Fixing a Leaky Kitchen Faucet: Cartridge Faucets Repairs

Fixing a Leaky Kitchen Faucet –  Cartridge Faucets Repairs. How to fix a leaky cartridge faucet? Tips about Cartridge Kitchen Sink Faucet Repairs, Troubleshooting and Fixing Problems.

Cartridge faucet is a type of faucet fitted with a perforated cartridge that regulates both the flow of water and its temperature. Find out kitchen faucet parts and accessories as below:

• O-ring
  Circular gasket, usually made of rubber, preventing water from leaking from the base of the faucet.
• Faucet aerator
  Device fitted with a screen and attached to the spout; it aerates the water and prevents splashing.
• Faucet spout
  Curved end out of which water flows.
• Faucet body
  Part attached to the faucet’s ring and serving to hide the cartridge.
• retaining ring
  Plastic part inside the faucet body keeping the washer in place.
• cartridge stem
  Unit activated by the handle that drives the rotating movement of the cartridge.
• Faucet cartridge
  When its stem is raised by the handle, its lower end is lifted out of the seat to let water flow.
• Faucet handle cover
  Decorative part capping the top of the handle.
• Faucet handle
  Lever for controlling water flow and the mixture of hot and cold water.

Pry off the decorative cap on the handle, remove the handle screw, tilt the handle back and pull it off. If there’s a threaded retaining clip holding the cartridge in place, use needle-nose pliers to remove it, and then pull the cartridge straight up. Remove the spout and cut off the old O-rings using a utility knife. After coating the new O-rings with nontoxic, heat-proof plumber’s grease, reassemble the unit.

To replace the entire cartridge ($10 to $15), match the length of yours to the replacement cartridge length. Also match the stem end where the handle attaches.

Before You Start

• Shut off the water under the sink.
• Close the sink drain; cover it with a rag to catch dropped parts.
• Tape the jaws of your wrench with a layer of duct tape to avoid scratching the fixture.
• Establish a place to lay out parts in order of removal.
• Use distilled white vinegar and a soft scouring pad for removing mineral deposits on faucet parts.

Find Your Faucet

There are four kinds of faucets: compression, cartridge (sleeve), ceramic disk, and ball type. Each type is illustrated here. Except for the ball-type faucet, there are two illustrations for each. The less detailed version will identify the kind you have. The more detailed one will help as you make repairs.

A compression faucet relies on rubber washers to seal the valve seat. Rubber washers wear out and must be replaced occasionally. The other types, often called washerless faucets, last longer but they too can develop leaks. When these cartridge, ceramic-disk or ball-type faucets leak, you can either replace the O-ring or neoprene seal that’s causing the leak or replace the entire assembly for less than $20.

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