Most homeowners will agree that a dripping faucet is more of an annoyance than anything severe. However, if you look at the amount of water it wastes, you might think otherwise. Just seven drips per minute from a single leaking faucet in your home wastes just over a gallon of water each day, or over 367 gallons per year. And if you have a dripping faucet in the basement and one in that spare bathroom, you are looking at over 730 gallons of water wasted each year. But even worse, that tiny drip could turn into costly water damage very quickly.
Understanding The potential For A Flood
As that annoying drip continues driving you mildly crazy, it potentially damages the faucet more than you might think. A leak due to wear and tear on something like an o-ring or cartridge can also erode parts of the faucet. Or signal a more significant issue inside the fixture that is also leaking inside your walls or floor. The only way to know that you are not facing a more substantial repair is to address that incessant drip.
Common Causes Of A Dripping Faucet
There are several reasons that your faucet could be dripping. Determining the cause is essential to know if you can handle the DIY repair or need to call in a professional plumber to make a more complex repair.
- Damaged Or Worn Out Parts- The most common items to wear out on a faucet are the o-rings or seals. These tiny parts do the brunt of the work of holding back all of the water when the tap is turned off. For a faucet with a cartridge filter, the entire unit could require replacement.
- Excessive Water Pressure- If you notice that the faucet is only dripping at certain times of the day or night, the issue could be too much water pressure. It might only leak at night when no one is using any water in the rest of the house. Or you come home and find that the sink is moist from water dripping throughout the day when no water is in use. While this might appear to be a minor issue, high water pressure will cause all of your Macon home’s water lines and fixtures to wear out prematurely. The wise choice is to test the water pressure and call in a licensed plumber if the pressure is excessive. A pressure regulating valve will solve the leaking faucet issue and prevent further damage to your home’s plumbing system.
- Loose Fittings- Ideally, if you locate a leak at the base of the fixture, it is due to a loose threaded fitting that you can tighten. However, there is also the potential for a more significant issue.
- A Cracked Pipe- If you discover that the fitting or pipe is cracked rather than simply loosened, the only wise choice is to call a licensed plumber for a professional repair. Replacing worn-out pipes and fittings as soon as they begin leaking is the only way to avoid the flood that will eventually occur. The water forcing its way through a tiny crack will start to erode the fitting or pipe until you find a flood from what used to be a drip.
When you discover a dripping faucet, know that it is only the beginning of your plumbing problems unless it gets repaired quickly. A call to the licensed plumbers at A-1 Plumbing is the best way to eliminate the water waste and possibility of severe water damage. Dial (701) 402-6643 and know that we provide you with a free price quote for a cost-effective solution with a complete warranty.