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SEAT, FAUCET PARTS

Description: This is a small, circular metal disk partly threaded on one end with a square or hexagonal hole in it.

Buying information: Some faucets have removable seats, against which the washer presses. These sometimes become worn and require replacement. Hundreds of sizes are available, so the best bet is to take the existing seat in to the dealer and get a match.

How-to hints: A good tool for removing a seat is an L-shaped faucet seat wrench. Its ends are machined to fit into the hole in the seat so it can be turned up and out. Allen wrenches can also be used. If corrosion has enlarged the hole and a wrench slips, use a screw extractor, which can be inserted in the hole in the seat with a minimal risk of deforming the threads in the faucet body.

A few faucets don't come with replaceable seats. In that case you must replace the entire faucet. It is sometimes possible to tell what type you have by peering down into the seat, using a magnifying glass if necessary. A round hole, rather than a square or hexagonal opening, indicates that the seat is not replaceable.

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