Always start any plumbing repairs on your Auburn home by turning off the water shut off valve to your home so you can work on the pipes without the fear of flooding your Auburn home.

FAUCET LEAKS:

Bathroom and kitchen faucets will often leak due to the washer or O-ring wearing out. Washer are usually made of rubber. The washers are discs that seal and restrict the flow of water when the handle is turned. This type of faucet is known as a compression faucet or rising stem faucet. To replace a washer, remove the decorative cap to get to the screw that attaches the handle to the faucet. Next remove the handle. Then unscrew the packing nut that holds the valve in place by turning it counterclockwise.

Valve washers come in many various sizes and shapes, plus both flat and beveled. I would suggest that you take the valve stem with you to the hardware store to match the exact size needed. An even better idea is to simply replace the whole valve stem. After replacing the washer or the valve stem and your faucet still leaks, the seat may have been damaged.

FIXING A DAMAGED VALVE SEAT:

If the washer has become too worn prior to replacement, the metal will grind against metal and damage the valve seat. Water particles and mineral deposits can become trapped between the seat and the washer so that closing and opening the faucet handle grinds the particles inside and damages the seal beyond simple washer replacement.

Most local Auburn hardware stores have a seat-grinding tool that is commercially available for do-it-yourself (DIY) home repair. The tool comes with easy steps on how to reshape the damaged seat to accept the new washer properly. Now you know the basics on how to repair that leaking faucet in your Auburn home. As always, if you run in to any problems and have some questions and/or need some help, please feel free to call us; ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air: 530-272-9120