Best Guide: How to Fix a Leaky Delta Faucet (7 Steps)

Do you have delta faucet in your home ? If it leaks, then it will be a major problem for your kitchen.

so, how to fix a leaky delta faucet ?

There will be a moment when your Delta faucet may leak, but it is unlikely that you will have to handle with a leak right away.

However, hiring a professional to repair it for you may be extremely expensive.

However, did you guys know that there are certain remedies you can make yourself to cope with it that will not cost too much ?

First and first, you must identify the model number of the leaky Delta faucet in issue. In the case of components, Delta provides a lifetime guarantee, and they’ll promptly ship you whatever you need. The kitchen faucet may then be disassembled using a wrench, and the seats and hinges can be replaced to resolve the issue.

Continue reading to discover how to work with leaky or dripping Delta faucets even if you have turned off the kitchen faucet fully.

Learn about the most prevalent causes of it and what you can do to cope with it by reading this article now.

Also read: How to fix a leaky shower faucet

Materials required

If your kitchen faucet drips when you turn it off or leaks through the bottom, this article will walk you through the procedures of fixing it step-by-step.

Note that this lesson applies to both normal Delta faucets and the pull-out variant. 

This DIY Project needs the help of following materials. If don’t have, then buy from any home improvement stores or order in online.

• Tool kit for Delta with stainless steel ball
• screwdriver
• strap wrench, channel lock wrench, or some other kind of wrench
• silicone paste (optional)

Step by Step Guide: How to Fix a Leaky Delta Faucet

Step 1: Shut off the Valve

• Whenever you are doing a plumbing work, be sure to switch off all water sources before beginning.
• Find the water shutoff valve for the sink.
• Typically, the valve is positioned below the kitchen sink.
• The water should be turned off throughout the house or building if there isn’t a separate valve for the washbasin.
• To shut off the valves, spin the handle, until the lever is perpendicular to the pipeline.
• Make certain that both the hot and cold water are turned off.

Step : Protect the Drain

• Remove any water that has accumulated in the leaky faucet or sprayer tip by turning the faucet on.
• Protect the drain and the garbage disposal (if appropriate) with a cloth or a drain stopper to keep the water from flowing down the drain.
• It stops bolts from becoming dislodged and washing down the sink drain.

Step 3: Remove the Screw

• Disconnect the blue and red cover that is positioned on the tap handle using a flathead screwdriver to show the screw that holds the handle in position.
• Put the cover to one side in a container that will hold all of the screws and other items that will be used.
• Release the screw that is hidden within the handle. Set it aside for the time being.

Step 4: Remove the Handle

• Take off the faucet handle from the sink’s bottom.
• The handle cap may be removed by rotating it counterclockwise, until it comes off.
• Put it on the shelf for now.
• If removing the handle cap is being tough, using a hair dryer focused at the handle cap for a couple of minutes could help to solve this issue.

Step 5: Remove the Other Parts

• Unscrew cam and casing as well as the ball assembly from the unit.
• Leave them aside for the time being.
• Take the two pairs of valve seat and springs that are positioned at the head of the sink faucet using a screw driver or other appropriate tools.
• Kindly ignore the final hole on the base.

Step 6: Install New Parts

• Assemble the new valve seat and spring.
• Replacing them into the openings will ensure that the rubber will be level with the metal hole.
• There must be a perfect flat fit between the springs and the metal, otherwise the ball assembly would not have enough space to move.
• Put the ball in the kitchen sink so that the openings in the ball’s pores line up with the openings in the pipelines that holds the faucet.
• Put the cam and packing on head of the ball.
• Make sure the little plastic clip aligns with the tiny metal notch at the the 9 o’clock position in the faucet pipeline 

Step 7: Replace the Faucet Parts

• Before restoring the ball assembly, apply silicone paste to the ball and allow it to dry.
• The silicone paste prevents the handle from shifting too much during use. (Optional Step)
• Using your fingers, keep the cam and packing in position while screwing the cap assembly back into position.
• Reattach the sink lever at the head of the ball assembly.
• Reinstall the handle by screwing it in position.
• Now you have to reattach the red and blue cover.
• Then, move the water valve up to its on position, making sure that the knobs are parallel with the pipeline.

Wow, you have successfully repaired your sink!

Also read: How to fix a leaky bathtub faucet

Video Guide: How to Fix a Dripping Delta Faucet

How to fix a leaky ball type faucet

A leaking faucet is one of the most prevalent types of home plumbing repairs.

Although, because to the large range of faucet models that may be found in the house, this simple repair might seem to be a difficult task.

As an instance, a single-handle tap might be either a ball-type faucet, a cartridge faucet, or a disc faucet, and the fixes for each of these types are rather different, despite the fact that they seem to be fairly similar from the exterior.

Every faucet style may also vary from one producer to another, depending on the brand.

