Home Improvement and Remodeling Tips

Repairing a modern type of cartridge faucet can be one
of the easiest home repairs that you can do. In
general, anybody can do this, with or without
experience with plumbing. In fact, you can even coach
someone over the phone about the whole process and
still get good results. All you would need is pay
close attention, and you would be done in no time!

General Problems

The most common problems encountered in cartridge
faucets, is usually caused by a problem in the
interior cartridge, which usually wears and tears over
time. Nevertheless, there is no need to worry since
this type of faucet was created with simplicity of
repair in mind.

Getting Started: Purging The Lines

To start off, you need to purge your water lines. In
order to do this, you should turn off the entire water
source that is running to your faucet. Try looking
beneath your faucet and there you can see the shut off
valve that cuts of the water source. If you don’t have
one somewhere near your faucet, then you would have to
turnoff the main valve.

If you have to deal with the main valve, take note
that it would take you longer to purge. Most
households have a shutoff valve feature that is
directly placed under the sink, so it is the least of
possibilities that you need to shutoff the main valve.

After you have cut the water source, turn on the
faucet. Let the water keep on running. Try to wait
until all the water in the pipes has emptied, and
before you proceed to the next step, double check
first if the water lines are really empty.

Working On The Faucet

Now, to start working on the faucet itself, you need
to remove the sink handles. You would have to unscrew
them. Locate the protective cap and pop it off. This
is where you would usually find the screw. You can use
a butter knife or a screwdriver to do the trick. While
doing this, try to be very careful so that you do not
scratch it. In this way, it would still look nice
after the job. Now you can start unscrewing the knobs
until you completely remove them.

If you already know which type of cartridge it is that
you need, then the better. If you don’t you can simply
bring your old one to your local hardware and people
there will be able to help you out.

Once you get the new cartridge, go back and install
it. Then, replace the knobs. When you are done with
this, try testing out the water. If the test runs
smoothly without problems, then you are done.

However, if you experience some water leaks during the
test, you have to do some adjustment again. Turn off
the water source and take off the knobs once more. Try
to check and ensure that you placed the cartridge in
the right position. If it’s not, then try to maneuver
it into the right place.

Put the knobs back into place and turn on the water
source again. Try the water test once more. If this
time it runs smoothly, then you have reached success
with your repair. If you are still experiencing
problems, then you may have a problem coming from a
different source.

Faucet replacement is a very easy task that anyone can
do. It is one of those household repairs that don’t
really need any professional assistance. Here are the
basics that you should know about faucet replacement.

Being Prepared And Choosing Your Faucet

Before you go off with the replacement proper
procedures, you should be ready and have with you the
faucet unit that you want to use to replace your old
one. You can drop by your local hardware store and
pick out a faucet that you want. Having it on hand
before removing the old one would make things easier
and faster for you.

With the numerous modern designs now at the market,
you have a variety of faucet designs that you can
choose from. For your bathtubs and sinks, you can get
single or double handled faucet. Generally, faucets
have a standard size regarding their hook-ups,
depending on their use. For kitchen faucets, you can
usually find units with an 8 inch hookup. Bathroom
vanity faucets usually come in 4 inches, while
bathtubs come in 8 inches.

Faucet Measurements

In able to know which kind of faucet to get from the
store, first you have to do some measurements. Have
your tape measure in hand for this task. If you will
be using a double handled faucet, what you need to do
is take the measurement from the handles’ center to
center, thus, this is your faucet’s size. If you will
be using a single-handled faucet, you would have to
measure starting from the the distance in between your
water hook-up lines placed on your faucet’s bottom.

As soon as you know the style and size of your faucet,
then you’re already to take out the old one and
install your new unit.

Tools That You Need

Basically, you do not need a lot of tools for this
task. All you need to have are wrenches so that you
can hold the shut-off valve and take out the supply
line that is going to your faucet. Also, you would
need to have channel lock pliers or a basin wrench.
You’ll be using this take out the large nuts, which
attaches the faucet to your sink. It would be better
if you use a basin wrench, due to its special design
that is intended for working in tight spaces, just
like where your faucet is mounted to your sink.

