Facilitating residential property transactions, Alex Anninos is a Beverly, Massachusetts real estate professional active with the Mavroules Team. Among Alex Anninos’ areas of extensive knowledge is home improvements that bring exteriors and interiors up to the highest level of upkeep and repair.
One of the most common issues in the kitchen or bathroom is a leaky faucet. This can not only be a distracting annoyance, but a major water waster. While the exact method of repairing such a leak depends on the type of faucet, the problem generally centers on a worn O-ring or washer.
The first step in any faucet repair is turning off its water supply. This involves turning the hot-and-cold water shut-off valves in the cabinet directly under the sink clockwise. Test by turning on the taps and ensuring that water doesn't flow.
At this point a flat head screwdriver or utility knife may be used to pry off the handle knob’s cap, although some of these caps are threaded and will need to be unscrewed. Unscrew the handle from the stem and then use a C- or adjustable wrench to loosen the packing nut. This reveals a stem that can either be twisted off the valve or popped off. Finally, replace the washer at the stem’s base and the rubber O-ring at the stem’s mid-point. While the leak could be caused by either part, they are inexpensive and it makes sense to replace both, as long as they are the exact fit.
