How to Fix a Bathroom Sink Faucet on Your Own
October 29, 2014
Few people actually know how to fix a bathroom sink faucet. One of the most common causes of leaks and drips is a faulty washer or O-ring, which is an easy DIY fix with a few basic tools. While our team at Ben Franklin is always here to help with major leaks, learning how to fix a bathroom sink faucet on your own can save you and your family time, hassle, and expense.
How It’s Done
- Turn off the supply of water to your sink. In newer houses, shutoff valves are often located nearby in a cupboard or cabinet.
- Use a flathead screwdriver to lift the protective caps off the handles and loosen the handle screws beneath. Remove the handles by pulling directly upward.
- For each stem, loosen the packing nuts using a wrench and completely remove the stem apparatus. Depending on your sink, the stem may unscrew or simply pop out. Examine these parts for damage or corrosion.
- Remove and replace the washers and O-rings, making sure to use replacements that are an exact fit. It can be helpful to bring the original hardware to the store when selecting new pieces.
- Reassemble the hardware in the following order: new washers and O-rings, stems, packing nuts, handles, screws, and caps. Turn on the water supply and slowly open each faucet to check for leaks. You now know how to fix a bathroom sink faucet!
A surprising number of basic leaks are easy to fix using these steps. However, in some cases the issue may go well beyond a deteriorating O-ring or poorly seated washer. If you find that replacing faulty parts and tightening faucet components does not fix your problem, remember that Ben Franklin is available for fixes large and small. We’re standing by twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so give us a call today at (972) 895-7775.