Why is my faucet leaking when I have it all the way shut off?
Question:it is in my bathtub and it is the cold water. It drips constantly.
Answers:
Usually a washer inside the faucet has gone bad.
wizjp has your answer. washer inside faucet has gone bad.
It could be the washer is bad or the washer and the seat. the seat is what the washer rests against to seal off the water and you would need a seat tool to remove and you can get that at the hardware store. The tricky part on the seat is sometimes it is hard to teel if bad. They can have atiny groove in it that will cause it to leak or a notch or it may have a chunk missing. Seats can be resurface if it has a small groove in it but is tricky too. In the apatments I maintain for one of my clients I deal with this all the time. You can e-mail me if you need guidence. uswebb@yahoo.com
it needs a new washer
check the seals on the inside of the faucet. They may be cracked and need to be replaced. Fairly easy to fix and not expensive.
You may solve it simply by turning of the main water supply tap and removing a possible faulty tap washer, with a new one. But also taps inner seat can have a rough flaw also a hair line crack.. If you don't have the suitable tools and torch contact a honest plumber to assist..
You need to turn the tap washer over. There is a bit of grit embedded in the washer on one side which allows a trickle of water toget pass the washer.
You can choose the quick & easy way to end the leaking for years (which will cost more & 2 trips to the hardware store) or for months (which will be a lot less & 2 trips to the hardware store). The following is the more expensive way - the right way.
First, if your tub faucet is Moen - call a plumber because they use expensive cartridges & requires a special & expensive cartridge puller tool.
If it is not Moen, then proceed to the hardware store & get a) cheap set of tub sockets (these are not the small ones that go on wrenches, but large long ones that you will need to remove the stem from the shower) - should only be a few dollars & a seat removal tool -these are not much $ either.
1) turn off the water to the entire house & come in & turn on the kitchen faucet, tub, bathrm faucet & flush the toilet - this drains the line & ensures that the water is off.
2) turn on the tub valves - stems are easier to remove that way.
3) remove the handles - use a phillips screw driver
4) remove 1 stem & 1 seat on the cold side (which is the side you said was leaking) & take them down to the hardware store & buy 2 new stems & 2 new seats & a small can of thread compound & plumbers tape.
Rule of thumb is that when you change one out you change them both or you will probably have to do it again soon because they were probably put in at the same time & if 1 is going the other is not far behind.
5) put a light dab of thread compound around the threads on the seat & a couple of turns (clockwise) of the plumbers tape. *keep neat & wipe any excess off of top of the seat or around the inside of the hole & make sure that the tape does not cover the hole & block the water.
6) place seat on the seat wrench & insert into the hole & very carefully tighten down - DO NOT cross thread. Once the seat is tightened down, make sure the screw on the bottom of the stem is tight (every once in a great while you may come across one that is not tightend).
Place some thread compound around the threads of the stem & about 4 - 6 turns (clockwise) of the tape - just like the seat. Insert the stem into the valve & tighten hand tight first - make sure you do not cross thread & then use the socket to tighten as tight as you can. Do the same for the other side.
Make sure the area around the stem is dry & there are no drips of water anywhere (sometimes there may be drips even though the water is off).
Do not put handles or anything back together until you turn on the water & check with flash light that there is no leaking when water has been turned on.
***When you go to turn the water on outside a) turn it on very, very slowly with someone in the bathroom to watch.
b) leave the water on at the kitchen faucet & bathroom faucet - so that any sediment is allowed to pass through.
c) turn on the tub stems, slowly & one at a time while looking with flash light to make sure that there is no leaking. Turn them off & check for leaks & turn them on again for a last leak check.
Replace your handles & turn the kitchen & bathroom faucets off. I know that this sounds like a lot, but it is actually very easy. If you can only do one side now, expect to do the other side soon..then again, it may fool you & last another few yrs.
The cheap method that may only last for months is to replace the seats & rubber washers at the end of the stem. But, you will end up buying your sockets, seat wrench, 2 washers - the rubber washers at the end of the stem, 2 seats, thread compound & plumbers tape.
Choice is yours.
the seal is gone you will have to replace it
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