Tag: need-to-know

Save the Headaches With These Faucet Leak Tips

As building technology improves, so do the materials that make up the plumbing systems in your home. If you’re lucky, big plumbing problems are few and far between. However, leaking faucets are still one of the most common issues plaguing homeowners’ plumbing systems.

The constant drip of leaking kitchen faucets can keep you up at all hours of the night and potentially cost you lots of money in utility costs. Fortunately, there are plumbers that want to help you be on the look-out for leaks and know what to do when you find them. Their advice may also save you substantial money by avoiding damage that can be caused by chronic leaks.

When to Call for Faucet Leak Services

While it may seem innocuous, a faucet leak is really one of the more urgent and destructive plumbing problems you may experience. The lack of urgency may even contribute to the problems that leaking faucets can cause. Commonly, leaks happen in the outlet of the fixture and constantly drip water down into the sink basin or tub, even when the faucet handle is closed. Such a problem is not destructive but it does waste a great deal of water.

More destructive leaks occur in places that aren’t as easily noticeable. Valves and connections within the faucet fixture itself can begin to leak and allow water to drain down under the sink. Often these leaks can go unnoticed for quite some time and damage cabinets and floors.

Outdoor water spigots are also a common place for leaks to occur. When constant moisture is allowed to be present near your home, wood-eating insects like termites and ants can be attracted and put your home in danger of an infestation.

How Plumbing Services Fix Faucets

Fixing faucet leaks is generally a quick fix. Faucets are made with perishable parts that are intended to be replaced when they start to wear out. Some of the things a plumber will check or replace when they perform a faucet repair include:

• Valve Stems
• Valve Seats
• O-Rings
• Washers
• Faucet Gasket
• Hose Connections

Essentially, any connection within a faucet itself or between the fixture and the water cut-offs on the wall has the potential to begin to leak. Keeping an eye on these areas will ensure that you catch leaks as soon as they appear, even if they are hidden from view inside a cupboard.

Total Cost of Faucet Leaks

The cost of repairing a leaky faucet is small compared to the cost of ignoring it. Even a small drip can add up to huge amounts of water over the course of a year, costing you money on your water bill. Secondary costs can add up, too, if the water is leaking from the hot water side of the faucet since you will be paying the utilities to heat all that wasted water.

Furthermore, if you have a whole-home water softener, you’ll be paying for the operation of it regardless of if the leak is from the hot water side or cold water side of the faucet.

About Heidler, Inc.

Heidler, Inc. has been performing plumbing maintenance and repair in the Annapolis, MD area since 1947. Generations of homeowners have been trusting their plumbing to these professionals.

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