Who hasn’t encountered such a problem when the bathroom faucet suddenly starts dripping? Many people try not to pay much attention to this problem until there is a pressure of water seeping through the elements of the mixer. But solving this problem at the initial stage was much easier than in the “chronic form”.
Therefore, as soon as you hear the unpleasant sound of falling water drops, you should take steps to solve the problem. And it’s worth starting by understanding the probable causes so that they can be effectively eliminated.
Causes
- Saddle wear.
- Gasket wear.
- Wear of the oil seal ring.
- Salt deposits or rust.
- To prolong the service life of the seat, it must be cleaned. A wood plug should be driven into the valve hole, and melted tin should be poured into the cracks. Installation of a rubber gasket is also acceptable.
- The gasket wears out, perhaps, faster than other elements of the mixer. This is especially true under the influence of hot water. Even a short period of time is enough for the gasket to start leaking. You can buy it, or you can make it yourself. The most durable option is made from tires. Thanks to the cord thread, it will wear out very slowly.
- If the oil seal ring is worn out, then this damage can be repaired with your own hands. To do this, take a stopper from a penicillin bottle and make a ring. We use a sharpened metal rod to create a hole in the product. The required size can be set using a razor. It is more convenient to perform the replacement if you use an awl.
- Rarely, there are cases when the mixer fails due to scale getting into the faucet cavity or due to the presence of salt deposits. For this reason, the only option is to purchase a new unit.
We solve the problem with different types of mixers
A worn gasket is the most common cause of faucet failure in the bathroom. To remove it, you need to unscrew the valve axle and replace it. These manipulations do not require special knowledge or skills.
Recommendation: operations should be performed carefully, especially when tightening the valve axle. The fact is that many modern samples are made of “weak” metal, so even if you squeeze it a little, a leak is guaranteed.
If the key valve drips, then instead of the gasket you will have to change the cartridge. By the way, this has to be done very rarely. First you need to remove the protective cap under the handle, unscrew the screw, remove the lever and the cartridge will be visible.
It’s worth saying a little more about ball valves, since they can be not only ball valves, but also disk valves.
- Ball. The design provides a hollow ball with two holes on one side and one on the other. The water pressure and temperature are adjusted using a lever.
- Disc ones consist of 2 well-polished discs: upper and lower. The first moves relative to the second depending on the position of the lever.
Such faucets, as a rule, are repaired almost identically, apart from such differences in design. Basically, the faucet drips when the tightness of the connection between the seat and the ball (between the discs) is broken. To eliminate this reason, the structure will still have to be disassembled.
Recommendation: when performing repairs, it is necessary to place the lever in the neutral position. Installation of the cartridge and other elements must be carried out accurately, otherwise the leak may continue. To consider the issue in more detail, you can additionally watch the video instructions.
What if the water doesn't flow?
This is much less common, but it is also possible. For example, if your neighbors have normal water pressure, but you have obvious difficulties. There is likely a problem with the pipes or filters.
As a rule, this most often happens with cold water. The cause is rust in the pipeline. Therefore, first of all, it is recommended to replace the cartridge in the coarse filter, which is located at the beginning of the pipeline to the apartment or house. It would also be a good idea to clean the small filter that is installed in front of the valve. The mesh should be removed and cleaned. The same meshes need to be washed on faucets. This may require a pin or needle.
You can also try cleaning the pipes. To do this, the flexible hoses must be removed, and the water from the pipes must be directed to the sewer or into a container. This is how it works. One person holds the flow of water, and the second one alternately closes and opens the water supply valve several times.
Correcting before the drop turns into a trickle
The first drops from a closed bathroom faucet indicate that it should be repaired immediately. To do this, you should use the recommendations given, and you can also watch the video. If the skills are not enough, there are doubts about the possibility of solving the problem on your own, then, of course, you should contact a plumber.
