Why Is My Faucet Leaking? A Michigan Plumber Explains

Drip-drip-drip…

Tired of that annoying sound?

We don’t blame you. Besides the maddening noise, a leaking faucet also wastes water and can lead to water damage. Needless to say, you’ll want to fix your faulty faucet ASAP.

In this blog, we’ll share some of the most common causes of a leaking faucet, which include:

• O-ring issues
• Damaged washer
• Corroded valve seat
• Broken inlet and outlet seals

Let’s look at each of these problems in more detail below.

Want a Michigan plumber to fix your leaky faucet?

Inside most types of faucet designs you’ll find o-rings, which are little rubber or silicone seals that prevent water leaks.

Unfortunately, o-rings can deteriorate over time. If one of the o-rings has worn out or has become loose, then you’ll start to notice leaking water.

Luckily, the o-ring itself is inexpensive and a professional can usually complete the job quickly, meaning the job will not cost you much.

In compression faucets (the standard faucet model where you unscrew handles to let water out), metal washers are used to provide a tight seal that stops the flow of water when the handle is closed.

However, washers can become loose, corrode or wear out over time after repeated use. If your washer is damaged, water will leak from the faucet until the washer is replaced.

Contact a professional to replace your washer. The job won't cost you much since plumbers can usually replace them quickly.

Another possible cause of leaks in compression faucets is a corroded valve seat. During normal operation when you turn the handle off, the washer pushes against the valve seat to prevent water from flowing through the faucet.

Over time, minerals in the water supply can eat away at the valve seat, causing it to form a leak. A plumber can take apart the valve stem assembly and determine if the valve seat needs to be replaced.

Disc faucets (identifiable by their single handle and wide, cylindrical body) are really durable, but they can occasionally leak as they get older.

The most common reason a disc faucet is leaking is that the inlet and outlet seals are broken. These seals can wear out or become corroded by sediment buildup over time. If your seals are broken, a professional plumber can easily replace them.

No matter what problem is causing your faucet to leak, our highly-trained plumbers can fix it for you. At Thornton and Grooms, we offer upfront, flat-rate pricing and same-day service for every plumbing repair.

Visit our plumbing service page to see what other services we offer.