What to do if the tap flows
Constantly dripping tap water is not only an annoying factor, it is also an additional financial expense. And what if the tap flows? What could be the reasons and how to repair the crane? This will be discussed in the article.
Where can water flow from?

Before you understand why water leaks, you should carefully consider the location of the leak. Water from a broken tap can leak:
- from under the valve that controls the inclusion of cold or hot water;
- from the very spout of the crane;
- from the junction of the spout and the body of the crane;
- at the junction of the water supply pipes and the faucet itself;
- from the junction of the mixer and sink;
- from the very body of the crane.
Each of the listed breakdowns has its own reasons and solutions. Moreover, such troubles are practically independent of the mixer design. All have similar problems.
Various reasons can cause a leak. Basically, this is a poor quality product. But quite often the cause of breakage becomes improper operation or installation of the mixer or tap. Each device is designed for specific loads. If you use your strength too much when opening or closing a crane, it will quickly fail.
Another reason for the failure of the mixer can be wear parts. All constructions wear out over time. Of course, if you have purchased an expensive and high-quality faucet, then this will not happen soon, but expensive models will become unusable.
We eliminate the malfunction

Once you have determined the location of the leak, you can begin to repair. The first step is to turn off the water supply (both cold and hot). The easiest way to repair the crane can be considered as replacing it with a new one. But such radical measures can often be avoided. In most cases, repair work is simple and does not take much time.

So, depending on the location of the leakage, repair is performed as follows:
- If water seeps out from under the valve, the reason may be a worn rubber gasket at the site of the crane box. To fix it you need to replace the gasket. If the crane is made of ceramic, then seal with a silicone gland.
- When water flows or drips from the spout of the tap, the reason is the wear of the cock-box. In this case, his replacement will help. This kind of trouble most often happens in low-cost models, and often even replacing the crane box does not solve the problem. In this case, you have to replace the entire mixer;
- If the spout and casing leak at the junction, then the gasket most likely has worn out. The spout of the crane is unscrewed and the gum is replaced. Such a malfunction occurs if the spout is badly screwed to the body or the gasket is worn out.
- In case of leakage in the place of fixing the water pipe to the tap, the reason lies in the damage of the gasket. Such a defect is obtained with improper installation. You tightened the mounting nut too much and damaged the rubber gasket. In this case, the hose is unscrewed and the deformed part is replaced. Do not use too much force when screwing.
- Also, a poor-quality hose can cause leaks at the junction of the pipe and tap. It is better to purchase products in trusted stores. To correct this problem, the connecting hose is replaced.
- If it flows in a place where the faucet is attached to the sink, then the reason is poor installation. In addition, leakage may occur due to wear of the gasket installed in this place. How to fix? We change the gasket and more securely attach the crane.
When water seeps from the hull itself, the cause of this defect is in the structure itself. Only buying a new crane will help here.
A crevice or sink in the faucet can be sealed with cold welding, but this is a temporary measure that will help you use the faucet for a while.
Features repair ball valve
Due to its design features, the ball valve has its defects, which lead to leakage. In this design there is a ball with holes, turning the lever, you connect them with the holes in the body. The ball itself is located in a special cartridge case. To keep it securely in place, rubber saddles are installed in the sleeve.
If water flows from the ball valve, the repair work is carried out in the following sequence:
- Turning off the water supply and remove the lever from its place.
- After that, remove the dome and the plastic part under it. Then take out the ball itself.
- After that we get access to the seal. It is this part that is most often responsible for leakage. On its surface may be limescale. If so, then simply remove it. Quite often, the cause of the leakage becomes the seal wear, in which case it is necessary to replace it. You should also see the condition of the springs, they also often require replacement. And, of course, the ball itself can deform over time.
- After replacing all the elements we assemble the crane in reverse order.

The cause of leakage may be damaged body. This problem is solved by buying and installing a new crane.
Video
This video shows the repair of the mixer in the kitchen with their own hands. Replacing faucet bush:
This video is about repairing the mixer and shows how to replace the cartridge: