I second this. GO to any big box hardware store and buy a Delta rebuild kit. It includes everything needed including the wrench to remove the innards and instructions. My experience is that you have to replace everything to stop the leak. Replacing just the ball or just the seals won't do it. You can buy rebuild kits with plastic balls or metal balls. The metal ones work better. Plastic balls are cheaper. I've done 4 faucets so far. Piece of cake.
Delta faucet drip...drip...drip...
Dec 24, 2004
21 Replies
Two other things to point out:
1) Once you've rebuilt it once, you can do the next one blindfolded, and perhaps a little drunk. :-)2) In areas with hard water, it's not a bad idea to drip some white vinegar into the area where the ball & washers sit, and scrub away any buildup with a stiff toothbrush. Otherwise, the grittiness probably shortens the life of the washers.
3) On the other hand, it's sometimes beneficial to rebuild often, whether it needs it or not, especially since it takes what....20 minutes? Sometimes, seeing these repairs done plays right into womens' nesting instincts, giving then a very warm feeling. If the kids are somewhere else for the afternoon, the payoff can be way out of proportion to the time spent doing the repair. :-) I have unwritten data to back up this theory.
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