Your faucets are a very vital component in your home structure. And keeping them in good working condition is very important. A leaky faucet will not only disturbs your beauty sleep but will also rack up the water bill that could cause you hundreds of dollars.

If left unrepaired, your faucet that is slowly dripping day-after-day will lead you to a bigger plumbing nightmare!

Imagine this: a faucet that drips once every second can waste approximately 3-5 gallons per day. If you do the math on that, you can probably waste over a hundred gallons or more of water every month! And if you leave it that way, you will surely have enough wasted water that could fill up a swimming pool.

There are a lot of causes why your faucets might be leaking, but the most common causes include defective parts like O-rings, washers, and gaskets. Corrosion and mineral deposits can also lead to leaking. But depending on the problem, you may be able to repair it yourself rather than having to call in an expert.

If you are already tired of constantly hearing a drip-drip from your faucet, then learn to find what causes a faucet to leak and what’s the best way to fix it is!

What Causes a Leaky Faucet?

Issues with O-rings

One of the most common issues to look up when your faucet is dripping is the O-rings. An O-ring is like a small disc that is attached to the stem screw, which specifically holds up the handle of your faucet in place.

This issue occurs, particularly in the cartridge faucets. Over the course of regular use, your faucet O-rings can loosen or be wear out, which will cause a drip on your faucet near its handle. If this is the issue, a simple O-ring replacement is all that you need to do.

Washer Problems

This is one of the most common causes of a dripping faucet. When you use your faucet, the washer is pressed against the valve seat. And this repetitive friction causes your washer to wear out, leading it to drip or chatter water.

This type of leak is found in a compression faucet. And if it happens to be the issue you are dealing with, it can easily be fixed by replacing your washer.

Corroded Valve Seat

If the leak occurs from the spout, it could be an issue with the valve seat, which connects the faucet and the spout. Accumulation of water sediments causes the valve seat to rust, which will cause leakage on the spout area. You can avoid this by consistently cleaning the valve seat, usually with the help of a professional plumber.

High Water Pressure

If your faucet tends to drip during a particular time of the day or when there are no other plumbing fixtures that are currently in use, this could only mean that your water pressure is too high. If left ignored, it can create small leaks in your faucet and will ultimately lead to a pinhole leak in the piping that could get worse over time.

Still, Having Leaks? Call Caccia Plumbing Now!

If none of these fixes your leaky faucet, it is possible that your faucet needed to be replaced. Hard water and various cleaning products can cause damage to your faucet, and Caccia Plumbing is here to do the repairing or replacing your faucet.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (650) 442-1470.