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If you experience waking up in the middle of the night to the irritating noise of drip, drip, drip from a leaky faucet, it's probably high time you learn how to fix a leaky faucet. Doing so will save you the trouble from calling up a plumber, and will save you from getting high plumbing bills. You might think you really need a plumber to fix a leaky faucet. But no, you can do it by yourself! And with these simple and easy to follow steps, you will never have to dial a plumber again. Here are some basic tools and materials you will need: - Screwdriver - Washers Before You Start 1. Look under your sink and search for a shutoff valve. Turn its handles counter-clockwise (off) to switch off the water supply. Remember the saying "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey". This will guide you in switching your water supply on and off. 2. Be prepared with a variety of replacement parts, including washers and O-rings. 3. Make sure you plug the drain (you can use rags). The worst thing that can happen is when small parts like a screw or washer goes down the drain. 4. As you work, keep in mind the exact order of the parts from the moment it was taken apart and line them up. This will serve as a guide when it's time to reassemble it, so you wouldn't have a hard time tracing what goes in first. Begin Working! 1. First, take the faucet handles off. You can do this by using your screwdriver to remove the screw that is holding them on. Once you've removed the screws, lever the handles open using a flathead screwdriver. 2. Faucet handles removed, you may now proceed to removing the old washer located behind the handle. If no washer is present, then don't fret. Buy one and use it later on. 3. Having bought a new washer, use it to replace the old washer. The new washer goes exactly where the old washer is supposed to be. Remember that the hole in the washer should just be a little bit bigger than the post where the handle turns. 4. Reconstruct the faucet. Remember to do replace the parts in the opposite order as when you took it apart. Put the handle back to its post and screw it in. In screwing it, make sure that you do not tighten it too much, since this can cause damage to brass fittings. Keep it hand-tight. 5. Test it. Turn your water on by turning the handles of your shut-off valve clockwise or to the left. 6. Hopefully, your faucets wouldn't be leaking by this time. That is if everything went well. If not, you can always try to tighten the screws a little bit more or do the whole procedure over again. If you were still not able to stop the leak, it's probably time you face it and call a plumber. Miscellaneous Tips In going to the hardware when buying a washer, ask an employee for assistance. He could recommend the specific washer that is used for your sink. Lime build up can be a cause for leaky faucets. If you observe lime build up on your faucet handle post, you can clean it off using lime away products. There's no need for you to stay awake at night and listen to the annoying noise of a leaky faucet instead of enjoying fitful sleep. Learn to fix a leaky faucet yourself and say goodbye to plumbers, high plumbing costs, and sleepless nights.
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Find out how to fix a leaky faucet yourself. Find your faucet guide!
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