Plumbing Questions & Answers

A compression faucet is a common fixture that you can find at homes as well as in a commercial space or environment. It could also be a fixture that you will be asked often to repair. Having a little extra knowledge on the subject matter will help advanced and novice plumbers to easily and efficiently fix the problem without much hassle.

Prior to starting the job on the leaky compression faucet, you should always prepare your work area. First and foremost on the list is to shut off the water supply. This is done to make sure that you will not encounter a “high spray” situation which can be troubling when opening the fixture. Covering the sink drain will also help avoid parts from falling in the drain. Clear items that may be close to the sink, like soap and the like.

The fixture can be easily scratched if you’re not careful enough. In order to avoid scratching the fixture, apply duct tape on your tools when working with the faucet. The owner will surely appreciate the care you are taking.
Sometimes, minerals or hard water may clog the pipes and faucet. Using vinegar-based products can be quite effective in dealing with this problem.

Once the preparation is done, it’s time to get to work. Open the fixture and start by checking what the problem is. A common source of leaks in a compression faucet comes from the valve seat washers. A problem with the valve seat washer is that in order to get to it, you’ll need to remove some parts which could include the handle, handle screws and a packing nut which will usually require a specific wrench or pliers set to remove. Once the items have been removed from the fixture, the washer may be replaced and then coated with a non-stick substance. If the problem is a worn out valve seat, that can be fixed by removing another part of the fixture which is the spam. After removing the spam, grind the valve seat smooth again.

Another source of problems could be the O-ring which is found next to the seat washer. The plumber should be able to replace the O-ring in any type of faucet. It would help if you familiarize yourself with the different sizes of O-rings available. Also know where to purchase the O-rings conveniently.

When fixing faucets, try to keep the parts arranged neatly and in good order. Clearing some space in a nearby counter will help to organize the parts and will make it easy for you to identify the parts. Knowledge in the different kitchen and bathroom fixtures that use compression faucets are also a plus for any plumber. Remember that the more you know, the easier the job becomes. In most cases however, the homeowner would probably have you replace the whole fixture altogether because of its easy accessibility in most stores as well as their wide variety. This will be another kind of job and any good plumber will always be ready for any job that is required of him.