You may be the king or queen of your kitchen, but a leaky faucet will not treat you that way. When you find yourself in such a situation in the kitchen, it can be extremely frustrating.
After that, you’ll have to deal with the hassle of repairing the kitchen faucet. Remember that if you understand why a kitchen faucet drips, you can easily avoid it.
Now, you may be wondering, what are those reasons? So, let us go through them one by one.
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Why Does a Kitchen Faucet Drip?
The drip in your faucet could be caused by several factors. Rust, deterioration, mineral accumulation, high water pressure, and a defective or broken gasket, seal, cartridge, or O-ring are the most common causes. Sometimes your carelessness in the kitchen is to blame for the drip.
What causes a kitchen faucet to drip? 8 Things You Should Know
Now, without further ado, let us get into the specifics. To avoid the hassle, carefully read them.
water compression
Simply observe your kitchen faucet for signs of water compression. If you notice dripping at specific times of the day or when you rotate the handles in specific directions, you’ve found your culprit. This is caused primarily by severe water compression.
inlet and outlet seal
Minerals can build up in your faucet’s seals (inlet and outlet). This can make your faucet drip.
Internal cracks
If you notice a drip at the bottom of your kitchen sink, this is due to broken internals. In this case, contact a professional right away.
Corrosion in valve seats
If you notice that the drip is coming from the sprout, you can be certain that it is the result of corrosion in the valve seats. This is caused by water sediments gradually accumulating in the valves.
Broken cartridge
If your plumber assures you that there is a leak in the cartridge, this is the cause of the drip.
This problem cannot be solved unless the cartridge is completely replaced. Also, keep in mind that you’ll need a cartridge of the same size to replace the old one.
Loose internals
The drip in your kitchen faucet can be caused by loose screws, nuts, gaskets, and rings. Also, if the washers, seals, or cartridges aren’t firmly in place, leaks can happen at any time.
Check washer
Dripping can be caused by minor flaws in the washer. A washer is a component that sits opposite and near the valve seats. The friction between these two parts damages the washer, resulting in a drip from the faucet.
O-ring failure
O-ring failure is most common in cartridge faucets. It is a small internal component that is attached to the stem screw. O-rings are used to keep the faucet handles securely in place.
If the leak is coming from the handles, the problem is almost certainly with the O-ring. As a result, you must change it right away.
How do I stop the dripping of my kitchen faucet?
Are you fed up with your dripping kitchen faucet? Then follow these eight simple steps to rectify the situation.
Step 1: First, determine the type of faucet you have. Is it a cartridge, ceramic, or ball faucet? These are the most common kitchen faucets on the market.
Step 2: Immediately turn off the water and inspect the two pipes beneath the sink. Rotate the pipes clockwise with your hands to completely stop the water flow.
Step 3: Connect the drain to a sink plug to prevent any small internal parts from being lost while repairing the faucet.
All of the internal components, such as screws, nuts, and rings, are required to reassemble the faucet. Therefore, exercise extreme caution when dealing with them. Otherwise, you risk losing them.
Step 4: Now, by removing the outer part of the handle, locate the screw that connects the handle to the stem.
Step 5: After you find the screw, turn it anticlockwise to remove the handle from the stem and store it somewhere safe.
Step 6: Using a wrench, unscrew all of the nuts. After you’ve unpacked all of the screws, take a close look at everything. If you find any damage to the internal parts, you can just buy a new one.
Step 7: If you don’t find any damage there, check the washer and O-ring in the valve seats right away. If you discover any problems, find suitable replacements as soon as possible.
Step 8: Finally, connect all of the pieces to get your sink working. Turn on the water flow and see if everything is working properly.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you are still experiencing the same problem after following all of the steps correctly, it is best to contact an experienced plumber.
Why does a kitchen faucet leak?
There are four major reasons for this.
If you have a leak or a drip in your faucet, it is extremely inconvenient for you. So now we’ll look at four major causes of leakage in your kitchen faucet.
The O-ring problem
O-rings are responsible for holding the handles of a kitchen sink. In a kitchen sink, this is the area where the majority of the leaking occurs.
Leaks can occur when the O-ring becomes damaged due to overuse or when it is not properly seated in its place. To repair it, replace the O-ring as soon as possible.
Washer problems
If your washer is not properly installed in its place, you will undoubtedly experience water leakage. Another thing to keep in mind is that you must always select the correct size washer to ensure that your sink functions properly.
