Do It Yourself- Repairing A Cartridge Faucet !

Repairing a modern type of cartridge faucet can be one
of the easiest home repairs that you can do. In
general, anybody can do this, with or without
experience with plumbing. In fact, you can even coach
someone over the phone about the whole process and
still get good results. All you would need is pay
close attention, and you would be done in no time!

General Problems

The most common problems encountered in cartridge
faucets, is usually caused by a problem in the
interior cartridge, which usually wears and tears over
time. Nevertheless, there is no need to worry since
this type of faucet was created with simplicity of
repair in mind.

Getting Started: Purging The Lines

To start off, you need to purge your water lines. In
order to do this, you should turn off the entire water
source that is running to your faucet. Try looking
beneath your faucet and there you can see the shut off
valve that cuts of the water source. If you don’t have
one somewhere near your faucet, then you would have to
turnoff the main valve.

If you have to deal with the main valve, take note
that it would take you longer to purge. Most
households have a shutoff valve feature that is
directly placed under the sink, so it is the least of
possibilities that you need to shutoff the main valve.

After you have cut the water source, turn on the
faucet. Let the water keep on running. Try to wait
until all the water in the pipes has emptied, and
before you proceed to the next step, double check
first if the water lines are really empty.

Working On The Faucet

Now, to start working on the faucet itself, you need
to remove the sink handles. You would have to unscrew
them. Locate the protective cap and pop it off. This
is where you would usually find the screw. You can use
a butter knife or a screwdriver to do the trick. While
doing this, try to be very careful so that you do not
scratch it. In this way, it would still look nice
after the job. Now you can start unscrewing the knobs
until you completely remove them.

If you already know which type of cartridge it is that
you need, then the better. If you don’t you can simply
bring your old one to your local hardware and people
there will be able to help you out.

Once you get the new cartridge, go back and install
it. Then, replace the knobs. Turn the water back on.
When you are done with this, try testing out the water.
If the test runs smoothly without problems, then
you are done.

However, if you experience some water leaks during the
test, you have to do some adjustment again. Turn off
the water source and take off the knobs once more. Try
to check and ensure that you placed the cartridge in
the right position. If it’s not, then try to maneuver
it into the right place.

Put the knobs back into place and turn on the water
source again. Try the water test once more. If this
time it runs smoothly, then you have reached success
with your repair. If you are still experiencing
problems, then you may have a problem coming from a
different source.

Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"

Tips To Replace A Faucet !

Faucet replacement is a very easy task that anyone can
do. It is one of those household repairs that don’t
really need any professional assistance. Here are the
basics that you should know about faucet replacement.

Being Prepared And Choosing Your Faucet



Before you go off with the replacement proper
procedures, you should be ready and have with you the
faucet unit that you want to use to replace your old
one. You can drop by your local hardware store and
pick out a faucet that you want. Having it on hand
before removing the old one would make things easier
and faster for you.

With the numerous modern designs now at the market,
you have a variety of faucet designs that you can
choose from. For your bathtubs and sinks, you can get
single or double handled faucet. Generally, faucets
have a standard size regarding their hook-ups,
depending on their use. For kitchen faucets, you can
usually find units with an 8 inch hookup. Bathroom
vanity faucets usually come in 4 inches, while
bathtubs come in 8 inches.

Faucet Measurements

In able to know which kind of faucet to get from the
store, first you have to do some measurements. Have
your tape measure in hand for this task. If you will
be using a double handled faucet, what you need to do
is take the measurement from the handles’ center to
center, thus, this is your faucet’s size. If you will
be using a single-handled faucet, you would have to
measure starting from the the distance in between your
water hook-up lines placed on your faucet’s bottom.

As soon as you know the style and size of your faucet,
then you’re already to take out the old one and
install your new unit.

Tools That You Need

Basically, you do not need a lot of tools for this
task. All you need to have are wrenches so that you
can hold the shut-off valve and take out the supply
line that is going to your faucet. Also, you would
need to have channel lock pliers or a basin wrench.
You’ll be using this take out the large nuts, which
attaches the faucet to your sink. It would be better
if you use a basin wrench, due to its special design
that is intended for working in tight spaces, just
like where your faucet is mounted to your sink.

Steps To A New Faucet

First, you should turn off all water supply that is
linked to your faucet. Then, you should remove the
supply lines coming from both sides of your faucet.
After that you should remove the large retainer nuts
that are holding your faucet to the sink. When you are
done with this, remove the old faucet from the sink.
Try to clean up your sink and where the old unit was
installed.

Once you are done cleaning up, get your new unit and
place it in the holes. You can ask someone to help you
with this, so that keeping it centered while
installing the retainer nuts below would be easier.
When you get the faucet in place and retaining nuts
tightly screwed, then you can now get your water
supply lines hooked up again. Turn on your water
supply and do some tests for leaks and other defects.

If you have some leaks, try reinstalling it again and
make sure that you tightly place each part where they
should be. Also, if you want you can use plumbers
putty or thread tape to prevent leaks or dripping on
the joints, specifically in between the faucet and
sink, or the supply line and the faucet.

Dan and Deanna "Marketing Unscrambled"