How to Fix a Dripping Faucet

Dripping faucets can be quite annoying. They can disturb sleep, break concentration and eventually add to your water bill if not properly handled. Despite their numerous annoyances, dripping faucets are relatively easy to fix. This article will show you how to fix a dripping faucet by replacing the gasket inside. The gasket is usually the reason why the faucet is leaking in the first place.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Crescent wrench or pliers
• Right sized gasket or nearby hardware store
• Old toothbrush or general sink cleaning materials

Replacing The Gasket

1. Turn the water supply off to the sink and let your family/roommates know not to use it. Usually the water supply knob is either under the sink or on a pipe connected between the sink and the toilet. Place the crescent wrench on the head of the faucet (the last piece where the water comes out), loosen and remove. You may be able to do this by hand.

2. Look at either the inside of the freshly removed piece or where the piece was attached for the gasket. The gasket looks like a flattened rubber doughnut. Remove it.

3. Inspect the faucet area where the faucet head was connected for grit or grime. Do the same for the faucet head. Clean the surfaces with a toothbrush or other cleaning supplies.

4. Take the old gasket to the hardware store and match it up to a new gasket and purchase. Replace the gasket by placing it to the faucet head. Make sure it is flat against the head and not buckled.

5. Hand screw the head back into the faucet, taking extreme care into making sure that the gasket isn't caught or wedged in the grooves. Tighten with the crescent wrench until snug.

6. Turn the water supply back on and test by turning the faucet on for 30 seconds and then off. Wipe off residual water from the head and observe for a minute if there is a drip. If there is not, you have succeeded!

[renumeratedfrog]

on 4/30/2009 I'm not sure exactly what I should "unscrew". My kitchen sink faucet seems "impregnable" to me. I wish there was a video to explain it, or at least some pictures.