The first washerless faucet to be developed was the ball faucet. The ball faucet is commonly found in houses and is the least expensive of all the washerless faucets. It is more prone to leaks because of the number of parts in the socket.

Not every leak is the same, with a ball type socket. It is good to recognize the type of leak so that you can explain it accurately to your plumber, when you call.
1) If water is coming out of the base of your socket, it is an indication that a part or parts called the “O-rings, which fits around the faucet body are worn out. The O-rings will probably have to be replaced.

2) Water leaking out where the handle attaches to the body of the faucet, can result from one of two problems. Either the tension of the adjusting ring is improperly adjusted, or your faucet has a worn out cam gasket. A gasket is a mechanical seal that fills the space between two objects, generally to prevent leakage. The cam is an eccentric or multiply curved wheel mounted on a rotating shaft, used to produce variable or reciprocating motion in another engaged or contacted part. When you move the handle of your ball faucet, you are actually causing a tiny metal or plastic ball to rotate deep inside the faucet body. Your faucet’s cam helps to translate your movement into the movement of the ball. The gasket prevents leakage of water around the cam, and when it becomes worn, then water can leak out where the handle is attached, instead of entirely coming out the faucet.

3) If your faucet leaks, even when the handle is turned off, and the water is coming out of the spout, then you may have a damaged ball, worn springs, or a dried out spring loaded rubber seal. While this may be hard to visualize, keep in mind that deep inside your faucet, the plastic or metal ball of the faucet, sits on top of two springs covered over by a cupped shape rubber valve seats or seals. The springs fit into holes from whence the hot and cold water comes out of the valve. When the ball is twisted so that it presses down on the rubber caps and spring, it blocks the water coming up from the water source.

We wish to thank A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore: for sponsoring this article. If you have a faucet leak:and happen to live in the Baltimore, Maryland area, or one of the surrounding counties, give us a call and we will be happy to come out and fix your faucet.

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