One of the most used fixtures in any home is your kitchen faucet. It’s also the most likely to develop problems like leaks and dripping, especially if you don’t keep up with regular maintenance. But repairing or replacing your faucet doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. With a little time and effort, you can stabilize a wobbly faucet or repair a leaky one to save money and give your Kitchen faucet repair the facelift it needs.
Leaks are often the result of loose components. Tightening these will often solve the problem. Other times, you might need to replace small parts such as washers and O-rings. These can be pried out and soaked in white vinegar, then replaced. You can even find kits that contain all the necessary replacement parts for your specific faucet.
A good place to start is with the handle. If yours is a ball type, unscrew the cap and collar to access the internal parts. A cartridge type requires the removal of the handle, but you can usually unscrew the retaining screw and pull out the cylinder to check for problems such as cracked discs or worn-out rubber seals.
Most faucets have a set screw that holds the handle to the rest of the fixture or sink. This may be covered with plastic or under a metal cap. You can usually remove these by using a wrench or screwdriver. If you can’t, you might need a special faucet handle tool (available at hardware stores) to get the handle off. Once the handles are off, you can remove the decorative disk that covers the mounting screw, and then use a screwdriver to dislodge any remaining screws holding the handle in place. You can then take off the handle and inspect the cartridge, aerator or valve stems for wear or damage.
Once you’ve removed the faucet, it’s a good idea to turn off your water supply. There will be anywhere from 1-4 nuts to unscrew that hold the faucet and its components to the sink. The nuts will either be winged with a flange or have a standard thread. If they’re winged, you can tighten them by hand. If they’re standard, you will need a wrench.
You’ll need to drain the line before turning on your water again. This will prevent any sediment or other debris from flowing down the line and into your new faucet. When the water is back on, run it for a few minutes to flush out any remaining lines and ensure that the connections are tight. This will help you avoid any future problems. Once your faucet is fixed, be sure to take a picture of all the existing parts to reference when you’re putting it back together. This way, you’ll know exactly what goes where and be able to troubleshoot any future issues.