Plumbing the Depths of Your Home, Pt. 4
As I promised last month, this is the final article on plumbing for some time. I hadn't expected this to go on for 4 parts, but once I started, I quickly became awashed in the subject. But, we have no time for puns...the kitchen faucet is leaking and the bathtub drain is clogged. So, come on in and get your feet wet...the water's fine. Hehehe...
One of the best books I have found on plumbing is Plumbing by the Editors of Time-Life Books. This book has a plethra of drawings that show you exploded views of the many types of faucets and what you need to fix them. You can find Plumbing here.
Faucets
Did you know that a dripping faucet can waste more than a gallon of water a day? That's over 30 gallons a month and that's a lot of money going down the drain. (Sorry. I know I said we have no time for puns, but I couldn't help it.)
Usually the culprit of a dripping faucet is a worn washer. Regardles of the type of faucet you have, they all have washers of some sort. The basic types of faucets found in most homes are the stem faucet (one for hot and one for cold water, with the water mixing as it enters the spout) and single-lever faucets (which mixes the water in the faucet body). With stem faucets, one is just like another, no matter how big or small it may be. However, single-lever faucets come in several styles, each with their own method of repair. I am going to focus on stem faucets because stems are the most common faucet found in older homes. If you need information on single-lever faucets, start a discussion and we will hammer out the details.
Stem Faucets
On stem faucets, not only can you have a leak fron the spout when the water is off, but also from the around the handle when the water is running. Both types of drips are easy to fix, once you know how to get to them. The first step is to turn off the water, either at the shut off under the sink, or at the main shut off by the meter. Once the water is off, turn the faucet on to relieve the pressure and let excess water run out. Then you need to remove the handle. It's held on by a screw which, in older faucets, is usually easy to get to. But on newer models, the screw is hidden under a decorative button which must be carefully pried up to get to the screw.
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