Over the years, the kitchen faucet has become streamlined and a little complex, but the maintenance of the faucet is still quite simple. In the past, plumbers only needed to know how to fix the compression nozzle, but the modern version can have one of the other three valve mechanisms developed around the middle of the 20th century. The maintenance procedures of each kind of equipment are different, but they are not particularly difficult. In fact, any knowledgeable homeowner can do DIY work as long as he has the right tools and a little pipeline expertise.

When you have a leaking faucet that drips water either from the spout or from the handle, you can usually blame the valve for the problem. As plumber Mike diamond points out, the three types of faucets available - not including compression nozzles, which are no longer so common - are either spool, ceramic disc or ball valve.

If the valve is not faulty, the problem is usually caused by rubber gaskets and O-rings. All these parts, including valves, are replaceable. For most kitchen faucets, oem concealed shower they are easy to find.

Faucet failure can also lead to poor water flow. This is usually because hard water deposits block the aerator, the water supply port in the valve or the valve housing. It is easy to clean the aerator. Generally, the valve can be cleaned, but sometimes some or all of the valves need to be replaced.

Leaking spouts will also spray water into the sink cabinet, causing lasting damage. When this happens, the problem is usually caused by loosening the hose connection of the faucet hose or connecting the nozzle to the handle or the sprayer. Although it needs to work in a narrow space with weak light, the leakage under the cabinet is usually easy to locate and repair. The following steps and supplies list will help you proceed confidently.

The exact supply will depend on the repair and type of faucet you are dealing with, but in most cases, these items will complete the work.

How to repair leaking or blocked faucets

Step 1: Make sure your faucet.

This critical step can easily be ignored until you come to a hardware store and find that faucets are like cars when buying parts and repair kits. You need to know the brand and model. Each brand has its own unique logo, which can usually be found on the faucet handle. Once found, you can view the model, the specific maintenance instructions and the list of recommended replacement parts. You can order online from manufacturers or third-party suppliers.

Specific manufacturers are known for producing specific types of faucets. For example, if you have a ball valve kitchen or bathroom faucet, it may be a triangle.oem waterfall shower If you have a European square edge, it is more likely to be a groch or Kohler than a Mohn, Delta, Pfister, or American Standard.

Step 2. Clean the aerator.


Clogged aerators are the most common cause of reduced water flow. Loosen the aerator, recoil under the tap, or soak overnight in a bowl of vinegar to remove scale, if necessary. If the aerator is recessed and you can't clamp it with pliers, you may need to buy a cheap aerator key from the pipe supply port.

The aerators of pull-down and pull-out faucets are usually located behind the nozzle. Unscrew the nozzle and pull the drill bit out of the head or hose. Then clean with pointed nose pliers

Step 3: Turn off the water.


Shut off valves are usually located under the sink. You can turn them clockwise to close them. If you can't find the stop valve, you may have to disconnect the main water valve of the house. When you need to repair the hot end of the double handle faucet, you can turn off the power socket of the water heater.

You don't have to turn off the water for some maintenance, such as cleaning the aerator or changing the handle.

4. Remove the faucet.


Remove the handle and start the disassembly. To do this, the set screw must be found. It may be located at the bottom of the handle, under the lever or hidden behind a cover that must be pried out with a flat head screwdriver. You can remove most of the set screws with a 1 / 8-inch hex wrench. If you don't see the set screw, the handle has a large conical base. Try unscrewing the base.

Once you pull out the handle, the rest of the disassembly depends on the faucet. It is usually necessary to unscrew the fixing nut with pliers. If you are repairing a ball valve, bathroom or kitchen sink faucet, you must unscrew a dome shaped collar to enter the valve. Remove slowly to avoid any small parts falling into the drain pipe. It's also a good idea to completely cover the drain.

Step 5: Repair the valve.


Once you have exposed the valve, you should be able to remove it by clamping the stem with pliers and pulling it. The ball valve is easy to remove (no pliers are required), but the cartridge valve, disc and compression valve may be stuck by scale.mat black basin factories If you can't remove the valve by twisting, pulling and pouring vinegar, you may need to buy a valve puller, which works similar to a bottle opener.

Once you have a cartridge valve, disc, compression valve or ball valve, check it for cracks and other defects that may lead to leakage. If found, replace it. Pull out all rubber parts and springs from the valve housing and replace with new parts from the repair kit. If there is scale on the faucet, soak the valve in vinegar overnight, and then scrape off the scale with a screwdriver.

Step 6: Reassemble the faucet.


Reverse the disassembly procedure and reassemble the faucet together. Check whether the valve has marks indicating the correct direction and ensure that they are aligned with the marks on the valve housing. Tighten all components firmly with pliers, but do not overtighten. You don't want to break anything. You hope to dismantle the faucet again in the future.

Step 7: Prevent cabinet leakage.


Clean the cabinet shelves and look for dripping water. If the leak comes from a hose connection with a compression fitting, tighten all components with pliers.

If hoses have quick disconnect fittings, they will be plastic and you will see a label or button that can be pressed. These leaks are mainly because the parts were not properly connected at the beginning. To correct this, turn off the water and drain the faucet. Then, grasp the accessory with both hands, press the tab or button to pull it apart, and then push it back together until it clicks.

The cost of repairing a faucet will depend on the root cause of the problem,china touchless bathroom faucet manufacturer but you can usually minimize the cost by making it easy to use the toolbox.

If the faucet leak is external, you may only need to tighten the connection or replace a water supply pipe. If it is internal, the faucet may need to be rebuilt or completely reinstalled