Most faucets work by turning a handle, which compresses a flat rubber washer up against a piece of metal. This closes off the circulation of water. It is a round washer that pushes up against a round seat. Most of the time when washers are damaged, it is not due to age or bad rubber. It’s caused by user mishandling.
Faucets that require washers periodically need them changed for maintenance purposes. In most cases when we see severely damaged washers it’s due to over tightening. When a homeowner sees a drop of water come out of their faucet it’s their natural inclination to crank the faucet harder. This can destroy the washer, rendering it useless. It can even break it into several pieces that end up in the aerator. [Read more…] about Be Kind to Your Faucet Washer