Steps To A New Faucet

First, you should turn off all water supply that is
linked to your faucet. Then, you should remove the
supply lines coming from both sides of your faucet.
After that you should remove the large retainer nuts
that are holding your faucet to the sink. When you are
done with this, remove the old faucet from the sink.
Try to clean up your sink and where the old unit was
installed.

Once you are done cleaning up, get your new unit and
place it in the holes. You can ask someone to help you
with this, so that keeping it centered while
installing the retainer nuts below would be easier.
When you get the faucet in place and retaining nuts
tightly screwed, then you can now get your water
supply lines hooked up again. Turn on your water
supply and do some tests for leaks and other defects.

If you have some leaks, try reinstalling it again and
make sure that you tightly place each part where they
should be. Also, if you want you can use plumbers
putty or thread tape to prevent leaks or dripping on
the joints, specifically in between the faucet and
sink, or the supply line and the faucet.

Leaking pipes, no matter how big or small it is can
create extreme changes on your water bills, negative
changes to be specific. However, fixing minor leaks is
actually easy and is something that you can manage to
do without calling a plumber. Here are some ways on
how you can repair pipe leaks by yourself.

Fixing Leaks Through Tape

This is considered to be the easiest and cheapest way
that anyone can do to fix small pipe leaks. All the
material you would need is an electrical or duct tape.
The basic principle here is that you should cover the
leak using the tape. To effectively stop the leak, you
should start wrapping the tape before the leak itself
on your water pipe. Wrap in a diagonal manner around
the pipe until you have covered the entire leaking
area and a small portion extending before and after
it.

Fixing Leaks By Epoxy

This method is best used if your leaking problem is
situated at pipe fittings and joints. You can get
epoxy from your local hardware store. First off, you
should cut off the water supply. Then you need to
drain all the water from the pipes. Water purging can
be done by letting the faucet run, until no more water
comes out.

After purging the water, dry out the pipes and clean
it using steel wool. Make sure that the pipes are dry
and clean, since applying epoxy on a wet pipe can give
unpleasant results. If you are sure, then apply the
epoxy and let it dry. Refer to the epoxy’s packaging
on how long you should let it stand to dry up. Avoid
using the pipe line if the epoxy is still wet.

Fix Leaks Through A Pipe Clamp

You can use pipe clamp to fix your leaks. However, you
should buy a clamp that has the right size to fit your
leaking pipe. Once you have purchased a clamp, clean
out your pipe. Be careful in cleaning it, and make
sure that you do this well. Wrap your pipe in a rubber
pad which should be placed over the area where the
leak is.

When you have the pad in place, put the pipe clamp
over it and screw the clamp securely. If you have
somewhat moderate leaks, you can also use this method
to stop them.

Fixing Leaks Through Hose Clamps

Using a host clamp is kind of similar to using a pipe
clamp. However, this is to be only used on smaller
leaks. You can start by wrapping the pipe with a
rubber pad. Once the pad is placed over the leaking
area, put one or two hose clamps over it and tighten
the pad by securely screwing it.

Fixing Leaks Through C-Clamps and Blocks

If your pipe is of a small size, then you can make use
of a small sized c-clamp to patch it. Start by placing
a rubber pad directly on top of the leak. After that,
put a small wooden strip or block on top of it. Get
the c-clamp and place it over the fixture to hold
everything on place. You use the blocks as protection
for the pipe from the pressure given by the c-clamp.

Fixing Leaks Using Tin Can Clamps

Here, what you would need is a tin can. Start off by
cutting the ends off the can and cutting it up one
side. Get the half of the can and bend its ends so
that they are flat and could meet. This is like a
homemade pipe clamp.

Get a rubber pad and place it over your leak. Above
the rubber pad, place your homemade clamp. A c-clamp
and wooden blocks can also be used to tighten the
fixture.