These are difficult problems to solve. And for that, a professional plumber is required. It is best not to attempt to repair it yourself, as this may result in further damage to the faucet.
Problems with the valve seat
If you are hesitant to clean your sink, minerals will eventually deposit in the valves. It will clog the normal flow of water and cause a leak in the faucet.
In these cases, it is preferable to seek professional assistance. However, if you want to avoid these situations, try cleaning your sink regularly.
Internal cracks
This is a common cause of leakage in faucets. You’re aware that with regular use, the internals wears out. The washer, in particular, takes the brunt of the abuse.
With each use, the washer collides with and damages the valve seats. This is one of the most common causes of faucet leakage.
Aside from that, the gaskets, rings, and screws can crack over time and cause leakage.
How do you repair a leaking kitchen faucet neck?
If the water from your faucet is dripping from the neck, Then follow the four simple steps to repair it.
Step 1: First, turn off the water.
Step 2: Using a pipe wrench, unscrew the outer part of the faucet and remove it all. Examine the O-ring that connects the faucet neck to the sink. Because your faucet is dripping from the neck, the O-ring is too worn.
Step 3: Last but not least, replace the old O-ring with a new one. Use a screwdriver to do it correctly.
Step 4: Reassemble the faucet by simply putting everything back together.
You are now ready to go.
Why is the base of my kitchen faucet leaking?
It is unusual to discover a leak at the base of your kitchen faucet. If you notice water coming out of the area where your sink connects to the faucet body, there could be a leak at the base of your faucet.
What caused this to happen?
This type of leakage occurs when the internal O-ring is broken or worn out. The O-ring is what connects the faucet to the sink. As a result, if there is a single crack in that part, water leakage from the base is quite common.
Leaks can also occur as a result of damage to the internal cartridge. These are difficult to repair and will require professional assistance.
How can it be fixed?
To resolve the issue, you must replace the O-ring as soon as possible. Even after that, if the problem persists, inspect the internal cartridge and valve seats.
In some cases, the valve or the internal cartridge may be the source of the major issue. As a result, you must change those immediately.
Why is the handle on my kitchen faucet leaking?
This type of leak is fairly common in kitchen faucets. Everyone has to deal with it anytime.
What caused this to happen?
If you keep having water leaks even after you turn off the faucet, the problem is almost certainly with the handles.
This type of leakage occurs when the faucet is used for an extended period. The handles become loose over time, resulting in leakage.
How can it be fixed?
To resolve this issue, tighten or replace the handles as soon as possible. You can also hire a professional to replace the seals or rings that hold the handles together.
You may also need to change the internal cartridge and valves if leaks happen because of problems inside.
What is causing my Moen kitchen faucet to drip?
Water dripping in Moen kitchen faucets occurs for two main reasons. The first occurs as a result of O-ring damage. The problem with the handles is the second major reason.
So, if your Moen faucet is dripping, simply call a professional, ask them to test it, and replace the handle or the O-ring as needed.
What is causing my Delta kitchen faucet to drip?
Delta kitchen faucets drip only for specific reasons, and they are among the faucets that are relatively simple to repair. Generally, these faucets drip when the washers, springs, valves, or seals are damaged.
You can easily repair a Delta faucet by purchasing a repair kit at your local hardware store. However, if you discover severe damage to the internals, simply replace the parts with the compatible model.
What is causing my Grohe kitchen faucet to leak?
Grohe kitchen faucets typically leak when the cartridge, O-ring, or handles become damaged. Aside from that, these faucets are quite durable.
Grohe kitchen faucet repair is relatively simple, and you don’t even need professional assistance. Simply remove the damaged cartridge or O-ring and replace it with a suitable one.
What is causing my Pfister kitchen faucet to leak?
There are two reasons why Pfister kitchen faucets leak. The first type of leakage occurs from the base of these faucets, primarily due to O-ring damage. Leaks can also occur when valve seals or cartridges are damaged.
One thing to keep in mind is that these types of faucets deteriorate quickly. So, don’t ever disregard the company’s warranty or guarantee assurance.
It can be very inconvenient if your kitchen faucet suddenly leaks while you are working. Isn’t that right? That is why, to take immediate action, you must first understand the reasons.
This article is sure to help you with this, and you will be able to handle these situations with relative ease.