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Faucet dripping? How to quickly repair leaking fittings yourself

2023-06-12T17:45:22.025Z

Highlights: If the faucet is dripping, it is usually due to limescale or an old gasket. The broken seals can still be replaced by do-it-yourselfers with simple fittings. If the repair is more difficult and beyond your manual skills, you should consult the landlord before calling a plumber. This often covers the costs of fittings, especially if the wear and tear is age-related. By the way, those who drill and hammer in their apartment must adhere to certain times so as not to risk trouble.



If the faucet is dripping, there is no need to call a craftsman right away. Often the problem can be solved quickly with a few simple steps.

A dripping faucet is not only very annoying, but also goes into the money over time thanks to the water loss that has occurred. However, craftsmen are often fully booked and often not cheap. The good news is that a few simple first aid measures are often enough to repair the dripping faucet. To do this, however, it is first necessary to clarify the cause of the leaking fitting.

If the faucet is dripping, it is usually due to limescale or an old gasket. © Panthermedia/Imago

Dripping faucet: limescale is often the cause

If the faucet drips despite the water supply being turned off, a calcified sieve, also known as an aerator or aerator, is often behind it. To remove the limescale, unscrew the aerator at the outlet port of the tap. Then place the aerator in a bath with a vinegar solution. The vinegar dissolves the lime and the metal shines like new again. However, you should definitely remove the rubber seals that are located in the aerator beforehand so that the material does not become porous due to the vinegar. Then screw the aerator back on together with the rubber seal. The strainer can no longer be unscrewed from the tap? Then a trick with a balloon will help to loosen calcifications.

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Drip indicates porous seal

If the faucet in the bathroom or kitchen is already older, the seals are often already porous and no longer seal completely. While it is no longer so easy to replace the seals with modern mixer taps, the broken seals can still be replaced by do-it-yourselfers with simple fittings. Here's how to do it:

  • First, turn off the water at the two angle valves under the sink or sink. Open the tap to check if water is still flowing. Small residual amounts that still come out of the tap are normal.
  • Then loosen the cover cap using pipe wrenches and a cloth to prevent scratches from the pliers.
  • Now they see the shut-off valve, which can be turned off with a screwdriver.
  • Underneath there is a gasket secured with a nut. Remove the nut and replace the gasket.
  • After that, the unscrewed parts are fixed again in the reverse order. Finally, unscrew the angle valves. Now the faucet should be tight again.
  • If the repair is more difficult and beyond your manual skills, you should consult the landlord before calling a plumber. This often covers the costs of fittings, especially if the wear and tear is age-related. By the way, those who drill and hammer in their apartment must adhere to certain times so as not to risk trouble.

    Source: merkur

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