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Types of Faucets Plumbers Deal With

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Melbourne Plumber

There are numerous types of faucets on the market. With so many, a plumber has to be up to date on the types that may be leaking in a home. Here are some common faucets that are found and problems that can arise with them.

Leaky Faucets are a Common Problem

A common problem found in most households is having a leaky faucet. Most people ignore it when it can be a simple fix. While, some may be worse than others, it might be ideal to try a quick fix before calling in a plumber for the job.

Shut off the water under the sink and close the sink’s drain. Put something underneath just in case there is a small leak. You’re going to need to figure out what kind of faucet you have because there are four different types.

Compression

Most compression faucets will need new seat washers. They will typically be on the handle. Remove these first. Then remove the screw in the handle and pull off the handle. Unscrew the packing nut after. Once you have done this, you will need to remove the seat washer held in place by a screw. Once you have removed the O-ring you can take it to measure the size between 3/8 – 5/8.

Ball-Type Faucet

This is unfortunately a harder faucet to work on but it is still can be fixed. Due to the nature of how difficult it can be to find the problem on a ball type faucet, it is easier to just buy a brand-new replacement kit and disassemble the ball type faucet completely and rebuild. Of course, calling in a plumber is also recommended.

Cartridge Faucet

For the cartridge faucets, you need to pry off the cap on top of the handle and remove any screws. Tilt the handle back to pull it off. If there is a retaining clip that holds the inside cartridge in place. Use pliers to take it off, then pull the inside cartridge up. Remove the faucet head and cut off the old O-rings. Replace the old O-rings with the new ones if that is the problem.

Ceramic-Disk Faucet

Unlike the other faucets you have to push the handle back to gain access to the set screw. Remove any screw and lift off the handle. Remove the cap by unscrewing the disc screws and lift the cylinder out. With a screwdriver, you can lift out the seals if that is what needs to be replaced.

When all else fails, if you don’t have enough time or if you have a more difficult faucet, call a professional plumber. They will know exactly what to do.