Leaking Kitchen Faucets has always been an unavoidable problem for many families. There are always various reasons that cause Kitchen taps to leak. If you ignore it, a dripping tap means an increase in your water bill and the repair cost increases. Therefore, to prevent your water bill from increasing, we need to understand the causes of a leaky faucet and whether we can repair it ourselves after the leak to save household expenses.
This guide will give you a comprehensive understanding of leaky faucet causes and how to fix a leaky Kitchen faucet so that you will no longer worry about leaking kitchen faucets in the future!
There are many reasons for tap dripping when turned off. We need to judge whether Your Kitchen Faucet is a faucet water intake leak or faucet water outtake leak, or a faucet leaking from handle. This is important for subsequent maintenance. No matter where the faucet is leaking or dripping, it may be caused by the following reasons:
One of the most common reasons for kitchen taps leaking is the wear of sealing ring or gasket. As the use time increases, the sealing ring or gasket will inevitably be worn and aged, resulting in the inability to form a complete seal inside the faucet, and coupled with the water pressure of the tap water, the kitchen faucet will eventually trickle water. If this is the case, we can quickly fix the leaking o-ring to reduce water waste or aggravation of the tap drip problem.
O-Ring
Tap dripping when turned off Another reason may be that the water pressure on the taps is too high, exceeding the maximum pressure that the faucet itself can withstand, which will also cause the faucet to leak or drip. If the faucet is subjected to excessive water pressure for a long time, it will also cause damage to the internal seals and other parts of the tap, ultimately worsening the problem of the tap leaking.
The valve core is the core component of the kitchen faucet tap, which is equivalent to the "heart" of the taps. It controls the flow and volume of water by moving, rotating or other means. Therefore, if the tap drips when turned off, it may be that the valve core is damaged, which will also cause the faucet to drip continuously.
The valve seat of the tap is usually located at the bottom of the tap as a supporting part of the valve core and is used together with the valve core to allow the tap to freely control the switching of the water flow. If the tap is used for a long time or subjected to external forces and the accumulation of scale, it may also be damaged, causing the faucet is leaking at base.
In addition to the kitchen faucet tap itself causing dripping, improper installation can also cause kitchen taps to leak. For example, during installation, the water pipe and faucet joints are not tightened in place, or excessive force is used during the installation and tightening process, causing damage to some parts, etc. These reasons will cause a leaky faucet.
Kitchen faucet dripping usually occurs at the following time points:
After prolonged use: If your kitchen faucet has been used for a long time, frequent use of the faucet will accelerate the wear of the faucet's O-ring, resulting in a loose seal inside the faucet, which will cause the kitchen faucet dripping.
Frequent alternating use of hot and cold water: The seals in the core of the kitchen faucet tap valve will age faster if hot and cold water are used alternately. Alternating hot and cold water will cause them to shrink or expand frequently, resulting in a loose seal and leaks.
Tap drips after turning off: This situation is generally caused by the loosening of the internal parts of the valve core under the impact of water pressure, or the aging of the seal ring.
Tap dripping when turned off may seem like a minor problem, but if it is not taken seriously, it may lead to more serious consequences, such as:
Water is the source of life, we must cherish water resources, and the most direct consequence of kitchen tap dripping is the waste of water resources. According to relevant statistics, if a kitchen faucet tap continues to drip, it will waste about 500 liters of water every year. If there are ten or a hundred such leaky kitchen faucet tap, the waste of water resources will be very large.
Continuous dripping of the kitchen faucet will accelerate the wear of the internal components of the faucet, especially the wear of the sealing ring. If it is not repaired in time, it may cause damage to the entire valve core, so that a new kitchen faucet will eventually need to be replaced, which will greatly increase the cost of use.
Another impact of a kitchen faucet tap that keeps dripping is that it increases your water bill. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the volume of a drop of water is about 0.05 ml. A leaking kitchen faucet tap drips about 10-20 drops of water per minute, which means 0.72-1.44 liters of water can be wasted per day, and 21.6-43.2 liters of water per month. Therefore, a leaking kitchen faucet may quietly increase your water bill.
The dripping sound of the kitchen faucet tap makes people feel restless and annoyed. On the one hand, it continuously wastes water resources, and on the other hand, it continuously increases your water bill. Therefore, it is necessary for us to master the faucet repair skills by ourselves, so that we can not only repair the leaking kitchen faucet tap by ourselves, but also save money.
First, you need to turn off the main shut-off valve of the kitchen sink faucet tap, and then turn it clockwise. If your home uses a ball valve control, make sure that the wrench is perpendicular to the pipe at a 90-degree angle, to avoid your kitchen being flooded after removing the dripping faucet later. Next, you need to open the faucet first and release the remaining water in the pipe until no water flows out of the tap outlet.
Depending on the type of kitchen faucet tap you have, use a suitable wrench or screwdriver to disassemble it. First remove the faucet handle, then you will see the valve core, and use a wrench to remove the valve core.
After disassembling the leaking faucet, we need to carefully check each part, especially the valve core seal, the valve core itself and the valve seat, to check whether they are damaged or severely worn, and check whether the valve seat is contaminated by scale, etc.
Checking each component will help to identify which is worn or damaged. If the O-ring is badly worn, the seal is not tight or other parts of the valve core are damaged, purchase a replacement of the same model from your local DIY store and ensure that it is fitted securely.
After replacing the parts, assemble them in reverse order according to the previous disassembly order, making sure all parts are tightened correctly and the seals and gaskets are placed correctly. Finally, use a wrench to install and fix the kitchen faucet tap and sink, and connect the water pipe.
One of the best ways to prevent kitchen faucet tap leakage is to choose high-quality kitchen faucets. Try not to buy those Shoddy Products. Try to choose Brass body kitchen faucet taps or stainless steel alloy kitchen faucet taps. These materials are more durable.
The faucet may be clogged by scale inside and may also cause the faucet to leak continuously. We need to clean the air filter at the kitchen faucet outlet regularly to prevent it from being clogged by scale, sand and other debris.
Loose installation or prolonged use can cause some of the taps' screws to loosen, which can also cause the kitchen tap to leak. Therefore, check the taps regularly to ensure that they are tight, which will effectively prevent the tap from dripping.
Correct use of kitchen faucet tap can not only extend its service life, but also avoid man-made damage, dripping and other phenomena. Therefore, avoid turning the faucet handle hard during use, as this will accelerate the wear of internal parts. After each use of the faucet, make sure the handle is completely closed and do not leave the faucet half-open.
Q: Why is my kitchen faucet tap is leaking at base?
A: Leaking from the base is usually caused by a damaged valve seat or valve core. Cleaning or replacing these parts usually solves the problem.
Q: How can I tell what is causing of my dripping faucet?
A: The first thing to look for is the location of the leak. Leakage at the outlet may be caused by wear of the internal valve core seal, and leakage at the bottom of the faucet valve seat may be caused by damage to the valve seat or improper installation. Secondly, if the amount of water at the outlet of the tap is very high when the switch is turned on, this may be caused by excessive water pressure.
Q: Can I fix a dripping kitchen faucet tap myself?
A: Absolutely. If you have a certain DIY ability, you can try to fix it yourself. Before repairing, you can read this blog carefully, and then refer to the causes of water leakage and repair steps provided in this blog to repair it. But if you have no experience, it is best to ask a professional to handle it.
Whether a faucet leaking from neck or the spout, it has always been a problem for everyone. Therefore, we must understand and master the relevant maintenance knowledge so that we can quickly repair the leaking tap, which not only contributes to saving water resources but also reduces our water bills.
Don't let your kitchen faucet tap leak! Take action now to conserve water resources.
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