3 Leading Causes of Leaking Faucets
A leaking faucet can start off as something irritating and turn into a much bigger problem if you don’t get it fixed as quickly as possible.
If you search plumbers Nampa, for instance, you will be able to find a professional who can fix the issue. In the meantime, it can help to have an idea of what causes a faucet to leak in the first place. Armed with that knowledge, you can spot when there is a problem and get it sorted before the situation gets any worse.
What is that steady drip telling you?
As well as being very annoying that you can’t completely stop your faucet from dripping water, that steady drip is giving you a message that shouldn’t be ignored.
The most obvious reason for a dripping faucet is that the washer is worn or broken and needs to be replaced. That is a simple fix that could resolve the issue. However, it could be a different story if you have a compression faucet.
The seals on these faucets can get damaged as a result of having to constantly hold water back while the faucet is in the closed position. The best course of action would be to get a plumber to check for any damaged or worn parts while they are replacing the washer.
Do you have a loose fitting or cracked pipework?
The most obvious clue to a cracked pipe or a loose fitting is a constant leak close to the source of the problem.
If you see that your faucet is suffering from a slow but constant leak it would be a good idea to carry out a cursory inspection of the piping underneath the sink. Use a torch to run along the length of the pipe and check the seals and joints for any potential signs of damage.
If you suspect that the leak might be behind the wall, don’t attempt to tackle this job yourself. It is something that needs to be done by a qualified plumber.
Is your water pressure too high?
Another common reason for a leaky faucet is when your water pressure is too high. A good clue that this might be the problem is when your faucet leaks even when you are not using any of your plumbing fixtures.
This is a problem that starts out small and can soon build into something much more significant if you don’t take action urgently. When your water pressure is too high the leak usually starts in the faucet. This can lead to tiny leaks in the piping if the issue isn’t fixed.
Get a plumber to check your water pressure levels so that they can restore the system back to normal.
As you can see, these three common problems tend to start out as minor irritations before turning into a more major and expensive problem if the leak is ignored for too long.
The other issue to be mindful of is that a leaky faucet means you are using more water than usual. This could add extra cost on your water bill for using gallons of water that you didn’t need to pay for.
The bottom line is that you should not ignore a leaky faucet. Get a plumber to check it out. Getting a leak fixed early should save you money in the long run.
