If you’ve turned your sink off all the way, but there’s still water dripping from the faucet, this means you have a leak! At first, sink dripping may not seem like a cause for alarm, especially if it’s slow-falling.
In actuality, a dripping faucet in your Houston home can wrack up your water bills by 10%! According to the EPA, one drip per second culminates to over 3,000 gallons of water waste each year. That’s a lot of money and water you’re losing out on, all from a deceptively harmless leak.
The following are some of the most common reasons that may be why your faucet is leaking – but no matter the cause, Air Tech of Houston AC & Plumbing can fix it for you!
Damaged O-Ring
Your faucet is made of various small parts that allow it to operate as it does. For example, your faucet handle is held in place by a stem screw, which has a small disc affixed to it, known as an O-ring.
Your O-ring wears out over time, loosening from overuse. If your O-ring is damaged, this could be the reason why your sink is leaking. Luckily, there’s a simple solution to fixing the leak – replacing the O-ring will solve the problem!
Pipe Repair
It may be possible that your sink is dripping somewhere else – the bottom of the sink. This is usually because of damaged pipes or broken fittings, which require immediate attention from a professional to fix.
If left alone for too long, the water may begin to pool at the bottom of your sink, causing mold and water damage.
Broken Washers
Washers are another component of your sink that can cause a faucet leak. Every time you use a faucet, you press the washer against the valve seat, causing friction that makes the washer wear out. To stop leaks from a worn-out washer, simply replacing it with a new one will solve the problem.
In other instances, you may have a washer that’s the wrong size or installed incorrectly. If you’re having trouble discerning which reason why or struggling with the installation process, you can always give your local plumber a call!
Loosened Packing Nuts
Usually, the culprit of a drain leak is a loose O-ring or a worn-out washer. However, packing nuts in the stem screw of your sink can also succumb to wear and tear over time, causing them to loosen up.
When this happens, it causes the faucet handle to start leaking. You can try to fix this by tightening the packing nuts using a screwdriver and an adjustable wrench. If this doesn’t work, it may be time to schedule a replacement.
Other Possibilities:
While the reasons above are some of the most common reasons for a dripping sink, the following are also possible causes of a leak:
- Clogged P-trap
- Corroded valve seat
- Loose water supply connection
- Damaged cartridge
- Drain leak
- Excessive water pressure
If you’re experiencing a leaking sink, don’t delay. Reach out to our team to schedule your plumbing repair or replacement.
Professional Sink Repair & Plumbing Services
Air Tech of Houston AC & Plumbing understand that your plumbing system is vital to your home functioning properly. Without it, your daily tasks are disrupted. For high-quality plumbing and friendly customer service in Houston, give us a call today! We value centering your experience first.