Step by Step Guide: Fixing a Leaky Ball Type Faucet

Step 1

• Switch off the water flow to the leaky faucet by turning the knob to the left.
• Most of the time, the shut-off valves for the hot and cold water will be positioned beneath the sink.
• In the unlikely event that you are unable to locate the outlet shut-off valves, you will be forced to switch off the primary shut-off valve that controls water supply throughout the whole home.
•  After you’ve turned off the water flow , switch on the faucet to ensure the water is completely turned off and/or to remove any leftover water that may have collected.

Step 2

•  Rotating the set screw counter-clockwise with the Allen wrench which comes with the repair kit (or another of appropriate size) will free the handle and allow it to be removed.
• Disconnect the single lever handle from the frame.
• The faucet head cap will be exposed as a result of this action.
• Incase your faucet was spilling from the bottom of the faucet nozzle, then you have to fasten the locking neck of the faucet nozzle by twisting it clockwise with the specific spanner wrench.
• Then, look for leaks. If the leak has stopped, replace the dripping faucet handle.
• Following this, if the leak remains, then try out further steps.

Step 3

• To unscrew the top cover, grasp it with channel-lock pliers and twist it counter-clockwise to release it from the screw.
• It is possible to avoid damage to the cap surface by covering masking tape across the upper and lower jaws of the pliers.
• The cam will become visible when the top cover has been removed.
• This is the piece of material with the handle protruding from the center of it.
• Separate the cam, cam washer, and ball assembly from the unit.

Step 4

• Once the control ball has been removed, it should be checked for damage.
• If the ball has been netted or cracked, it must be replaced as part of the fix.
• It is possible to utilize either a plastic or a metal ball.
• Slip down into the faucet body with a tiny flat-blade screwdriver and pry off the seals and springs from the holes at the base of the faucet body, as shown.
• It’s imperative to pay close attention to how well the hinges are orientated within the rubber seals.
• Most of the time, the springs are placed such that the thin end of the springs points downwards into the rubber seal.

Step 5

• Disconnect the faucet spout by raising it upwards and turning it off; this may take a little amount of force to be completely removed.
• Take off the O-ring that surrounds the bottom of the faucet body by pulling it out from behind using a screwdriver or gently cutting it out with a utility knife, as directed.
• Take better care not to damage the faucet‘s body while turning it on.

Step 6

• Next, you should coat the new O-ring with the heatproof plumber’s grease provided with the repair kit.
• It is advisable to place the new O-ring on the base of the faucet and then slide it back and forth around its body till it settles in a groove neatly.

Step 7

• Reconnect the faucet spout to the faucet bottom by pushing it back above the O-ring till it is completely placed on the bottom.
• Attach the new seals and springs by inserting a spring through every rubber seal and lowering the whole assembly into the hole located at the base of the faucet body (see illustration).
• It’s possible that you’ll have to push them into a position using the edge of the screwdriver.

Step 8

• Insert the new control ball by matching the notch on the ball with the opening in the faucet housing and tightening the control ball.
• In order to finish, position the cam washer on top of the ball and lever, and then insert the cam.
• The cam is often equipped with an adjustment lug that is designed to fit into a slot in the faucet body.
• Insert the cam in its proper position by pressing it all the way in.  
• Using channel-lock pliers, attach the top cover onto the faucet body and tighten it, until it is secure.
• Please avoid over-adjusting the faucet, as this may lead the ball to clump and get stuck inside the dripping faucet.

Step 9

• The single lever handle should be fastened above the ball’s stem, and the Allen screw should be tightened to hold it in place.
• Switch on the water system and water supply line and then inspect the faucet to see if there are any drips or leaks.
• The most typical reasons for leaking are that the valve seals are not correctly placed in the openings, or that the top cover is not fitted correctly.

Also read: How to fix a leaky outdoor faucet

Why your ball type faucets are leaking ?

• Most of the time a faucet may leak due to wear and tear of internal components
• For faucets that are leaking from the base of the faucet spout, may have a worn out O-ring. 
• Incase your faucet is dripping water from the edge of the spout, then your faucet may have a damaged rubber seals or springs or control ball.
• This issue can also be caused, if the water flow is not regulated by the lever ball.
• To identify the origin of the leak, you’ll need to unscrew the faucet (a relatively easy process) and physically check the pieces.
• For convenience, you may opt to change all components rather than identifying the precise cause why and how the sink faucet is dripping.

Conclusion

Delta is one of the greatest faucet brands available because of the amazing quality of customer service that they offer.

It’s also worth noting that they provide a lifetime guarantee on all components as far as you’re the real owner, which makes it considerably simpler to handle fixes on your own.

These solutions would normally be quite expensive, but learning the fundamental repair techniques that you can perform will and you save a lot of time and money.

You should keep in mind that fixing a Delta faucet leak will not cost you much and will not take long at all.