Fixing a leaky toilet can be a tricky thing. This is actually the number one call we receive. Leaky toilet can mean around the base of the bowl in which the toilet needs to be pulled and reset. It can also mean a bad flush valve or flapper in which water slowly seeps into the bowl and causes the toilet to run periodically. It can also mean you might have a ballcock that could be bad as well. You may also have a leak coming from the tank – when the toilet flushes water goes onto floor or maybe you have some washers that are worn away and the bolts and seals need to be replaced. Before you perform any service to the toilet make sure that the water is turned off at the fixture. Then evaluate the symptoms to determine what you need to do. If you have a bad seal from the tank to the bowl, the tank needs to be removed and a new gasket and bolts are needed to fix the problem. A running toilet could be caused by the ballcock not shutting off, which will need to be replaced, or a hung up flapper. If the flapper is hung up, adjust and you should be good. If you have a “ghost flush” then the seal from the flapper is bad and needs to be replaced or you have an issue with a cracked flush valve which could be letting water out of the tank. You can test this using food coloring: put the food coloring into the tank and watch to see if the dye is passing into the toilet bowl.
A leaky kitchen faucet is a common call for us. You can have a number of different issues here. If it is dripping from the spout then you will need to do a repair and replace the cartridge assembly. First, shut the water off to the faucet. Determine what the brand is. It will be marked somewhere on the faucet, sometimes on the back of the spout at the bottom. There could be a cap and the a screw to remove for the handle or just simply a set screw to be loosened. Once the handle is off you can then proceed to remove any trim collar. Some pull off and some screw off. If it is corroded bad enough you may need some pliers to remove it but this can damage the finish of the faucet and more parts would be needed. Once you are here, you may need to remove a nut or a clip. Sometimes it may be some screws that need to be removed. You may need a cartridge remover if you have an older chateau or legend moen faucet. They are known to lock up sometimes. If you have a sidesprayer you may need a diverter if the water comes out of sprayer while in use and if it does not have a flow transfer when the button is pushed. If you have a pullout spray you need to make sure the hose is tight at the hand spray. This can come loose in time and can leak into the cabinet below. Inspect sprayer for cracks, which can leak even if you are not holding the sprayer and leak into the cabinet below. You could have an internal leak to the faucet and cause corrosion and lock up and in most of these cases the faucet will need to be replaced.
The type of repair you will need to do on a leaky bathroom faucet will depend on the leak you are having. If there is dripping from the spout, then you will need to do a repair on the faucet. First determine what brand of faucet it is – it will have a mark on it somewhere or may even be on the pop up stopper. You may need to change a cartridge, stem or even a ball. Washers and seats may also need replacement instead of the stem itself. Moen uses cartridges, American standard uses stems and cartridges. Delta uses cartridges, balls, and seats and springs. Grohe needs ceramic cartridges and Price Pfister could need a cartridge, stem or may just need seats and washers. If water is leaking constantly below the countertop or around the base of faucet with it operational or not you will more than likely need to replace the faucet, but you need to do some troubleshooting first. Look to see where the water is coming from and then you will know what you need to do. There will be handles to remove by removing a button or a cap, then removing a screw or set screw. There could also be a retainer clip or a nut or bonnet. There may even be an escutcheon that needs to be removed. Once you get to this phase you can remove the assembly and see if you need replacement or if the faucet just needs some washers. Before you perform any part removal, make sure that the water to the faucet is turned off. There will be some angle valves below the counter top to turn off the water. If those valves do not hold then they should be replaced and you will need to shut the water off at your main valve.
Tile & Plumbing Specialists, LLC Provides Expert Tile & Plumbing Services in the Following Northern Virginia Locations:
Aldie VA, Ashburn VA, Bristow VA, Broadlands VA, Burke VA, Centreville VA, Chantilly VA, Clifton VA, Fairfax Station VA, Fairfax VA, Falls Church VA, Gainesville VA, Great Falls VA, Haymarket VA, Herndon VA, Lansdowne, VA, Leesburg VA, Manassas VA, McLean VA, Middleburg VA, Northern VA, Oakton VA, Reston VA, South Riding VA, Springfield VA, Stafford, VA, Sterling VA, Stone Ridge VA, Vienna VA, Woodbridge VA