Why Is My Faucet Dripping?

A dripping faucet is one of the more annoying plumbing problems you can have. The slow and steady dripping makes a subtle, regular sound that can be deafening in an otherwise silent home. That can severely hinder sleep, resulting in deteriorated health, mental anxiety, and so much more. On top of that, a dripping faucet wastes water, and that can significantly add up on your utility bills at the end of each month. And yet, a dripping faucet is also one of the smallest and most routine plumbing problems you might come across in your home. With several faucets in the average home, it’s not at all uncommon for a slow drip to develop somewhere over time.

The root cause of this issue can vary—different types of faucets can start dripping for different reasons. However, virtually all of these issues can be repaired if you know what is causing the drip in the first place. On this blog, we’ll take a closer look at a few of the most common reasons your faucet starts dripping and explain how to fix the issue so you can get your sanity and leak-free plumbing back.

Faulty Seals, Gaskets, O-Rings, or Washers

The number of faucets available on the market these days is countless, and every faucet has its own unique way of handling water, mixing your hot and cold water into your ideal temperature, and then releasing the water out into your sink. While each faucet is unique, most function on one of a select few principles. Some faucets rely on an opening and closing ball joint while others use screws or cartridges to adjust water flow. Regardless of what type of faucet you have, all faucets rely on important components to create a tight but flexible seal that contains water and prevents it from flowing when you don’t want it to. All of these components can eventually wear out, crack, and start to leak. This is when you get the obnoxious dripping coming from your faucet.

Sometimes these problems can be repaired with a simple adjustment of your cartridge or valve while truly worn-out seals or rings might require you to take the faucet apart to access the worn part and replace it entirely. You can typically buy these replacement parts for just a few dollars from your local plumbing supply shop, hardware store, or online, and most of the time these parts can be accessed with nothing more than standard tools that you probably already have lying around your house (i.e. screwdrivers and standard pliers). Be sure to carefully keep track of every part and where it belongs so you can reassemble your faucet the right way. Likewise, if you don’t feel comfortable conducting the repair yourself, give our team a call and let us diagnose and fix the issue for you.

Corroded Components

Corrosion is a natural side effect of faucet usage. Water causes material to oxidize, and oxidization causes rust in metals and slow degrading of plastic or rubber materials. After a while, these components simply can’t do their job and need to be replaced. You can typically tell when corrosion is the source of your issue when your water tastes somewhat metallic or has a somewhat brown-ish tint to it.

Corrosion is a pretty common problem with valve seats—the part of your faucet that connects your faucet spout to your compression mechanism. After a while, corrosion prevents the valve from forming a tight seal around the spout itself, and this is when you typically get leaks around the base of your faucet. Pay close attention to your faucet while you run the water or right when you shut it off.

Excessive Mineral Deposits

Hard water is a very common condition where the water that enters your home contains elevated levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals often chemically bond to metallic components, resulting in a buildup of pesky limescale. While this is unsightly on the outside of your plumbing fixtures, it can wreak havoc inside them as well. Excessive mineral deposits can damage important components and contribute to corrosion that kills gaskets and seals, resulting in leaks that are pesky and difficult to get rid of. The best solution to this issue is a whole-home water filtration system that will drastically reduce mineral content and keep your faucet in better condition for longer.