It’s been likened to Chinese water torture. You’re laying in bed, trying to fall asleep, and all you hear is, “drip, drip, drip, drip” coming from the bathroom faucet. You’re not going to get much sleep, so you might as well get up and fix the faucet.

First, you’ll need to determine what type of faucet you have. There are washerless faucets and compression faucets. The washerless faucet can be a disc, ball, valve or cartridge type faucet. The compression faucets are older, two-handle types of faucets. Once you decide what type of faucet you’re dealing with, you’ll need some tools.

Here’s a tip – plug the sink you’re working at, so nothing will accidently drop down the drain – like a critical part, for example. You’ll need some wrenches to take the faucet apart, starting with the faucet handle. And before you do anything, turn the water off.

Most often, a leaking compression type faucet is due to a “O” ring that has corroded. If the spout is leaking, it’s probably due to a leaking washer or valve seat. Once you take the faucet apart, replace these items. If your valve faucet is leaking, it could be due to a corroded “O’ ring, a bad cartridge or seals that need replacing.

The best thing to do is take the parts you suspect to the home improvement store so you can purchase the right replacement parts. Most faucet repairs are not complicated, and once you have the faucet apart it’s pretty easy to see what needs replacing. If you run into problems, or it appears to be a bigger problem than you’re comfortable handling, call Plumber Toronto at (647)-560-1699.