As long as the faucet drips, the needle on the water meter turns, racking up a bigger bill for the homeowner, according to your local Fort Worth plumber. Experienced plumbers agree, almost any job seems difficult the first time you do it, whether it is making an omelet or putting a new cord on a lamp.
The same is true for working on your house plumbing. A dripping faucet is a rudimentary problem that can be baffling; you must figure out how to get it apart–often the trickiest step of the operation–and what part is at fault. Even those who think of themselves as all thumbs can master the steps involved in basic plumbing repairs that make the task easier.
6 Simple Tips for Homeowners
Tip #1 Work slowly and be patient.
Tip #2 Turn off the water supply. If you are working on a faucet, close the drain to keep screws and other small parts from falling in.
Tip #3 When you dismantle the parts of a fixture, line them up in the order and orientation of disassembly so you can put them back together more easily without wondering which way a part faces.
Tip #4 Do not force a plumbing part “frozen” by corrosion; apply a few drops of penetrating oil, wait a while–overnight if necessary–and try again.
Tip #5 Inspect parts for signs of wear or corrosion while you have a fitting disassembled. Replacing a worn part avoids future trouble and the necessity of dismantling the fixture or fitting again.
Tip #6 Keep on hand a supply of common plumbing replacement parts–faucet cartridges, washers, washer screws and O-rings. That way you avoid the bother of a special trip to the store and the nuisance of having to leave the water shut off while you are out matching the faulty part.
Finding the right replacement parts may be the most troublesome part of a plumbing repair. The best source is your local Fort Worth plumbing-supply store, which will have a larger stock of fittings and more knowledgeable salespeople than a hardware store. Try to buy manufacturer replacement parts.