Can you imagine walking into the kitchen or the bathroom and finding no faucet there? We are so used to faucets that we cannot simply imagine a home without faucets. One of the most convenience and important fixtures in the plumbing system at home is largely ignored until it starts giving trouble. Leaking is the common malady that a faucet has. Constant dripping of water from the faucet not only drains the water it is indirectly draining you utility bills as well. The gallons of water that you lose due to leaks from faucets can add up to a surprising amount annually. But the good news is that the problem of leaking faucet can be tackled without incurring any expenditure or hiring a plumber. You can do-it-yourself. Just follow the steps given below to fix the leaky faucet in your home.

To fix a leaky faucet, you have to first shut off the supply of water to the culprit faucet. If you peep under the sink you will find the valve that will cut off the water supply. In case your house is of old model, you probably have to run down to the basement to shut off the valve. Find more common plumbing questions and plumbing repair tips on this site.

Now you have to remove the handle of the faucet attached to the main body. The handle is attached with the help of a few screws. You might find it difficult to unscrew the screws at first, as with moisture they may have got stuck. Apply penetrating oil on the screws which will loosen the screws. Keep the screws handy for later use. With a pair of slip-joint pliers or a wrench remove the handle.

After removing the handle you will see the washer, again screwed down. Remove the screw and take out the washer. Examine the washer to determine whether it has worn out and needs replacement. If it needs replacement, replace it with a new one; but be sure that you are replacing it with an exact one. The dimension of the new washer should match with the old one; a little difference will not solve the leaking problem.

After replacing the washer, start assembling the faucet. Screw on the handle of the faucet back with the screws that were there already. While you are working with the faucet be careful not to scratch the surface of the faucet.

Having assembled the faucet back to it old glory; turn on the water supply and observe. If the leak has been fixed, there will be no water dripping from the faucet. If by chance you still find water leaking, then you can assume that the task is beyond your do-it-yourself expertise, and it is time to call in the expert. An experienced plumber will be able to detect the exact problem and solve it easily