Having a constantly dripping faucet can be an absolute nightmare, especially if you happen to have excellent hearing. It can keep you up at night, which will cause your productivity to drop. Fortunately, there is no reason to keep hearing it drip in your Cheshire, CT, area home. Instead, simply turn to F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to take care of the problem!
Most Common Reasons Your Faucet Is Dripping
For such a relatively small part, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with your faucet. Regardless of what one of the following reasons are right for you, the odds are high that contacting a professional plumber will be the only way to resolve the issue.
Broken or Improperly Installed Washers
Washers are one of the least expensive things you can purchase for your sink, which is great news if you have a broken or improperly installed washer. This part rests against the valve seat, but over time, it will begin to break down. Therefore, if your faucet currently has an annoying drip, this is the first thing you should ask a plumber to check.
You can also develop a dripping problem if you purchased the incorrect size or improperly installed a washer. Regardless of the exact reason, your best bet is to have a professional come take a look. After all, allowing a plumber to repair your problem means that you won’t have to worry about it dripping again just a few days later.
You Have a Damaged Cartridge
This particular issue only happens to sinks that have two handles. Cartridge-styled faucets have valves that are used to control how much water comes out of each side. As the cartridge ages, it’ll eventually cause your sink to drip. Be sure to tell a professional plumber what type of sink you have before they head over. That way, you can be guaranteed they’ll be prepared to replace your valves right away.
Your Valve Seat Is Deteriorating
Has your faucet started leaking from the spout? It’s possible the issue is with your valve seat. This is the part that connects your faucet to your spout, and once it becomes corroded, your spout will begin to leak. Although the valve seat doesn’t always become corroded, it’s a prevalent issue if you have sediment inside your sink.
Your O-Ring Is Malfunctioning
Much like a washer, your faucet uses an O-ring, which can break down over time. This small disc is used to hold your faucet’s handle in place. If you suddenly develop a leak from one of your handles, you probably need your O-ring to be replaced. F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling will be happy to take care of this issue for you!
Your Water Pressure Is Bad
Did you know that a leaking faucet may not actually indicate that anything is wrong with the actual faucet? When your water pressure isn’t working properly, it can cause your faucet to leak sporadically. For instance, if it only leaks when you move the handle a certain way, or even only at certain times in the day, this is much more likely to be a water pressure problem than a faucet issue. The good news is that the professional plumbers at F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can easily diagnose and repair the problem!
You’ve Got a Broken Seal
Properly working seals prevent your faucet from leaking through the fixture. When your outlet and/or inlet seals wear down, water will begin to leak. What caused your seals to go bad in the first place? The answer is typically water sediment, which will collect on your seals until they deteriorate to the point of no return. Once your faucet begins to leak, it’ll be time to replace your broken seal(s).
Broken or Loose Miscellaneous Parts
Any part involved in your faucet can cause it to leak if it breaks or becomes too loose. Sadly, many people will allow their faucet to drip for several days, or even weeks, before they call someone for help. The problem with doing this is that if one part breaks, it can lead to additional parts breaking as well. The best way to keep your faucet properly operational is to get it checked out as soon as an issue appears.
What Problems Will a Drippy Faucet Cause?
There is, of course, another reason you shouldn’t hesitate to get your faucet repaired right away. Failure to address a leaky faucet can do much more than merely annoy you. If you develop a dripping faucet in the Cheshire, CT, area, it’s imperative to take immediate steps to correct it before you develop much bigger problems.
Water Damage
Water damage is a much more costly issue than dripping water, and it can happen extremely fast. After all, where will the dripping water go if it’s not coming directly out of the faucet? For example, what if you have a leak from the plumbing beneath the sink? This can quickly cause your cabinet to begin collecting a pool of water. As you can probably imagine, this can lead to mold and mildew, along with potentially needing the entire floor of your cabinet replaced.
Mildew and Mold
Speaking of mold and mildew, they thrive in areas where water collects. Therefore, if you have a leak that you don’t notice right away, mold and mildew can easily begin growing. Even worse, it’ll end up contaminating your faucet, which can lead to health issues. The best thing to do if you notice a leak beneath your sink is place a bucket or other container beneath the leak, then contact F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling.
Wasted Water
Have you ever considered just how terrible it is for the environment when a faucet keeps dripping? Believe it or not, it’s been estimated that a single dripping faucet causes approximately 3,000 gallons of fresh water to be wasted per year. Not only will this harm the environment, but it can also cause the local water supply to become depleted. In other words, your leaky faucet may end up impacting everyone in your local area.
Increased Water Bills
One thing that nobody wants to deal with is paying for an unexpectedly higher bill. Unfortunately, this may be exactly what ends up happening to you. Your water company charges you for every single drip, after all, so you might as well make sure you use all the water that comes out of your faucet.
Remember, if you’ve got a drip, no matter how small, you’ll save money in the long run by having a plumber repair the issue right away!
Take Proper Care of Your Home
F.F. Hitchcock Plumbing, Heating & Cooling assists people in the Cheshire, CT, area with a wide variety of different services. Whether you need your air conditioning or heating repaired, a propane refill, or a home energy audit, we’ve got you covered. Our other services include indoor air quality, insulation, gas piping, ductless mini-splits, and water treatment services. We can help with nearly any of your home concerns. Contact our team of plumbing experts today to schedule your appointment!
