There is need to repair the squeaky handle on a faucet. It’s extremely aggravating and unpleasant to hear a squeaky faucet handle. It would be better if you fixed it so you don’t have to listen to that clanking noise anymore.
There is squeaking sound due to the handle rotating on the stem of the faucet without being lubricated. therefore, the handle sounds squeaky. In most cases it is not necessary to replace the whole kitchen faucet body in order to get rid of the sound.
you may be confused about the mechanism behind how sink works. If you are unfamiliar with plumbing or have never attempted to work on one.
You may have some questions like
what causes your tap handle to squeak after a while ?
Are there any solutions?
How long must I suffer from this dreadful squeaking ?
If so, which parts of this particular bathroom or kitchen faucet are making these sounds?
Fortunately, you can fix a squeaky faucet handle more easily and quickly than you thought. Regardless of your experience with plumbing or even if you have never done anything like this before, it would be relatively simple to follow the instructions.
There are five things you can do to fix your squeaky faucet, and these are the steps to follow. you will quickly be able to fix your sink by following these easy steps, and you will be able to return to a state of peace mind.
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Things to Know before removing the squeaky faucet handle
Know your Faucet
There are numerous series of faucets, so figuring out one you have is the first step. It is imperative to learn the components and where they are located before starting to repair it.
The most common cause of faucets squeaking is their handles tuning against their stems without any lubrication.
As a result, you’ll want to examine the handle and examine what holds it together.
we will explore how to remove the handle in more detail in the next step.
Know the Problem
You should know exactly what the problem is before you remove any parts from your faucet so that you can diagnose and control it properly.
In order to ensure you are dealing with the right issue, you should do a little troubleshooting early on.
Squeaking noises should not occur unless you actually turn the handle of the faucet, as in turning the handle without applying any lubricant to the stem.
If this is the case, you can proceed to the next step of lubricating the stem.
If the handle starts making strange noises at other times, or if the problem goes beyond just making noise, you might want to do a little more analysis before proceeding to the next step.
5 Feasible Steps to fix squeaky faucet handle
Materials required
As soon as you have determined that the problem is definitely a squeaky handle that requires lubrication, proceed to collect all the necessary materials and tools.
Several tools are required in order to remove the faucet’s hardware to retrieve the handle stem. The items to be utilized are mentioned below
- Allen wrench or pair of pliers
- A lubricant
- A screwdriver
Before beginning, verify whether you will need a flat head or a Phillips head screwdriver by examining the screws. The best grease for this job is plumber’s grease.
You can also use the following tools to make your job faster.
- A screw extractor
- Extra screws
- A drill
These tools are not strictly necessary, but they can expedite the extraction process.
Step 1: Taking off the faucet’s cap
As soon as you’ve figured out what problem you are facing and have all the equipment you need to fix it, now is the time to get started.
Firstly, you will need to remove the cap on the faucet before you can see the hardware that lies underneath.
You will only need to pry or pull off the cap by using moderate pressure. Use the screwdriver end to loosen up the cap and get it off.
In case the cap remains too tightly fixed, you may want to loosen it using pliers.
You just need to grasp the cap with the pliers and turn it clockwise until it becomes loose. Eventually, you should be able to free the cap one way or another.
Step 2: Take out the screw and remove the knob
We now need to remove the screw beneath the cap in order to remove the knob.
The only thing you need to do is to take a screwdriver and turn it clockwise until the screw is fully removed.
It would be so much easier to use a drill or a screw extractor if you have one as either one will speed up the unscrewing process. you can also try using dental pick.
If you don’t have either then you are still able to do it by hand. { There is a chance that the screw may not be a metal plug, it is probably a piece of plastic or rubber plug, so you will have to remove it with a pointed tool. Be careful not to puncture your hand as you do this.}
Just make sure you don’t throw away the screw when you are done! Later on you’ll need that screw.
It is also possible to replace the screw with a new one, ensuring that you will have a more reliable grip.
Tip: You will need to remove the washer at the base of the stem. If the washer shows any visible signs of damage, you may need to replace it.
Ensure that it does not appear damaged or worn in any way. If it appears to be too small for the washer seats or if it appears damaged in any way, replace it with a new one.
You can take the valve stem assembly to your local hardware store if you are unsure which washer you should buy.
Step 3: Lubricate the Handle Stem
You now need to lubricate the exposed handle stem after removing the screw, and knob.
As a result, the handle will rotate perfectly with less resistance.
Make sure that you apply plumber’s grease or any other lubricant of your choice to all visible surfaces of the stem. Simple, right?
This simple trick will hep to solve and eliminate the squeaking sounds.
Step 4: Reattach the knob to the handle stem
You may now reposition the knob to the original position after the faucet’s handle stem has been lubricated.
You should now insert the screw back into the knob’s center, then tighten it just like you did when installing it. When you are snugging it with a screwdriver or a drill, you will need to ensure that it is firmly fastened.
If a stripped screw is removed with a screw extractor bit, a new screw will need to be installed.
If you decide you want to tighten the screw further, you can turn the screwdriver anticlockwise to achieve strong tightening.
Step 5: Reinstall the Cap
Return the cap to its original position after you tighten the knob’s screw.
The easiest way to accomplish this is to place the center of the cap above your knob and apply some force to get it back to its original position.
The cap should then be turned clockwise to make sure it’s tight.
Squeaky faucet handles are sometimes caused by the hard and rusted nature of the faucet handle itself which causes it to squeak.
It may be necessary for you to open the faucet in this case using the above method. When you have done that, you can use vinegar to clean the stem.
In that way, you will be able to clean away the rust, and then lubricate the joints to prevent the squeaks from occurring.
The squeaking sounds can also be eliminated by replacing the whole faucet with a new one. The most effective thing you can do is to request help from a professional plumber.
If you wish, you can also perform a simple faucet replacement by yourself. A wrench or faucet handle puller is needed to remove the handle of the faucet so it can be replaced with a new one.
Applying some oil when removing the faucet’s handle might be necessary due to the rust.
DIY Squeaky Faucet Handle Fix
Wrap Up!
We hope you enjoyed our article about how to fix squeaky faucet handles. With this knowledge, we know that you can make the most of your dealer list and home improvement projects.
you should take the necessary precautions to fix squeaky faucet handles in future. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and fix that squeaky faucet handle!