h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Leaking taps. The most common problem with the faucet is a bad seal often over squeezed and warped. To repair: inspect the faucet. Make sure it is really turned off. If it still leaks, look for the gate valves under the faucet. Turning there will stop the water reaching the faucet. If you do this one side at a time, you can see which side is leaking, the hot or cold. However, when repairing, it is best to repair both sides at the same time. At this point, the faucet should stop leaking. Make a note of the name brand of the faucet, a model number if one can be found (usually on the underside of the spout) and the number of handles the faucet has. Take this information to a local hardware shop. Ask for a replacement seal for the faucet. Get a couple of extras to prevent extra trips in the future.

Now you need to disassemble the faucet. The most comon set up is to have the stems (the cartridge that controls the water flow to the facuet) inside the handle or handles. You need to either remove the handle or a decoritive plate to access the stem. All that is needed here is a screw driver. When you remove the handle/cover, you should see the stem. Yuo can use a stem puller (a plumber's tool) or just an adjustable wrench to remove the stem. On the stem, you will find the bad seal. It will look something like your replacement seal from the hardware store. Swap out the seals, and push teh stem back into it's socket. Careful not to damage the stem, or you will need to replace that as well. Reassemble the handle. Test the faucet for operation by turning on the gate valves below. Does it still leak? If so, make sure the stem is in and you didn't put it in backwards.

The water should flow now, and only when you wnat it to.