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Repair A
Leaky Ball-Type Faucet |
Before You Start
Make sure the main water valve is turned off either near the
base of the faucet or under the sink. Open all the lines to
drain out any excess water. Cover the sink with a towel or
cloth to stop any parts or tools from slipping down the
drain. You may also want to cover any wrenches or pliers
with tape or cloth to prevent any damage to the finish of
your faucet. When you disassemble to faucet place the parts
in order so they can easily be put back together. Last but
not certainly least remember to take the faucet name or
model number along with the old parts to the store so you
can identify the correct replacement part or kit.
Ball-Type Faucet
Most ball type faucets are fairly easy
and inexpensive to repair because you usually need only
replace worn parts, not the entire mechanism. Faucet repair
kits are available at your hardware store.
If the faucet is leaking at the spout with the handle turned
off, the problem could be a loose adjusting ring, a damaged
ball, worn valve seats, or worn springs. Before replacing
any parts, try tightening the adjusting ring first.
Turn off your water at the shutoff valves and tip the handle
up. Loosen the Allen screw located at the lower front
section of the handle, and lift off the handle. Insert the
cam tool into the adjusting ring located in the cap and turn
clockwise to tighten. Do not over tighten or you may crack
the handle. Replace the handle and test for leaks. If it is
still leaking, you will need to replace some parts.
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- Turn off the water at the shut off
valve under the sink.
- Loosen the Allen screw at the front
lower section of the handle and lift it off. Under the
handle, you will find a large chrome cap with either
wrenching surfaces or a knurled rim. If the nut has
wrenching surfaces, you can use smooth jawed pliers or
an adjustable wrench to loosen the nut. If it has a
knurled rim, use the wrench that comes with the repair
kit, or pliers covered with cloth or duct tape.
- Remove the cap and pull out the cam,
cam washer, and ball with your fingers. Reach into the
body of the faucet and lift the cold water rubber seal
and spring from the inlet port with a small screwdriver.
Next, lift the hot water seal and spring. If your faucet
is more than 10 years old, or has dripped for several
months, plan on replacing the ball also.
- Using your faucet repair kit parts,
replace seals and springs by pressing each rubber seal
onto its spring. Slide the seal and spring onto an Allen
wrench with the seal facing up. Insert the spring and
seal in to the inlet on both the hot and cold inlets.
- Press the ball into the faucet body.
The ball will have a peg like key on one side that
matches the slot in the body. Press the new cam cover
over the ball and align it’s key with the slot on the
faucet body. Push it down until the key engages and
thread the cap over it. Tighten the cap until it feels
snug, but do not over tighten. Replace the handle and
test the faucet. If it still leaks, remove the handle
and tighten the cap a little more.
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Fixing Ball Type Faucets Leaking At The Handle
If your ball type faucet is leaking at the handle or base,
your O rings will need to be replaced. See instructions
above to lift the stem off and replace O rings.
Tools: Screwdriver, groove-joint pliers, Allen wrench,
ball-type faucet repair kit, cam tool (should be included in
faucet repair kit)
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