Simple Faucet Fixes and Get it Done Quickly

One of the most common problems in an average home has to do with bathroom and kitchen faucets. To some homeowners, the faucet may seem like a complex piece of plumbing fixture. However, when it comes to faucet problems, most of the time it has something to do with worn out washers, cartridges, or valve seats that are found in the body of the faucet.

Gland Packing

The gland packing is found in older faucets so you will not see it if you have a modern one installed. The gland packing can be found inside the threaded section of the valve and has an O-ring. This is responsible for creating the gland seal. For faucets that have a gland packing Teflon is recommended when replacing the packing in the valve.

To gain access to the gland O-ring you may need to remove a type of seal known as a circlip. This is commonly found around the valve’s spindle. You can try to remove the washer unit without having to deal with the circlip. This may be difficult to do. Once the circlip is removed, you can unscrew the washer unit. Plumber’s putty is normally used to seal the gland and prevent leaks.

Spout O-rings

The spout O-rings can be found at the base of the spout of the faucet. In order to get to it, you will have to remove the grub screw installed at the back of the spout. After you have done that, simply twist the spout to release it.

By lifting the spout you can access the worn out or defective O-ring at the faucet’s base. You can either cut the old O-ring or pry it off using a flathead screwdriver. To put on the replacement, simply roll on the new O-ring and put on a new seal as well. It is important to observe that the markers align with the groove of the faucet body during reassembly.

Valve O-rings

For O-rings found on the visible portion of the valve, you can simply remove the valve and cut away the old O-ring to replace it. Accessing the O-ring can be done by turning the spindle and the valve body in opposite directions. This will unscrew the washer unit for easy access.

You may find more than one O-ring once you get to the washer unit. Make sure that you check each one to ensure that all defective or worn out parts are properly replaced. Cut away the old O-rings using a utility knife or a flathead screwdriver. Simply roll on the replacement and reassemble the valve to what it was before. This will allow you to finish reassembling the faucet.

Reseating the Faucet

Sometimes one of the problems when it comes to faucets is that it is not properly installed. This means that you would have to unseat and reseat this plumbing fixture to repair the problem. In order to unseat it, you may need to remove the valve first followed by the seat. You can use a valve-seat wrench for this purpose.

This is the same process when you are trying to install a replacement faucet. Take note that seat replacement is not always possible, which means that screwing a reseating tool into the faucet body thread should be done. The faucet reseater must be inserted carefully to prevent damaging the thread of the faucet valve.

Make sure that you turn the handle of the reseating tool slowly so that it will carefully grind the surface resulting in a smooth groove. You can now replace the valve and start reassembling the faucet. Test the faucet for leaks to make sure that the problem has been solved.

If you need further assistance or simply at a loss in following these tips, the easiest way is to let Scott English Plumbing help you. Call them today!