Fixing a leak is something everyone should know since it will save one a lot of money on plumbing services. Moreover, fixing a leak is very easy. You can do it if yourself once you know the parts of the faucet that that you will need, the tools that you will use and the basic steps on how to go about it. Here are the steps on how to fix a leaking faucet.

In fixing a faucet that is leaking, the first thing that you have to do is to make sure that the water is not running by turning the knob clockwise. You can find the knob under the sink and along the pipe. Turn it off and then open your faucet to remove the remaining water in the pipe. After this, just take out the handle by removing the screw that keeps it in place. Usually the screw is covered by a metal or plastic so you have to remove that first. Then once you have the handle, take it apart. Make sure that you remember how the pieces are assembled together. You will reassemble them again later. Once you got the pieces apart, look for the O ring. Take it out and replace it with a new one. This is the washer which prevents the water from coming out. So remember that when you buy a new one, you have to get the exact size. Now, before assembling it back in place check out if the parts have mineral deposits. If there are, clean them out using a toothbrush. Lastly, reassemble the faucet and you will see that there is no more leak.

If your faucet uses cartridge, get a new one. Just make sure that you put the new one in exactly the same way you got the old one. Otherwise you will get hot water when you turn it on cold and cold water when you turn it on hot. Another thing, if your faucet is the ball type of faucet, you will see that it has a spring. You will see this when you get the O ring. You will also replace the spring along with the O ring.

Fixing a leak is not at all that difficult and will not take your more than twenty minutes. There is really no need to call the plumber. You just need the tools, which most homes have, and the parts of the faucet that need replacing. You can buy these at your local hardware store before fixing your faucet.