Tip of The Week

July 7, 2007

This week’s tip comes from “Your Seat May Be Worn Out” file.

We are not talking about long meetings or visits from boring in-laws.  We are referring to a caller who told us that he had an older faucet that still used washers.  He had replaced the washer several times in just a few months. Each time he completed the process the leak would stop but just a few weeks later it would return.

The solution was a little deeper in the faucet than the washer.  The washer stops water from flowing by forming a seal between the stem of the faucet and what is called the seat.  The seat is a smooth surface down inside the faucet.  Over the years it can develop an imperfection or two (not unlike other seats we know).  These imperfections cause the washer to wear out prematurely.  The good news here is that a plastic surgeon is not required for the fix.

Go to your local home improvement store and purchase a seat-dressing tool.  It will come with “seat cutters” or you may have to purchase some to get exactly the right size. It is actually a die that will “grind down” imperfections or rough spots on the seat.  You want a seat cutter that fits snuggly into the faucet.  With gentle pressure you will turn the seat-dressing tool.  Two or three turns are all it should take.  Remove the tool and make sure the seat feels smooth and you are good to go.

Thanks for visiting Ask John and Dave.com and we’ll see you on the air,

John and Dave

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