Why Do Faucets Drip?

Faucets are indispensible for any house hold, but dripping faucets are chaotic. They not only add to your water bills and destroy your sleep with a continuous dripping noise; they are also bad for the environment. Think about it, all that water going down the drain could have been used for so many other purposes.

Even if you do not consider this loss of water a big deal, a faulty faucet may turn into a major plumbing issue, if left unaddressed. Here are a few problems which can result in a dripping faucet.

The O ring problem

The handle of a faucet is held in place by the help of a stem screw. This stem screw has a small disc called ‘O ring’ attached to it. If this O ring becomes loose or wears out for any reason, it can cause dripping near the faucet handle.

This is more common in cartridge faucets and can simply be fixed by getting the O ring replaced.

Valve seat has corroded

Valve seats are the connection between your faucet and the spout present in the compression mechanism. If water sediments accumulate in the area, they can result in the valve seat getting corroded. This leads to leakage of water near spout region.

Cleaning the valve seat regularly can help you avoid this problem. You should call an emergency plumber to address the issue if the spot of one of your faucet is leaking.

Washer has worn out

A washer gets shoved against the valve seat every time you use a faucet. This results in resistance and friction causing it to wear out. This is what leads to a dripping faucet, again around the spout. If the dripping is because of a rubber washer in compression faucets, replace the washer as soon as you can.

Washer has not been correctly installed

Washers may not be the correct size or may still be improperly installed. You should acquire professional help for proper installation, otherwise it will continue leaking.

You can get rid of the leakage only with your washer’s proper installation.

Loose parts of the assembly

Parts such as the adjusting ring or packing nuts that are present in the steam screw may get loose. This results in water leakage near the handle of a faucet. You can either tighten these parts or replace them to fix the problem.

Seals have worn out

Disc faucets have both inlet and outlet seals which may wear out sediment accumulation in the assembly. You need to clear these sediments with regular intervals to avoid dripping from the outlet and inlet seals. You can also replace the worn out seals with new, similar seals with the help of a professional.

Broken plumbing issues

Broken pipes and fittings are rarely the cause of dripping, but it can happen. A broken pipe or fitting will have cracks that will interfere with the water pressure. This will result in leaking. Fixing these pipes is the simple solution to this problem.

If you still cannot determine the reason behind your leaking faucet, call us today for a quick service. We will get it fixed for you in no time.