Dripping Faucet Repair

Why a faucet drips

A faucet drips because a part that is supposed to seal the water flow has worn out, been damaged by mineral scale or come loose. Identifying where the water shows up is the fastest clue.

• Water from the spout: a worn washer, seat, cartridge or ceramic disc
• Water around the handle: a worn O-ring or loose packing nut
• Water at the base of the faucet: a worn body O-ring or loose mounting
• Water under the sink: a supply line, shutoff valve or connection
• A drip that stops when you press the handle a certain way: a worn cartridge

Mineral buildup and water pressure

Hard water leaves scale on seats and cartridges, which stops them sealing. High household pressure adds strain, so a repeat drip can be a pressure issue rather than bad luck.

Age and use

Rubber and plastic parts harden over time, and a faucet that gets daily use will drip sooner. Many faucets can be rebuilt for years with the right parts.

Which type of faucet do you have?

You need to know the faucet type before you pick parts. There are four common designs, and each seals differently.

Compression faucets

These have separate hot and cold handles, and you turn them harder to shut them off. A rubber washer presses against a valve seat, and it wears out first. This is the classic drippy faucet design, and the repair is simple.

Cartridge faucets

Single- or double-handle faucets that move smoothly. A cartridge inside controls water flow and temperature. Worn O-rings or a cracked cartridge cause drips at the spout or handle.

Ball faucets

A single handle over a rotating ball with rubber seats and springs. Ball faucets have many small parts, and a repair kit typically replaces them all. Common in kitchens.

Ceramic disc faucets

Two ceramic discs slide against each other in a cylinder. They are durable, and when they drip, the seals on the cylinder or a damaged disc is often the cause.

Look at the handle, remove it and read any markings on the cartridge, or take the old part to the store so you can match it.

How to fix a leaky faucet: what you need

To repair a leaky faucet you need only a few tools and the right replacement parts. A faucet repair kit is a good starting point when the kit matches your faucet.

• Adjustable wrench and pliers
• Screwdrivers (flat and Phillips)
• Allen keys, since many handles use a set screw
• Replacement washers, O-rings, seats, springs or cartridge
• Plumber's grease
• Penetrating oil for stuck parts
• A towel or cloth to protect the finish and cover the drain
• White vinegar for descaling
• A flashlight

Buying the right parts

Sink faucet parts, faucet replacement parts and water faucet parts are sold by brand and model. If you can find a model name under the sink or on the faucet body, use it. Otherwise, bring the old cartridge, stem or valve. Common items include faucet pieces, faucet components, a faucet insert replacement and a faucet valve repair kit. A bathroom faucet repair kit or a kitchen faucet repair kit is sized for those faucets. If a part is discontinued, ask about a universal cartridge or plan for replacing the faucet.

How to stop a dripping faucet: step by step

To stop a dripping faucet, turn off the water first, then work in a set order. This is the general routine for repairing a faucet and applies to most types.

1. Close the two shutoff valves under the sink, turning clockwise. If there are none, shut off the main water supply.
2. Open the faucet to drain remaining water and plug the drain so small parts do not fall in.
3. Pry off the decorative cap and remove the handle screw, then lift off the handle.
4. Unscrew the packing nut or retaining clip, and remove the stem or cartridge.
5. Inspect the seat, washer, O-rings and cartridge for wear, cracks or scale.
6. Replace worn parts, coat rubber with plumber's grease and clean scale with vinegar.
7. Reassemble in reverse order and open the shutoffs slowly.
8. Test with the faucet on and off, and check under the sink for drips.

How to fix leaky faucet single handle

For how to fix leaky faucet single handle models, the drip is often a worn cartridge or ball assembly. Remove the handle, unscrew the cap or collar and pull the cartridge straight out; on ball faucets, lift the cam and ball and replace the springs and seats. Match the new part to the old one exactly, and set it in the same orientation so hot and cold are not reversed.

When to stop

Stop and call a plumber if the shutoff valves will not close, screws are stripped, the cartridge cannot be pulled without damage or the faucet body is corroded. Turning a forced valve can snap it and flood the cabinet.

How to fix a leaking faucet in the kitchen

A kitchen faucet leaking or a dripping kitchen faucet often involves a cartridge or a spray hose, since kitchen faucets have more moving parts. To fix a leaky kitchen faucet, follow the steps above and check the pull-out sprayer connections and the diverter, which is a small valve that switches between spout and spray.

• How to fix a dripping kitchen faucet with a swinging spout: replace the spout O-rings, which sit in grooves on the base.
• Kitchen faucet leaking at base: tighten the mounting nut under the sink and replace the base seal or gasket.
• Kitchen sink faucet parts: cartridges, seats, O-rings, aerators and spray heads. Check the model before ordering.
• Kitchen faucet parts replacement: buy from the brand's parts list where possible.
• Kitchen tap repair: identical to the process above, with a tap being a British term for faucet.

Also check the water lines to the faucet. If the faucet is more than a few parts from working, consider kitchen faucet replacement. If the drain or a nearby disposal is leaking, see garbage disposal repair. Wider kitchen faucet repair problems are covered under faucet, sink and kitchen plumbing repair.

How to fix a leaky bathroom faucet

A leaky bathroom faucet is treated the same way, but bathroom fixtures are often smaller and sit tight against the wall. Bathroom faucet repair usually means replacing a cartridge or the seat washer. A dripping bathroom faucet or bathroom sink faucet dripping is commonly a worn cartridge on a widespread or centerset faucet.

