Affordable Plumbing Emergency Service

 
A leaky sink can be a terrible nuisance. Small leaks that make constant peeving dripping noises, or larger leaks that can raise you utility bills, or even worse, a leak in the pipes, which can lead to damaged cabinets and other surfaces will plague you if you do not remedy the leak immediately. You can try to identify the problem before you call a Sonoma Plumber, or you can attempt to perform the repair yourself with a few tips to get your started.

Before you tackle your leak, you should prepare your work area. Turn off the water underneath the sink. A good idea would be to lay a rag over the drains to capture any parts that may fall into the drainpipes. Additionally, you should apply tape to wrench jaws to avoid damaging fixtures, and designate a specific area for parts as you remove them.

There are four main types of faucets, and if your leak is in the faucet, it will be harder to fix it because each faucet has different specifications on how to fix it depending on the faucet type. The best idea may be to call a Sonoma Plumber to help, however there are some guidelines that you can follow.

* Compression faucets require rubber washers. These washes sometimes wear out, and are then unable to seal in water. To fix this problem a replacement of the O-ring is required, or the entire assembly which costs about $20. Keep in mind that when replacing the O-ring it is imperative that you match the size precisely for a perfect seal.

* Ball-type faucets include several parts, and because of this, finding the cause of the leak may be a difficult task, so phoning Sonoma Plumbing is best solution to the repair. If you do not want to bother locating the source of the leak, a good idea would be to replace the entire faucet to avoid the problem entirely.

* Cartridge faucets are easy. Just detach the handle, remove the cartridge, and replace the two O-rings, which are often associated with the cause of loose seals. Replacement cartridges are very cheap costing only $10.

* Ceramic-disk faucets simply require a replacing of the seals and a simple cleaning of the disk in vinegar to remove mineral deposits. When you are finished, turn on the tap slowly as to not break the newly placed disk with sudden water pressure.

If unsure which type of faucet you have, search Google for images of the specific types, or consult a qualified Sonoma Plumber.

If the leak is coming from the sink trap, you can try a few things. If one of the joints is leaking, you can try tightening the nuts, hand-tight, and a half turns on the metal fixtures, hand-tight with plastic fixtures.

If this fails to resolve the leak, remove the entire trap.

Check to ensure that the rubber washer seals are tight, replacing them if not. Ensure that all washers are aligned, fixing any that are not. Replace corroded pipes, preferably with PVC.

If the leak is still not resolved, Sonoma Plumbers are available to help. Sinks contain many parts that move and must be aligned to work well. Generally, sink repairs are cost efficient, and can be done quickly making it a convenient choice to call an experienced plumber to take care of the problem in a professional manner.