Broken O-Ring
O-rings are the rubber rings that wrap around a pipe to seal up gaps that water can escape through. Over time, your O-ring can wear out and break, leading to a leak near the handle of your faucet.
2. Worn Out Washers
Just like your O-rings, rubber washers will need to get replaced after a certain amount of time. The friction between a washer between two parts causes the washers to get worn out, leading to a leak. Dripping caused by worn out washers can be fixed by replacing the washer. This type of leak is typically found in a compression faucet.
3. Corroded Valve Seat
A leak by the spout can also be caused by a corroded valve seat. What is a valve seat? A valve seat is a connector between the faucet and the spout. Water sediment buildup can corrode the valve seat, causing a leak. This is an easy fix for a professional, but you can avoid this issue by regularly cleaning the valve seat, generally with the help of a professional plumber.
4. Faucet Aerator Not Working Correctly
The faucet aerator — the piece of nozzle that creates that no-splashing stream in modern faucets — could have particles attached to its filter screen and threads. To fix this, remove the aerator, clean it, put it back on, and then turn back on the water to check for the leak.
5. Improper Installation/Loose Parts
Often, if parts are not installed correctly, there is a chance that it can cause a leak. If you’re stumped on what is causing your leak, it may be time to call a plumber. It is crucial to have a professional check all the nuts and bolts on your faucet from time to time since after a while they’ll get loose due to a couple of different factors. By maintaining the tightness of the bolts, it’ll help prevent an annoying drip.
6. Water Pressure Is Too High
If your leak is only happening during certain times of the day, this can be caused by your water pressure being too high. High water pressure may prevent water from flowing away from a certain point and then create a backup and cause water to leak out at another place. Small leaks can start in your faucet, but can eventually lead to pinhole leaks in the piping, worsening over time. A professional plumber will be able to access your water pressure and adjust it to the proper level.
If you find that your faucet is still dripping even after you’ve checked and cleaned its parts, it may be time to look for faucet repair services with a local plumber. Hutchinson prides itself on being the leading plumbing company in New Jersey. With our 70+ years of experience, you can trust our plumbers to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Skip the DIY fixes and book a service online today!