Does your faucet continue to leak even after tightening it completely? You’re not alone. A leaking faucet is both a common annoyance and a waste of water. Fortunately, there are ways to save money by fixing it on your own.

If your faucet is leaking, it could be for one of these two reasons: loose nuts or a worn out or improperly installed washer. The majority of all leaking faucets are caused by washer problems, but loose nuts are usually the problem when the leak is coming from the base of the handle.

Learn how to fix a leaky faucet by following these six simple steps:

1. Turn off the main water supply. The shut-off valve is usually located underneath the sink you are working on.

2. Loosen the packing nut with an adjustable wrench by turning it counter-clockwise. Then use the faucet handle to pull out the entire valve.

3. Locate the old washer, which will probably be at the bottom of the valve unit.

4. Replace the old washer with the new one matching its size.

5. Replace the valve unit.

6. Tighten the packing nut and turn the water back on.

If after completing these steps your faucet still leaks, you should call a plumber to fix the problem. Visit TalkLocal to be connected to a local service professional in your area to help you with your problem.

This entry was originally posted on Wednesday, October 31st, 2012 at 10:00 pm and is filed under Plumbers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.