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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alyce Ortolano | Posted under Home and Family
Tips for Replacing A Faucet Stem
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The earlier styles were very simple but are pretty much obsolete these days. Today the ball, cartridge, and disc are the popular styles. The oldest workhorse and most common style used within the plumbing industry is the stem faucet also called the compression faucet used from the turn of the century through to today. There is nothing complex about these faucets. They use a threaded stem that brings the washer into contact with a seat which restricts the flow of water. They can wear and then begin to leak. Although each faucet may be slightly different they all are constructed similarly so repair following these simple steps. WashersReplacing the washers is part of the routine maintenance. If the washer is split or have dried out you should replace it. Using a leaky washer will erode the channel within the seat. It pays to keep a variety of washer sizes on hand. When replacing the washer it needs to be the exact size of the one you remove. Never substitute washers! The seats should be inspected regularly. Look inside the faucet body using your flashlight. Good seats will be smooth and show no signs of cracking or pitting. Damaged seats need to be replaced. If the seats are the non removable style then you will need to dress hem with a seat dressing. You will also need the tool to apply the seat dressing. Under normal conditions the stems will last a very long time but if they close on a deteriorated washer or seat over a long period of time they will become damaged and you will land up having to replace them. If you dont repair the stems you will land up replacing the entire faucet. It is very important that you know the dimensions of both the valve stems and the faucet. Youll be shocked at the number of options. Replacements are available online and at your local hardware store. You can save a bundle by purchasing online. If your faucets are older it may take a little more hunting to find the right stem. You may have to visit a specialty plumbing store or specialty online sites. When you replace the stem you need to also replace the seat so that there is no premature wearing. Lightly coat the thread with some petroleum jelly. If there are stem leaks they will pass through the cap nut and are a result of a loose or worn cap. If its just a matter of a loose cap you can just tighten it. Be careful not over tighten as it will cause wear to the packing. If the leak continues you will need to replace the packing that is under the cap. Thats it. You see replacing your faucet stem really isnt as difficult as you thought it was. Are you up for the challenge now? About The Author: Alyce is an author of Decorz.com. If you're looking for more faucets |
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