What is more annoying than the sound of a faucet that won’t stop dripping? Drip…Drip…Drip… Not only is the rhythmic sound of the water hitting the surface irritating, a leaking faucet can increase your water bill significantly and lead to costly water damage. The longer a drip is continued to leak the more problems it can lead to which is why you will want to fix it right away.
From bathtub faucets to outdoor spigots, a leaky faucet doesn’t always mean you will need to run out and purchase a replacement. Many times a leak coming from the faucet can be solved with one of the following repairs:
- O-ring issues
- Washer damage
- Valve seat corrosion
From diagnosis to repair, having a basic understanding of the plumbing systems within the home is beneficial. Anytime a service is performed with the home it can be a little nerve racking. 
Grasping the basics allows for an open dialogue when the plumber arrives to service the issue. Faucets are one of the simpler aspects of plumbing within the home. Provided below is bit more in depth information regarding the fixes to your leaking faucet.
O-Ring Faucet Repair
An o-ring is a small rubber or sometimes silicone seal within a faucet that prevents water from leaking. Over a period of time the material that makes up the o-ring can start to break down. Once the o-ring wears out or loosens up leaks become noticeable. O-ring replacement is luckily one of the easier faucet repairs and often takes less than an hour for a plumber to replace.
Washer Damage
A worn out rubber washers is the most common reason a faucet leaks. Every time the faucet is used the washer moves against the valve seat. This friction eventually wears the washer down which causes the faucet to start dripping at the spout. Replacing a rubber washer in a faucet is a fairly simple plumbing service and often takes less than an hour to complete.
Valve Seat Corrosion
In the compression mechanism, the valve seat services as the connection between the faucet and spout. Sediment from the water accumulates which can cause the valve seat to corrode, thus causing a leak from the faucet spout. This is easily remedied by cleaning the valve seat regularly. A local plumber can easily assist with this in under an hour.
If you find yourself in a situation where your faucet has begun to leak, don’t fret. Call the plumbers at Horton Plumbing and Remodeling where service is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Licensed, master plumbers drive fully equipped service vans and almost always have the parts needed to repair your plumbing issue.
