Think about it. You walk into the kitchen or bathroom and, as you have done thousands of times before, you reach for the handle of the faucet and turn on the water. Have you noticed anything? Probably not. The water flows; you turn it off and go on your way. Because you use the faucet everyday, what you don't notice is that gradually the internal parts of the faucet gain a buildup of minerals from the water, and the parts wear. This causes the internal parts to resist movement and thus, the handle is increasingly difficult to move. Imagine it as arthritis in your faucet joints.
You can save a lot by repairing your faucet yourself. Now, don't let plumbing scare you. Even a novice can do the job with a few simple tools and some guidance. You will be a hero in the eyes of your spouse or friend. Here are a few easy steps to repair a single-lever faucet. This article only covers the repair of a one-lever faucet because the steps to repair this faucet are unique, and I do not have the space to explain how to fix a multi-lever faucet.
Please read the entire article prior to beginning the repair process. Once you begin the actual repair, you can then refer back to the individual steps to refresh your memory.
Single lever faucet repairing steps:
1) First of all, determine the brand and type of faucet you are repairing; if you can actually locate a brand imprint on the faucet that helps immensely. There are over 100 different brands and makes of faucets, and most of them take different parts. If you can't find a name on the faucet, a great help is a digital camera. Take a photo of the faucet, and then show it to the clerk at the plumbing supply store. Odds are, when an experienced clerk sees the picture, he or she will know immediately what brand it is.
2) Once you have the brand of the faucet or a picture, you can buy the repair parts. You can go to a big box store or a local hardware store. Each has their own strengths. Tell the clerk the symptoms of a sick faucet. Is the handle difficult to move? Does the faucet have a leak around the base of spout's spout's nozzle? (Kitchen faucets are notorious for this.) The clerk will know what parts to give you, and you may not have to return to the store multiple times because you are missing the right parts. It is a good idea, if you are repairing Moen brand faucets, to purchase a "puller tool" to remove the old cartridge. There are differing types of cartridge removal tools; an inexpensive plastic design is available or more expensive heavy duty metal ones. The homeowner can use the plastic tool that is less expensive. The faucet can be repaired without the tool, but it is much easier to use the removal tool. When I am making repairs, saving a few pennies on parts is the least important thing to me. I would rather shop at a store that stocks a variety of high-quality parts and has knowledgeable and helpful staff.
3) TURN THE WATER OFF TO THE FAUCET. Did I emphasis this enough? Before you disassemble the faucet, turn off the water supply. There are usually small valves in the back of the sink cabinet. They can be brown or chrome. If you're like all the Americans I have worked for in my career, your sink cabinet is stuffed full of bottles and cleaning products. The valves are buried beneath every type of shampoo and cleaning product. Toss in a hair dryer, makeup, spare soap and toothpaste and...well, you get the Appliance Repair Caroll Gardens idea. Find the valves by digging through the debris. If the valves are difficult to turn, you may need to turn off the water at the main shut-off valve of the house. Check out my website for a guide on how to find the main water valve.
Once the water has been turned off, close the drain stopper in the sink. This little trick was taught me by another plumber over 30 years ago. The reason for this? Most likely, while disassembling the faucet, you are going to drop a small screw or gasket and the closed stopper prevents the small part from disappearing down the drain. Brilliant. Before disassembling the faucet, if you want or need a detailed, illustrated breakdown of your particular faucet and its parts, these illustrations can usually be found on the manufacturer's websites.
5) Remove handle. There is often a removable plastic lid which covers the handle screw. Pry off the lid and remove the screw. Some handles are attached with a set screw at the side of handle, not the top. Look the handle over, with a little investigating, it should be obvious.
After removing the handle, you will find a device that holds the replaceable components in place. This is sometimes a horseshoe-shaped metal clip which slides out. Other times it is a type of round threaded cap that unscrews. Remove the retaining clip or cap.
(Some brands of faucets have a surrounding sheath that encircles the horseshoe clip. This tube needs to be removed first, and then the horseshoe shaped ring can be slid out. The sheath can be unscrewed or pulled off with pliers by grasping it and pulling towards you. After the sheath has been removed, grasp the tab on the horseshoe clip using pliers. Carefully slide it out by pulling to the side. These parts should remove easily.)
You should now see a cartridge made of plastic or brass that you can remove by pulling it. This is the time to use the removal tool if this is a Moen tap. Follow the instructions on the tool packaging. Be careful not damage the faucet body during this process. Some faucet brands contain a plastic or brass ball here instead of a cartridge. This part can be removed by lifting or pulling it out. Under the round ball you should see two small rubber seats and springs. Remove them. Remove them.
8) Once the old parts or cartridge are removed, it is a good idea to use a flashlight and peer inside the faucet where the old part used to live. You can see any debris or broken pieces from the old cartridge. If so, use needle nose pliers to remove it.
Install the new parts, and then reassemble the faucet. Replace all retaining clips and rings. If you have any parts left over, take the faucet back apart and figure out where they go before turning the water on. Take your time and you should be just fine
10) This is the most important step. After the faucet is reassembled, the water is back on and you have tested it to make sure it works well, show off your work to your spouse or friends. Watch their reactions when they are amazed at how well it works. Now, YOU are the hero, not the plumber you would have had to pay to make the repair.
The author maintains no liability for work performed by readers of his articles. The plumbing repair articles are meant to be a helpful general guide for the homeowner.
Sunbeam electric mattresses pads are the best choice for comfort in cold winter months. This mattress pad produces heat and distributes it all over your mattress so you can feel warm and comfortable even without layers of blankets.
These pads are placed and fitted on top of your primary mattress. The heat is distributed by electric circuits. It comes with a handheld controller that allows consumers to easily access its temperature settings. But because of its electric functions, faults and failures are likely to happen.
Here is how you can fix your sunbeam electric mattress pad:
Step 1: Check first to see if the heating performance of the pad has been compromised. The best way to do that is to fold it three times. You can then feel the circuit in the pad. Check with your hands if the cord has been properly connected to module of the mattress topper. Make sure it is not loose. After checking the connection, try plugging it into the outlet. Turn it up to the highest setting. If it doesn't produce heat after a few minutes, it means something is wrong with your mattress topper. However, you might also want to check the outlet if it is working properly. Plug another appliance to the outlet and test it if it is working properly.
Step 2: The pad will not produce heat when the power is out. You may have to restart the pad to test its heat-producing ability. Unplug and turn it off. Repeat Step 1.
Step 3: Check the plug if one of the blades are damaged or twisted. This is usually the problem. The blades have to be straight. Make sure the blades fit the outlet perfectly. Some people jam the plug into the outlet, even if it doesn't fit. Call an electrician to set up a new outlet close to your bed. Be sure to get the right fit so that you don't damage the pad by forcing the plug.
When you are not using your mattress topper, turn it off and unplug it. This will prevent the cords from deteriorating quickly. If the mattress does not heat up after seven minutes, turn it off right away. If the cord has come off the module or the plug does not work properly, it means that the cord has come off the module.