When everything is running properly, a faucet will turn on and off on demand, leaving no water coming through once you turn the tap off. Over time, you might notice a little dribble from the faucet or handles and question whether it’s something that needs attention or not. This guide will explore the differences in faucet leaks, what causes them, nine reasons you shouldn’t ignore them, and solutions to solving a leak.
Differentiating Between Faucet Leaks
First, let’s note that not all leaks are the same and may not need to be treated similarly. At the mild end, you have a faucet that may drip a little even when it’s turned off. At the extreme end is a faucet that has a steady flow of water either from the spout or the handle, the stem, the supply connection, or the supply pipe.
A minor leak may not be cause for major concern right now, but it can develop into a larger leak over time. Larger leaks usually need more immediate attention, including turning off the water to the faucet or, in some cases, the water main valve to your home.
What Causes Leaky Faucets?
Faucet leaks are generally caused by one of three things. The most common issue is worn O-rings in the faucet assembly. The second is a maladjustment of the faucet valves. The last is corrosion of the faucet assembly or pipes leading to the faucet. Understanding what’s causing the leak and its severity will help you determine how quickly you need to fix it and whether you can handle the repair on your own. Ideally, you’ll want to get all leaks fixed quickly before they expand and cause more significant damage.
The following are nine reasons why you shouldn’t ignore leaky faucets in your home.
1. Climbing Water Bills
Leaking faucets can certainly cause an increase in your home’s water bill. Keep in mind that a leaking faucet may waste as little as 2 gallons per day or as many as 20 gallons, depending on the severity of the leak. Regardless of how big the leak is, it will increase your water bill with no additional benefit for your family.
2. Environmental Impact
One of the big concerns in California is sufficient water supply. Regardless of how much a leak increases your water bill, it also has an impact on available water and water treatment capacity. Keep in mind that San Jose has over 300,000 homes. If every one of them had a minor faucet leak, San Jose would have 18 million gallons wasted every month just from leaky faucets. Every property owner must take care of their plumbing to ensure that there’s ample water for everyone in the area.
3. Increased Risk of Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew are substantial issues in houses, ranging from increased asthma and allergy triggers to stains and surface deterioration. The perfect environment for these contaminants is constantly wet surfaces, which happens with a faucet leak of any kind. Depending on your leak location, you may have mold and mildew beyond where you can easily see. The sooner you fix the leak, the less chance of mold or mildew spreading throughout your home.
4. Corrosion and Damage
While sinks are designed to have water run through them, that water is intended to stay within the confines of the fixture and plumbing. Water that gets outside where it’s supposed to be can quickly cause additional damage and corrosion. For instance, a small leak from the faucet handle can allow minerals to build up on the valve exterior. It can also corrode the seals inside and finishes on the fixture. All of this can lead to more substantial leaks as the water continues slowly eroding the material around the original leak.
5. Lower Water Pressure
Depending on the severity of the faucet leak, you may experience lower pressure in other appliances. These could be appliances on the same secondary water line or throughout your house. Insufficient water pressure can make it more challenging to bathe and take clothes washers, dishwashers, and toilets longer to fill. If you’re experiencing low water pressure, look for evidence of a leak somewhere whether it’s a faucet or a supply line.
6. Sounds of Leaks
Probably one of the most annoying parts of having a faucet leak is the incessant dripping sound, especially when the house is quiet. If you allow this to continue, it can desensitize your hearing to the sound and allow other leaks to form without drawing your attention. This can go beyond regular plumbing leaks and allow roofing leaks to also go undetected. If you hear the sound of dripping, keep looking for the leak until you’ve located its source and dealt with the problem.
7. Shortened Fixture Lifespan
Kitchen faucets have an average lifespan of about 15 to 20 years, depending on how you maintain them and their workmanship quality. Bathroom faucets usually last around 20 years. However, a leak left unresolved can drive down that lifespan, sometimes shortening it to five years or less, depending on when the leak first began.
8. Reduced Property Value
As if most of the issues already discussed weren’t enough, leaving a leaking faucet unresolved can have dramatic implications on your property value. The water damage from the faucet can be unsightly, but it can also signal deeper problems like weakened foundations and compromised electrical systems. Allowing leaks to fester invites significant cuts to property value depending on the leak location and severity.
9. Insurance Implications
You may think that your homeowner’s insurance will cover the damage from a leak, but most policies only cover sudden and unexpected leaks, such as an emergency plumbing failure. Leaks due to normal wear and tear or those that start small and get bigger over time aren’t usually covered by most insurance policies. That means that, even if they can see evidence of damage from a smaller leak, they may not cover the bigger loss. Further, most insurance policies don’t cover mold remediation, so get ahead of the problem before more significant issues have a chance to take root.
How to Fix a Leaky Faucet
Start by trying to identify the location of the leak. If it’s in a pipe, shut off the water and call a plumber to solve it. If it’s leaking from the faucet spout, you may be able to tighten the valve screw under the handle and solve it. If not, then you may need to have the valve O-rings replaced or replace the entire fixture altogether. Likewise, if it’s leaking from one or both handles, you may be able to resolve it by having the O-rings replaced. If it’s leaking from corrosion on the faucet, you’ll likely need to have the fixture replaced.
Ribbs Plumbing Services has been the plumbing services company of choice for property owners around San Jose since 1997. Our experienced team provides pipe repair, bathroom plumbing installation and repair, water heater installation, maintenance, and repair, gas line installation and repair, septic system installation, water filtration, drain cleaning, and sewer repair. Schedule a service call with one of our award-winning plumbers to resolve your leaky faucet today.
