If you’re experiencing problems with your kitchen or bathroom faucets, you likely have a leaky faucet. People will often not notice a leaky faucet until it is too late when it has already caused some damage to your pipes. Luckily, you can do a few simple things to detect leaks early and hopefully save yourself some headaches and money in the process.
The Sink You’re probably pretty good at spotting leaks in the kitchen or bathroom sink. However, if you don’t know what to look for or don’t recognize what you’re seeing, plumbing experts recommend calling a plumbing contractor to be on the safe side. Rust or stains inside the sink may indicate a plumbing leak that must be repaired immediately. If you notice a streak of rust or brownish discoloration moving downward from the sink into the bottom of the toilet or bath, you’re probably dealing with a slow leak that should be fixed as soon as possible.
Hoses And Clips Another common area for leaks in faucets are the hoses and clips. While many leaks result from a manufacturing defect, water pressure can also cause hoses and clips to become damaged or worn. In some cases, the problem can be traced directly back to your plumbing system, so if you notice your shower suddenly has a funny taste, or you hear strange noises when you shower, a plumbing repair may be in order. Other times, however, the hoses or clips are to blame. Have your plumber re-use old tubing that may have broken during installation or been damaged during a plumbing repair. This will help prevent future leaks.
Leak Testing There is two basic ways of testing your home’s leaky faucets. The first involves putting the unit under the waterline and soaking it in water. You can do this several times a year and check for leaks. Your other option for testing is using a leak-testing kit that can be purchased at any hardware store.
Drains And Sinks Probably the most common cause for a leaky faucet is faulty plumbing installation. Many times, a sink or lavatory drain can become clogged with food particles, dried fecal matter, and hair. To unclog drains, a plumber must be called since he/she has the proper equipment for such a job. For larger problems, like those with sink and lavatory drains, it is best to contact a reputable plumbing company to remove any potential issues. If the sink and/or drain pipes are the problem, the plumber will be able to give you advice on how to fix the issue best.
Leakage Of Drains The most common cause for a leaky faucet is an improperly installed or damaged drain line. A clogged drain line can result in excessive water leaking from your faucets and cause unsightly water stains and drips. To prevent this type of issue from occurring, it is important always to have new drain lines placed whenever a drain becomes clogged. Another possible fix is replacing an old o-ring with a new one with the same thread/washer design.
O-Rings, The final common cause for leaky faucets is worn o-rings. If you notice that your faucets no longer contact the sink or hot water drain, the o-rings are likely worn. As a remedy, replace the o-ring. To do this, remove the water supply pipe from your faucets by hand. Next, take a flat head screwdriver and pull on the flat portion of the ring to separate it from the rest of the ring. Place the ring into the corresponding hole and screw it back into place.
Leaky Faucet Problems If you find that your leaky faucet is truly a problem with the plumbing, likely, the leaky faucet is also a problem with your water bill. To combat water bill problems caused by leaky faucets, many people turn to use high-efficiency showerheads. These products use a larger amount of water to produce the same amount of steam. In turn, these products can often reduce your water bill significantly.