Drip, drip, drip—it’s the familiar and usually annoying sound of a leaky home faucet in Virginia Beach, VA. Some people don’t pay attention to it. What’s a few drops of water trickling down the faucet, anyway? Sure, a leaky faucet may be an annoyance. But in the long run, it does more than wet your floor.
For some reason, the faucet is one fixture that has a knack for leaking. Leave the faucet to leak for a whole day and you could send up to three gallons of water down the drain. In a year, you’ll have wasted just about enough water to fill a standard swimming pool. And that’s just a minor leak! Think about how much you’ll lose if it’s a bigger one.
If the sound of the drip or the thought of water going down the drain becomes too much to bear, repair the faucet. You’ll reduce waste and avoid water-related problems.
Leaky Faucet Problems
Whether in the kitchen or bathroom, faucets don’t last forever. These fixtures eventually leak. And they can be a source of annoyance and waste.
Wood rot. A leaky faucet in your kitchen can saturate the wooden cabinet with water, and this can attract wet rot spores that will destroy your cabinet.
Water damage. Your carpets, floors, and your personal items are in danger of water damage due to persistent leaks. Caulk and grout will deteriorate, causing water to leak through to your floorboards.
Mold growth. Mold and mildew thrive in damp or moist environments. Left unchecked, the water drops may also encourage mold to grow on your walls and surfaces.
Higher humidity. Water drops will eventually evaporate, and this could raise the humidity levels in your home.
Awful smells. When mold starts growing and wood rotting, their bad smells will permeate the atmosphere in your home. You will no longer be able to live and breathe easy.
Flooding. What starts as a trickle in your faucet or water supply line can turn the floor of your basement or crawl space into a water park.
Overflows and clogs. Sink leaks can exert pressure on your plumbing, causing drains to clog or overflow.
Expensive water bills. Small leaks also have the potential to release a lot of water, leading to waste. By fixing leaks, you can save up to 10% of your annual water bill.
Whether you’re able to fix the leak on your own or require experts, it’s essential to fix the leak fast.
Why Is the Faucet Leaking?
A number of things can cause the faucets in your home to leak. And these are the common culprits.
Loose rings and packing nuts. These components can loosen over time, causing the sink handle to leak.
Broken parts. Leaks originating from below the sink are likely due to broken fitting or pipping.
Water pressure. If you notice that your faucets are leaking at specific times of the day or when you turn the handle in a certain direction, the water pressure could be the cause.
Worn out seals. When water sediments accumulate, they can corrode the inlet and outlet seals of your faucet.
Worn-out washers. Another reason you’re experiencing spout leakage is problems with the valve seat washer. Friction can wear out the washer. If the washer is wrongly sized or incorrectly installed, leaks will occur.
Valve seat corrosion. Leaks from the spout are an indication there’s an issue with the valve seat, which connects the spout and the faucet. It could be sediments in the water have corroded the valve seat, leading to leaks.
Bad O-Ring. Cartridge faucets have valves that control water flow. With time, the O-ring in the cartridge faucet can wear out.
Drip No More
The experts at A1 Sewer & Drain have the tools, expertise, and experience to stop small leaks from mushrooming into bigger problems. Don’t take chances with your faucet and create a plumbing emergency where none exists. By scheduling a plumbing repair inspection, you can avert leaky faucet problems that can turn your home into a waterpark and mold haven.
