Is your sink faucet dripping incessantly? Don't let that annoying leak drive you crazy or cause your water bill to soar! Whether you're dealing with kitchen faucets or bathroom parts, fixing a leaky faucet is a DIY project you can tackle with confidence. Let's dive into a step-by-step guide to get your sink parts working like new again.
Step 1: Shut Off the Water and Gather Your Tools
Before you start tinkering with sink faucets, always turn off the water supply. Look for the shutoff valves under the sink and give them a clockwise twist. If you can’t turn or find the valves under the sink, shut off the main water supply to your home, which is often in the basement.
Next, grab your toolbox. You'll need:
· an adjustable wrench
· screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips)
· pliers
Step 2: Disassemble the Faucet
Whether you're working on your kitchen faucet or bathroom sink faucet, the process to disassemble them is similar:
· Remove the decorative cap on the handle.
· Unscrew the handle and lift it off.
· Take out the cartridge or stem assembly.
* Note from the pros at Plumbing & Parts Home Centre: Lay the pieces out before you in the order you removed them; this will make reassembly as easy as disassembly if not even easier.
Step 3: Identify the Problem
Inspect the removed sink parts closely and look for:
· worn O-rings
· damaged cartridges
· corroded valve seats
*Note from the pros in the plumbing parts department: Small defects in these small bathroom parts or kitchen faucet components can cause big problems when they wear out, so inspect them carefully.
Step 4: Replace the Faulty Parts
This is the fun step in faucet repair. Pocket your defective part and head down to Whitby’s Plumbing & Parts Home Centre on Dundas Street East. Compare your worn piece with the new ones on our shelves to ensure you get the perfect match. Of course, whether you need new O-rings, cartridges, or other bathroom parts, our knowledgeable staff can help you find the part you need.
Step 5: Reassemble and Test
Once you return home with your shiny new sink part, put the faucet back together in the reverse order from which you took it apart. Turn the water back on and test your handiwork.
You can then celebrate by washing your hands and patting yourself on the back for a job well done.
When to Call the Pros
If your fix did not work, or you discover extensive corrosion, or damage to the faucet in steps 2 or 3, or you’re really not the fix-it kind of person, call a plumber, or ask the pros down at Plumbing & Parts Home Centre if they can recommend a contractor to you. We have a network of trustworthy contractors we can link you to.
Kitchen or Bathroom Parts Centre in Whitby
If a leaky faucet is the least of your worries or has caused a bigger problem in your kitchen or bathroom and you need to do more than repair a leaky faucet, contact the team at Plumbing & Parts Home Centre for renovation supplies and products.