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    What Can a Good Atlanta Plumbing Service Tell Me about Faucet Repair?

    Get DIY Faucet Repair Tips from a Top Atlanta Plumbing Service

    Faucet Repair Wouldn’t it be better to skip the random internet searches for faucet repair tips, and get advice directly from a top Atlanta plumbing service? We thought so too!

    Today we’re going to discuss the five easy faucet repair steps to follow in order to fix most leaks. While you might be tempted to ignore the drip, all of those tiny droplets can add up over time. Do you really want to be paying for something running straight down the drain? Probably not. Plus, the repetitive bloop-bloop-bloop sound is enough to drive anyone mad.

    What Tools Will I Need to Fix My Faucet?

    Not too many. For the sake of simplicity, we’re going to focus on one of the most common faucet types: compression faucets. These have a valve seat sealed by rubber washers to prevent leaks. When these wear out, you’ll eventually notice it starting to leak.

    Here’s what you should gather in advance:

    Want a little pro tip? Tape up the inside edges of your wrench to protect your faucet’s finish, and prevent unsightly scratches. It’s an easy fix, won’t affect the grip, and ensures you won’t need to replace your fixtures if your hand happens to slip.

    Once you have everything together, we can move on to the fix itself.

    Faucet Repair Faucet Repair Step 1: Turn Off the Water to the Sink

    Don’t turn a drip into an unexpected indoor water feature. Before you do anything, make sure your water supply is turned off. This advice applies to both the faucet handles themselves, and the main valve control knobs underneath the sink.

    Faucet Repair Step 2: Strip It Down

    We are, of course, referring to the shiny knobs and decorative handles attached to the faucet. Under each knob, there is usually a screw mounting it to the handle stem itself. Use your flathead to remove the screw, and then pull off the handle.

    Bit stuck? No problem. Apply your WD-40 to the screw and stem to help loosen things up.

    Faucet Repair Step 3: Give It a Wrench

    You’ll want to apply your wrench to the packing nut at this point. Once it’s gone, you should see the stem. You’ll want to remove this as well but have care. While some stems pop right off, others require a twist-off motion. After removing the parts, inspect them for any damage. If they look good, you can re-use them. If they don’t, you’ll need replacements.

    Faucet Repair Step 4: Inspector Gadget

    If you’ve made it this far, it’s time to take a good close look at the O-ring and washer sitting in the valve seat. These are usually the most common reason your faucet will leak. Remove the old one and replace it.
    Here’s another pro tip: your washer and O-ring need to be an exact fit. To avoid shuttling back and forth to the hardware store, think about buying a package with a variety of different sizes. Once you remove the old one, you can compare it to the ones in the package to make the best fitting choice.

    Faucet Repair Step 5: Throw It in Reverse

    As in, reassemble all the parts in reverse order, starting with the O-ring. Once it’s all back together, turn your water back on and test it out. With a little luck, you’ve solved the problem (and haven’t ended up wasting an entire day).

    Want Another (WAY Easier) Faucet Repair Solution?

    First, pour yourself a lovely adult beverage. Next, pick up the phone and call us. We’ll come out and take care of the leak while you get to sit back and relax! Doesn’t that sound a whole lot better?

    If you’re in need of an Atlanta plumbing service for faucet repair or any other problem, don’t wait; call us today at 404-873-1881, and let our team at Morningside get to work for you.