Tips for Repairing a Compression Valve Faucet

Faucet repair is virtually inevitable. At some point in time, a faucet within your home will develop a leak, or function in an incorrect way. Homes across America have a leaky faucet that goes unfixed for great lengths of time. This could spell extensive water damage to the homeowner. If repaired in a timely manner, water damage can be avoided. water damage isn't the only concern when you have a leaky faucet. Remember, you must pay for all of the water that passes through your house even if its dripping out of an unused faucet. A leaky faucet can cost you a significant amount of money on wasted water if left unchecked. Finally, a leaky faucet wastes water.

Now that you are aware of why a faucet should be repair, let's turn to the actual repair process. Repairing a faucet is a simple task. On the scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the most difficult home improvement task, common faucet repair scores around a 2 or 3. The job of repairing a faucet is really a task that almost any homeowner can accomplish.

This article will discuss tips for repairing a compression valve faucet. A compression valve faucet is one of the most common faucets in use today. This type of faucet is old technology, but many homes have several of these compression faucets throughout. If your faucet has two handles, and is older than 10 years old, chances are its a compression valve faucet.

Here are some tips for fixing a compression faucet.

1. Turn off the water supply before beginning work.

2. Have a towel handy to wipe up any spills.

3. Have a small bowl nearby to catch larger water spills.

4. Close the sink stopper to prevent any small items from falling into the sink drain.

5. Gather necessary tools such as pliers, screwdrivers, and safety glasses.

6. Compression faucets utilize rubber washers to shut off the water flow. These washers wear out over time and will need replacement. Pick up replacement washers at a home supply shop. Buy more than needed for future repairs.

7. Removing the faucet handles requires a Phillips screwdriver. First you must remove any trim rings on the handle tops to access the Phillips screw.

8. Once the handle is removed, use an appropriate wrench to remove the entire compression valve assembly.

9. Replace the rubber washer anytime that you remove the compression valve.

10. Inspect the compression valve for any additional damage to threads or other moving parts.

Typically, compression faucets require frequent washer replacements. Aside from replacing the washer, the faucets require little to no additional maintenance. This faucet type may be old, but its a tried and true design that is easy to maintain and operates with few problems. Fixing the faucet yourself will save you a significant amount of money over hiring a plumber or purchasing a new faucet. Next time your faucet develops a leak, tackle the job on your own.