Leaky Faucet? Count on an Emergency Plumber to Come to the Rescue

Drip, drip, drip… those are among the sounds you ought not to hear at home, especially when you know you’ve shut everything down for the day. Unfortunately, a leaking faucet is a common household problem that any homeowner can encounter at any time. Compounding to this fact, About.com Home writer Bob Formisano says that certain faucet designs like a two-handle cartridge faucet may be complicated to fix. These situations require the immediate services of an emergency plumber.

Leaky Faucet. Count on an Emergency Plumber to Come to the Rescue

Leaky taps and their effects on water consumption can be a serious issue among Canadians. An Environment Canada study of water rates in ten developed countries identified Canada with the cheapest rates at $0.31 per cubic metre (as opposed to Germany’s at $2.16). At the same time, however, leaking water is tagged as a problem for energy wastage, considering that 40% of Ontario’s natural gas consumption is geared towards the processing and pipe delivery of water to utility subscribers. If your tap has problems with closing down fully, entrust the solution to a firm like Harris Plumbing.

Down to Business

The main thing to do when preparing a leaky faucet for repairs is to close down the feeder line to the faucet itself. Formisano says a valve underneath the sink is usually the faucet’s water shutoff. If the faucet does not have a local shutoff, then you may need to do it at the main water line.

In the case of handle based cartridge faucets, the plumber first needs to gradually remove the handle and the body that covers the cartridge, which is a self-contained device that handles the water flow through the faucet. This type of construction is a step up from traditional screw-based faucets you see in older homes. After a locking ring is removed, the cartridge itself can be removed and inspected for any failures.

Replacement?

An emergency plumbing crew like those from Harris Plumbing may recommend that the entire faucet assembly be replaced if the leaks could not be contained despite the repairs. The change can be done on the spot, and the crew will allow you to choose the replacement from an assortment of units already in stock in their support vehicle.

When every drop of water dripping out of your faucet can be an additional ten cents to a dollar added to your monthly bill, a dripping faucet becomes more than just an annoyance. Fortunately, Newmarket or Barrie locals can count on the best emergency plumber to fix the problem before more precious dollars are wasted.

Sources:
The Water-Energy Nexus, Alternatives Journal
How To Repair a Leaking Two Handle Cartridge Faucet, About.com Home
How to Repair a Dripping Two-Handled Stem Faucet, This Old House
Wise Water Use, Environment Canada