The Galling Sound of a Leaking Faucet Drip
A leaking faucet can be an annoying occurrence with a steady dripping and irritating sound. It’s a constant reminder that water is wasting and won’t stop until it’s fixed. The dripping can be a pointer to a serious underlying issue, don’t hesitate to deal with it immediately.
The True Cost of Leaking Faucets
It may seem that a leaky faucet cannot cause any damage. But, putting it off longer than necessary could cause significant damage to a home. Here are some of the dangers to expect from a dripping faucet.
- Water Waste: The steady drip from a leaky faucet can become problematic with time. It wastes water that would have been useful for drinking, cleaning, washing, etc. For instance, a leaky faucet with 4,000 drips per day wastes approximately a liter of water. Homes with more than one dripping faucet can lose over 3,000 liters of water in one year.
- Mold: Mold thrives in a damp environment, and the patches look unpleasant. Damp conditions resulting from the water drips can cause mold to grow in the house, endangering the health of the residents. Musty smells from mold and mildew can increase respiratory problems like asthma and sneezing.
- Expensive Water Bills: A dripping faucet may not seem to be wasting much water; the reality is that it’s raising the water bill. The more the drips, the more water is wasted and the higher the bill. Fixing a leaky faucet can save about 10% of the average annual bill for a homeowner.
Why Do Faucets Leak?
There may be several reasons why faucets leak. Here is a review of a few of them.
- Loose or Worn-out O Ring: O ring is a small disc attached to the stem screw holding the handle of a faucet in place. It can become loose or worn out with regular use, causing the faucet to drip water around the handle. O-ring is an integral place where dripping can occur, especially in cartridge faucets.
- Corroded Valve Seat: A valve seat connects the faucet and the spout in the compression mechanism. It can corrode due to the accumulation of water sediments, causing leakage within the spout area.
How to Fix the Leaky Faucet
Fixing a leaky faucet is as easy as changing a light bulb; it requires minimal tools and effort. Whether it’s a bathroom or Kitchen sink repair, replacing the faucet cartridge is the best option for a leaky faucet repair. Here are the basic steps to follow:
- Drain the faucet and plug your sink
- Remove the faucet lever handles and take off the bonnet nut
- Remove the faulty cartridge
- Install the new cartridges
- Reassemble the faucet
- Test for leaks and check the water flow
However, the process of leaky faucet repair differs slightly depending on the type of sink.
About B&L Plumbing and Heating
B&L Plumbing and Heating is a renowned Colorado Springs firm that offers various plumbing services at reasonable rates. They have been in operation since 1999 and have sets of skilled technicians with excellent customer service. Feel free to call them today to fix any plumbing problems.
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Some common causes of leaks in the kitchen sink faucet are:
Dripping faucets may seem like a minor annoyance, but they waste gallons upon gallons of water each month. Per the EPA, “The average household's leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year and ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.”)
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