How to fix the faucet so that it does not drip on its own

In this article we will talk about how to fix a dripping faucet in the kitchen or in the bathroom. The topic is of considerable interest, since any plumbing, sooner or later, loses its original working capacity and needs to be repaired or completely replaced.

The problem is aggravated by the fact that there is a large selection of water taps on the market, which are distinguished not only by price and appearance, but also by structural features. Therefore, before fixing the tap if it drips, it is necessary to determine the varieties of this sanitary equipment on the market.

Classification according to functional and structural features.

As already mentioned, plumbing equipment is distinguished not only by price and design, but also by design.

All water taps that can be found on the market today are divided into the following categories:

• Simple single-valve half-turn devices (the turn of the valve is 180 degrees) - designed for the supply of cold or hot water.
• Two-valve modifications (mixers) are a construction of two paired single-valve valves. The temperature and pressure of water is regulated by opening one and the other tap. The water supply in the faucets used in bathrooms can be controlled by means of a “gander” - a common valve installed in the middle.
• Single lever mixer has a design based on the use of a cartridge or ball mechanism. In such a sink mixer device, the adjustment of the pressure and temperature of the jet is carried out by means of a rotary knob.

Important: Repair of the ball mechanism is possible when it is impossible to restore the performance of the cartridges and they can only be replaced.

• Mixer with integrated thermostat allows you to set the required temperature parameters and maintain them for the required period of time. In the case of such mixers placed thermocouple, which records the temperature of running water. If the temperature exceeds the set parameters, cold water is turned on, and if the water becomes colder than necessary, hot water starts.
• Touch (non-contact) modifications supply water when a moving object appears in the field of action of the photocell. The water temperature in such sink mixers, most often, is adjusted by means of a mechanical rod on the back of the case and does not change during the operation of the equipment.

Repair or change

It is proved that the untimely repair of stop valves results in the fact that about 15% of the consumed water volume goes into the sewer drain. The reason for this flow is leakage.

The simplest and at the same time effective way of dealing with leaks is to completely replace the old crane with a new one. But the price of such a solution to the problem is high - maybe repairs will be more profitable?

As already mentioned, most of the water stop valves can be repaired if necessary. But there is a separate category of equipment that is not designed for repair and must be replaced.

For example, it is impossible to repair cartridge valves, on the other hand, the core of such devices is easy to dismantle and replace with a working part. An order of magnitude more difficult to repair devices equipped with a sensor and a thermostat. To restore the performance of such equipment will require the help of specialists.

However, there are traditional two-valve and ball modifications of taps, which you will surely manage to repair and thereby save money that could be spent on the purchase of new sanitary equipment.

Replacing O-Rings

If you are faced with the question of how to fix if a faucet is dripping in the bathroom, then you will most likely have to face the replacement of the sealing rings. Symptom of the problem is water leakage from under the valve flywheel.

Instructions for replacing the sealing rings are as follows:

• Shut off the water supply.
• Slot screwdriver or knife tip to hook the plug in the upper part of the flywheel. Under the plug there is a screw, which is unscrewed with a figure screwdriver.
• After the flywheel is removed from the spindle, take the open-end wrench for 17 and unscrew the core.
• At the core there is one or two thick rubber sealing rings. Over time, these rings are deformed and do not provide adequate tightness. In place of the old rings, you need to install new rings, which can be bought at any plumbing store.
• Assembly of the crane is performed in the reverse order. The core is inserted into the corresponding slot and twists until it stops.

Important: Do not use excessive force to avoid tearing the sealing ring.

• Now turn on the water supply and see if the repaired tap passes or not. If there is no leakage, we put on the flywheel and finally assemble the whole structure together.

Gasket replacement

Now consider how to fix when water from a tap drips by replacing the gasket. The symptom of the problem is a leakage from the tap spout.

Important: Replacing a worn gasket must be done in a timely manner, otherwise the water will gradually destroy the inner surface of the valve body. If we neglect the leakage, scaffolds are formed on the fundamentally important details of the crane, which can be eliminated by a complete replacement of the entire device.

The instructions for replacing the gasket are as follows:

• Remove the flywheel from the spindle and unscrew the core of the valve using the open-end wrench.
• The old gasket is located at the opposite end of the core and is mounted there on a special ledge. Remove the old gasket.
• Cut out a new gasket from a piece of dense rubber, focusing on the contour of the dismantled consumables.
• The cut part is fixed to the original place and we assemble the whole knot together.

Conclusion

So, we looked at a couple of simple examples of eliminating leaks with your own hands. Of course, you can eliminate leaks on more complex models of mixers, but for this you need to be familiar with the features of their design. Make the repair a little easier, you can see the video in this article.