How to Tell if a Faucet Cartridge is Bad

A cartridge is installed in your faucet, but have you ever wondered why? The principal function of a water faucet’s handle is to control the rate of water flow. To put it plainly, it allows you to regulate how much water comes out of the tap.

Cartridges for faucets usually last between ten and fifteen years before they need to be replaced. On the other hand, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of the cartridge failing beforehand.

How to Tell if a Faucet Cartridge is Bad

There are Five Telltale Signs of a Faulty Faucet Cartridge:

leakage from the spout, rusty or loose connections, low water pressure, and a dripping sound

With a Faucet, Water is Released From the Spout.

When water still drips from the spout even when the handle is turned off, it may be time to replace the cartridge in your faucet. At one point, I almost turned the handle all the way to the tight position in an attempt to stop the water from dripping. My investigation eventually led me to conclude that the problem was with the cartridge inside the faucet.

A Few Telltale Symptoms of Impending Cartridge Failure Include:

  • The faucet leaks water even when the handle is turned all the way to the off position.
  • Overtightening the knob in an effort to stop a leak.
  • Holding the handle in a fixed location to turn off the water supply.

Our eyes have a hard time seeing a dripping faucet as often as we’d like. If the water is dripping at a snail’s pace, it is more likely to occur. A cartridge failure has begun at this level. Fortunately, an experiment can verify this for you.

If you suspect that your spout may be leaking, try this: Put a dry cup under the faucet and let it sit there for half an hour. Then check to see if the cup actually contains water. If you do, it means the spout of your faucet is dripping.

Faucet Dripping at the Base.

The part of the faucet that rests on the sink is called the base. To fix a leak at the faucet’s base, check the cartridges for worn-out O-rings.
When installed in a cartridge, an O-ring closes the space between the cartridge and the faucet, preventing water from dripping out.

Not only that, but you can only experience this leak while the water is running through your faucet. Therefore, a new O-ring should be used in lieu of the old one.

Problems With a Sink Leak

The worst kind of leak is the kind that occurs under the sink. Action needs to be taken quickly because it can cause a lot of damage if left unchecked. Some of the potential problems that could arise are wet or slick flooring, broken walls and cupboards, structural damage, and so on. How could a cartridge be to blame for this, though?

The most typical causes of leaks beneath sinks include broken seals, plumbing line shifts, and corrosion in internal parts. It is imperative to check for leaks under the sink in order to prevent any further damage.

A Leak has been Detected Under the Sink, But how can I Locate its Source?

Start by filling the sink with water and observing the drain from below. Leaks around the slip joints of a drain pipe are easily remedied by giving them a good tightening with your hands. In an emergency, it’s best to get in touch with the experts.

Discontinuity in Water Temperature

Double-handle faucets have two knobs instead of one for adjusting the water temperature. In most cases, the right handle will control the temperature of the water that is dispensed, while the left handle will regulate the flow. Cartridges, as is well known, regulate the water supply and, in certain cases, even set the temperature.

Inconsistent water temperature might be caused by faulty cartridges. Let’s say you turn the right handle, expecting cold water, only to have boiling water come out instead. Can you estimate the danger it poses to your loved ones? In such a case, you should immediately go out and get a new cartridge.