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Repairing Single-Lever Faucets
Single-lever (one handle)
faucets are trickier to repair than the stem faucets mentioned on pages
earlier. There are several different styles of single-lever faucets,
with each being repaired differently and some often requiring special
tools for disassembly. Most manufacturers sell a complete repair kit
for their brand of faucet.
The rotating ball faucet is the most common, and below are the steps in its repair.
- Under
the shank of the handle is a set screw which must be removed with a hex
wrench. Do not take the screw all the way out. It is easily lost.
- If the
drip is from the spout, replace the two rubber valve seats and steel
springs in the bottom of the faucet body. Unscrew the cap assembly and
lift out the ball/ stem and cam assembly.
- With
fingers on long nose pliers, remove the valve seats and springs. Push
replacements firmly into place. While you have the ball out, check for
corrosion and replace if necessary.
- When replacing the ball, make sure that the peg that projects from the side of cavity fits into the oblong slot on the ball.
- Replace
the cam assembly as shown, making sure that the small tab on the side
fits into a slot on the faucet body; screw on the cap assembly.
- Before
reattaching the faucet handle check for leaks around the stem by moving
the ball/ stem to the "on" position. If there is a leak, use the tip of
a small screwdriver to tighten the adjusting ring by turning it
clockwise. If, in order to stop the leak, you have to tighten the ring
so that the handle is difficult to work then the entire cam assembly needs to be replaced.
Courtesy of: Carol Selby, Extension Home Economist, Saginaw County and Betty Shelby, Extension Home Economist, Kent County.
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