How Bad Is a Leaky Faucet Anyway?
Drip-drip-drip from a leaky faucet, of course, can be annoying. And certainly not good for your water bills (or the environment). But beyond that, how important is it, really?
How much damage does a leaking faucet cause?
If your leak is visible, you don’t have to worry too much – after all, the water is just dripping into the tub, which is meant to get wet. But all this excess moisture is a breeding ground for mold, which we know is dangerous to our health. In addition to that, according to Faith Plumbing , you might think that all the materials in your shower or bath are waterproof, but they are not: “Blocking water and being unharmed by it are completely different things. The main ingredient in traditional tile grout and thin-set grout is Portland cement, which does not block water.” Keeping the tub or sink constantly damp will cause damage, even if it takes some time to degrade.
Plus, as we know, it’s a waste of water and money: There’s a handy calculator on the US Department of the Interior website that shows that if you have a leaky faucet dripping 30 times a minute, you’re wasting 8.6 gallons of water. in a day.
How to fix a leaky faucet
If your leak is visible (i.e. not behind a wall), this may be a quick fix. According to Home Depot , grab these supplies to fix a leaky faucet if you don’t already have them:
- Phillips screwdriver
- Slotted screwdriver
- Wrench
- Pliers with needles
- hex key
- Faucet repair kit
- Faucet cartridge or stem
- Silicone grease for faucet
- old rag
Before you begin, turn off the water in your home. Then:
- Fully open the shower faucet and let the remaining water run off.
- Place a washcloth in the tub over the drain to prevent anything from falling off.
- Unscrew the faucet handle (and note that the screw may be under the cover in the center, which you can just pry off).
- Remove the front panel behind the handle.
- Remove the metal sleeve that opens up (or possibly unscrew it).
- If you see a retaining clip on the top of the valve, remove it with pliers, but be aware that you may not have one at all.
- Using a wrench, grasp the nut at the base of the stem and unscrew it.
- Loosen the cartridge with a wrench and, if necessary, stop here to take it to the store and find a suitable replacement if you don’t already have one.
- If you have a new cartridge, slide it over the empty valve and tighten with a wrench.
- Replace the retaining clip, valve sleeve, faceplate, shower handle and cover.
After you run the shower and check everything, if you still have a leak, it’s probably worth calling a plumber.
Signs You Have a Hidden Water Leak
If your faucet or shower head is leaking into your tub or sink, you obviously have a leak. But if you have a leak behind a wall, you may not notice it right away. Angi , a service that connects skilled workers with customers, says you should always be on the lookout for these nine signs of a hidden water leak:
- Musty smell in bathroom even after cleaning
- Mold or mildew in your bathroom (which you should clean so it doesn’t spread)
- Damaged paint or wallpaper in the form of bubbles or stains
- Damaged walls like bubbles in your drywall
- Humidity inside your cabinets
- Damaged floor, whether warped, cracked or stained
- Swinging, unstable toilet
- free tap
- Spots on your ceiling
If the leak is hidden from view, you will need a professional plumber to access the pipes and fix them. Don’t put it off because you don’t see it, you don’t know how bad it is.