• How to repair a leaking faucet in the bathroom: shut off the stops, remove the handle and replace the cartridge.
• Bathroom sink faucet leaking at the handle: replace the O-ring and tighten the packing nut.
• Bathroom sink dripping after you shut it off: the seat may be pitted and need resurfacing or replacement.
• Bathroom faucet valve problems: a worn valve stem or a cracked cartridge.
• Bathroom sink faucet parts and bathroom faucet replacement parts are sold for most common brands.

Tub and shower faucets

Tub faucet replacement parts, bathtub faucet replacement parts and bathtub faucet valve parts are more involved because the valve sits inside the wall. Bath tap parts for two-handle tubs may include a stem, seat and washer. Removing them needs a special socket and a shutoff for the whole bathroom, and if the valve is in the wall behind tile, a plumber may be the better choice. This is common in bathroom remodel plumbing projects.

Leaks from the handle, the spout or the base

The location of the leak is the diagnosis. Tracing it correctly saves you buying the wrong parts.

Faucet leaking from spout

If water runs from the spout when the faucet is off, the cartridge, washer or seat is worn. Faucet leaking from spout with a constant trickle usually means an internal seal has failed.

Tap leaking from handle

A leaky faucet handle or tap leaking from handle means water is escaping around the stem. Tighten the packing nut a quarter turn, then replace the O-ring or stem seal if needed.

Leak under the sink

If the cabinet floor is wet, run a dry paper towel along the supply lines, shutoff valves and drain. A leak there is a different repair than a faucet drip. When the source is unclear, leak detection can find what you cannot see.

Sink dripping when the faucet is off

Sink dripping may come from the aerator, a supply line connection or condensation on cold pipes. Do not assume it is the faucet until you have looked closely.

Repair or replace the faucet?

Repair is sensible when the faucet is in good condition and parts are available. Faucet replacement is better when the faucet is corroded, parts are no longer made, the finish is failing or you want a different style. People searching faucet replacement should compare the cost of parts and time against a new unit. Factors that point toward replacement:

• The body is pitted or cracked
• Repairs keep failing within months
• Parts are unavailable or cost close to a new faucet
• You are remodeling and want a matching set
• The faucet is too old to meet current water-saving standards

When a plumber makes more sense

Faucet repair services are worth a call when the fixture is hard to reach or the repair is beyond your comfort. Reasons to call include:

• Shutoff valves that do not close
• A leak inside the wall or under the floor
• Multiple fixtures dripping at once, which suggests a pressure problem
• Corroded fittings that spin without loosening
• A faucet you cannot identify that needs custom parts
• Any concern about flooding

To fix bathroom faucet or fix kitchen faucet issues quickly, phone a plumber and describe the symptoms. Pricing is confirmed by phone and depends on the faucet, parts, access and whether shutoff valves need replacement. Learn how quotes are built in plumber cost. If water is flooding, treat it as an emergency and read emergency plumbing.

Water waste from a slow drip

The cost of a drip is easy to underestimate because it never stops. Place a measuring cup under the spout for ten minutes if you want a sense of how much escapes, then multiply by a day. Hot-water drips also waste the energy used to heat that water, which is a good reason to fix a leaky hot handle first.

A steady drip can waste a surprising amount of water over weeks, and it raises your water bill while stains build in the basin. If the bill keeps rising after the faucet is fixed, another leak may exist, and water leak and pipe repair may be needed. General fixes are also covered under plumbing repair. If a nearby water heater delivers hot water to a single sink, a point-of-use water heater may be relevant.

Older homes, rentals and hard-water areas

Faucets in older homes often have compression stems and brass parts that seize, so a repair can turn into a fight with corroded threads. Penetrating oil and patience help, but forcing a stem risks twisting off a supply. In hard-water regions, scale shortens the life of every seal, so a descaling soak of the aerator and cartridge parts is a good habit. Landlords with several units often keep a few common cartridges in stock, and a plumber can standardize fixtures so one repair kit fits many units. Owners of larger properties can read about commercial plumbing support.

Safety notes before you start

Water is the main risk, and it can also reach electrical outlets near a sink. Keep the area dry, and switch off power to any outlet you cannot keep clear of splashes. Do not use pipe wrenches on chrome finishes, do not force a shutoff valve that will not turn and never work on a line you cannot isolate. If a hot-water line is involved, let it cool before touching. When a stop valve fails to close, a plumber should replace it, because a valve that leaks is part of your home's water lines and can flood a cabinet.

Myths about dripping faucets

• Myth: A tiny drip is harmless. Fact: It wastes water, stains the basin and usually gets worse.
• Myth: Tighten the handle harder and the drip will stop. Fact: Overtightening wears seats and cartridges faster.
• Myth: Any washer will do. Fact: Size and shape must match the seat, or it will leak again.
• Myth: A new faucet always fixes the drip. Fact: If the supply or shutoff is faulty, the drip can return.

Preventing future drips

• Do not overtighten handles when shutting the faucet off
• Clean aerators every few months to remove scale
• Use a soft cloth and mild cleaner, not abrasives
• Replace worn washers and O-rings as soon as you notice a drip
• Exercise your shutoff valves once a year so they do not seize
• Check under the sink monthly for small leaks

Where You Can Get Dripping Faucet Repair Help

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