The Causes of a Leaky Faucet

Chris Renner
3 min readJan 25, 2017

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The last thing anyone wants is a poorly functioning- leaky faucet. It results in a waste of significant amounts of water if it goes unattended. It could also develop into a compound problem if neglected. If you prefer not to tackle this yourself I would recommend calling a professional like nationalplumbing.ca to help with the repair.

A damaged O-Ring can cause a faucet to leak. The Stem Crew is the part which is used to hold the handle of a faucet firmly, and in place. The Stem Crew has a small disc attached to it. This is found within the Stem Crew. The disc is called the O-Ring. Regular use can result in the loosening and tearing of the O-Ring. When this happens, the faucet drips near the handle.

The Worn out Washer is one of the several reasons why a faucet leaks. With continuous use, the appliance is subjected to friction, and the resistance eventually wears out the machine. When this problem arises, dripping can be observed around the spout.

A Valve Seat which is corroded can also lead to a leaky faucet. The Valve Seat is what connects the faucet and sprout. Over time, there could be an accumulation of water sediments around the Valve Seat, and this causes corrosion of the Valve Seat. This also results in leaking around the spout.

When the washer is improperly installed, there can be leakage. This can stem from the fact that the washer is of the wrong size, or improperly installed.

Loose parts quickly result in a leaky faucet. With continuous utilization, parts like the packing nuts and the adjusting ring can slowly become loose. This results in leakage near the faucet handle.

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Seals which are worn out can also cause leaky faucets. Significant parts of the faucets are the inlet and outlet seals. Constant usage causes the accumulation of sediments inside the assembly, and when these deposits accumulate, the seals wear out.

In rare cases, broken plumbing can lead to a dripping faucet. Broken pipes or fittings are the common culprits here. Broken pipes can develop cracks and interfere with the pressure of water and causes dripping faucet.

Fixing a leaky faucet depends on the reason for its leak in the first place. Once the reason is determined, then it can be fixed. A damaged O-Ring can be replaced. The old one should be taken out and replaced With a new one. Furthermore, if the problem is determined to be caused by a worn out washer, it can be solved by replacing the worn-out washer with a new one.

Regular cleaning of a corroded Valve Seat by a professional Plumber can help solve the problem of a leaky faucet.

When a leaky faucet is caused by the improper installation of the washer, the problem can be fixed when a professional is called in to help repair the machine properly. Loose parts can be tightened by making sure the packing nut is tight and firm enough, or even replacing it.

Leaky faucets as a result of worn out seals can be fixed by hiring a plumber to clean the water sediments on a regular basis from the inlet and outlet seals. This ensures that the faucet mechanism works correctly. The seals may also be replaced for better functioning. The water pipes can be checked by a plumber if broken plumbing is the reason for leaky faucets.

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Chris Renner

Tradesman and blogger. Love all things about trades and the science them.