When living on your own for the first time, it can be helpful to know how to do some basic repairs, as nobody likes calling the landlord constantly every time they need something little fixed. One of the most common household repairs is fixing small water leaks, so read on below to find out how to handle this on your own.
Kitchen or bathroom faucet
One common household leak that’s not too hard to fix is a leaky faucet. When fixing a leaky faucet, first make sure to turn off the water so it doesn’t spray out while you’re fixing it. You can do this by twisting the water valve under your sin. You’ll see it where the water line goes into the wall. To locate the cause of your leaky faucet, you’ll need to remove the faucet. Parts inside the faucet that are rusty or look worn down are most likely the cause of the leak.
Your leak could be an issue with the cartridge, the metal valve that controls the flow of the water. It could also be that you have a bad O-ring, the rubber rink that’s supposed to go around areas of the faucet to stop leaks. If you can’t immediately tell what the issue is, try replacing the O-ring. It’s cheap and easy to swap a new one on, and that will fix the majority of leaky faucets.
Washing machine
While a leaky faucet is typically more of a mild irritant and not a huge issue, so much water goes through your washing machine that a leak can cause serious problems with mold or structural damage if not addressed. If you have a leak behind your washing machine, it’s most likely an issue with your drain hose or fill hoses.
If you’ve recently put in a new washing machine and it’s leaking, it’s likely that you forgot to remove the drain plug, or you improperly connected the hoses. Turn off the water with the valve that the washing machine plugs into and remove the hoses. Check your drain hose for a plastic plug – you need to remove that before use. Additionally, make sure the rubber washers on your hoses are in good shape and replace them if not.
Pipes
Leaky pipe repairs are often better left to the professionals, but some minor issues can be fixed with epoxy putty, as long as you get your landlord’s permission first. When you locate the source of a leaky pipe, first turn off your water supply and clean the pipe of any dust or dirt that could cause issues with the putty sticking. Then, prepare the epoxy putty according to the label on its package, usually by rubbing it together, and spread it over the leaky pipe or joint.
Epoxy putty hardens almost immediately, so make sure you work quickly. After you’re finished, simply turn on your water supply again, run the tap, and see if it worked! If your pipe continues to leak, it may be time to call a plumber. Be sure to ask your landlord about it.
