But that’s not the only problem. Water waste from a drippy faucet impacts your utility bills, especially if it’s hot water.

The good thing is leaky faucets are pretty easy to fix. Here are 5 simple steps to hopefully fix your irritating leak.

Step 1 – For starters, let’s make sure not to make a mess worse by transforming your broken faucet into a waterfall. Before applying any wrench or screwdriver to your fixture, make sure your water supply is turned off.

Step 2 – Now let’s make sure you don’t leave any scars to your hardware. Remove any decorative parts of the handle knobs. A simple prying with a flat-head screwdriver will take care of that. Underneath each knob, there will be a screw that mounts the handle to the stem. Unscrew, then gently remove the handle with your flat-head. Using penetrating oil can assist in loosening it, allowing you to take the faucet handle off the stem.

Step 3: Use your wrench to loosen the packing nut. From there you should notice the stem. Remove that as well. Depending on the faucet, some stems pop right off, while others twist off from the valve. Check the removed parts for any damage.

Step 4: If everything is intact at this point, inspect the O-ring and washer inside the valve seat. This is more than likely your culprit.

Remove the washer and put a replacement inside the seat.

Step 5: From here, carefully reassemble all the parts (in order, of course!). Slowly and gently turn the knob to test the running water and check to see if you’ve plugged that leak.

If you have any other questions about leaky faucets, call your local Louisville Dauenhauer, any hour.

Well, in the process of watering your lawn, you may notice that your outdoor spigot has a leak. Not to worry. Repair can be easier to fix than you might think. This is good news because repairing your leaking outdoor faucet will save you money and can prevent water damage to your home’s exterior or leakage into your basement windows (if applicable).

Let’s get started!

Step 1 – Turn off the water to the spigot, either by turning off an inline valve that controls the water line or by turning off the main water supply for the house.

Step 2 – Unscrew the packing nut under the handle of the spigot with a wrench. If it won’t turn then simply spray it with lubricant, wait a few minutes and try again. Spray more lubricant if you still can’t turn it.Step 3 – Pull off the nut and pull the valve out of the faucet housing. Turn the valve over and unscrew the washer on the end with a Phillips screwdriver. Pry it out with a flat-head screwdriver and replace it with a new one.

Step 4 – Unscrew the handle from the valve with a Phillips screwdriver and pull off the packing nut if the faucet was leaking from the handle. Replace the packing washer, if there is one. If the faucet has a packing string, pull off the old string and wind new, graphite-treated string around the packing threads.

Step 5 – Push the valve back into the faucet housing, screw on the packing nut and tighten it with a wrench. Replace the handle — if you took it off — and tighten the screw. Turn on the water.

And there you have it. Told you it was easy.

If you have any other questions about outdoor plumbing, call your local Louisville Dauenhauer, any hour.