A tap can leak in two ways - a steady drip from the spout or a relentless seeping from the stem that will leave a telltale puddle beneath your faucet handle. In either case, it is the time to do some repairs. You'll need groove joint pliers, rags, an adjustable wrench, screwdrivers and the correct washers and gaskets for your tap
However, you will need to determine the make and model of your tap before starting your work. Your home center or plumbing supplier will stock a repair kit for most makes, but you have to know what type you're looking for. A kit will contain replacement parts, instructions and, if necessary, special tools for disassembling your tap.If you can't identify your valve or tap model, try bringing it with you to the supplier to see if they can help.
Before beginning any plumbing repair, first close the pipeline's shutoff valve. You'll usually find it below the sink and where the supply line to the tap connects to the wall. Then, open the tap to drain out any remaining water in the pipes. If you don't have a shutoff valve, try shutting off the water at the house's main valve or consulting a plumbing professional.A sink, bathtub or shower typically has compression faucets if there are separate handles for hot and cold water that require increasing effort to turn the water on or off. This type of tap usually has a rubber seat washer on the end of a stem. When the that tap is off, the washer presses against a brass valve in the tap and stops the water flow.
To keep water from leaking under the handle when the tap is running, the stem has a stem nut that compresses a seal. Water can leak past these washers or seals, but they're easy to repair and replace.
Other common types of taps include ball tap (common single faucet kitchen sink style), disc taps(common shower style) and cartridge taps (common shower style) which can be a bit trickier. Again, you can get specific repair kits for most models from your local hardware or plumbing retailer.
Another great resource for tap repairs is your manufacturer's web site. For exampleSweethomes offers product dimensions, installation guides and repair manuals right on their web site. If you're still feeling overwhelmed, consider consulting a plumbing professional to help you.
However, if you are in doubt or confused as to what to do, send me a mail chrismariz2009@gmail.com.
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