How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

A faucet that drips once per second wastes around 3,000 gallons of water per year. Most leaky faucets are caused by a worn washer or O-ring — a $2 part that takes 30 minutes to replace. Here's how.

Before You Start

Turn off the water supply: Under the sink, turn the shut-off valves clockwise until they stop. Turn on the faucet to release any remaining pressure and confirm the water is off.

Plug the drain: Put a rag or stopper in the drain so small parts don't fall in and disappear.

Take photos as you go: Before removing anything, photograph the assembly so you can reassemble it correctly.

Identify Your Faucet Type

The fix varies depending on what kind of faucet you have:

Ball faucet — a single handle that moves in a sphere. Common in kitchens. Has a ball mechanism inside.

Cartridge faucet — single or double handle, smooth operation. Very common. The cartridge is a self-contained cylinder that controls water flow.

Ceramic disc faucet — single lever over a wide cylindrical body. Rarely needs repair.

Compression faucet — two handles that tighten to stop water. Older style. Most commonly cause drips.

Fixing a Compression Faucet (Most Common Drip Cause)

1. Remove the decorative cap on the handle (pry it off with a flathead screwdriver)
2. Unscrew the handle screw and pull off the handle
3. Use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the packing nut
4. Pull out the stem — at the bottom you'll find a rubber washer held by a brass screw
5. Replace the washer with a new one (take the old one to the hardware store to match)
6. If the seat (the part the washer presses against) feels rough, smooth it with a seat wrench or replace it
7. Reassemble in reverse order

Fixing a Cartridge Faucet

1. Remove the handle (usually one screw under a decorative cap)
2. You'll see a plastic or metal cartridge held in place by a retaining clip or nut
3. Pull the cartridge straight up — use pliers if needed, but be careful not to damage it
4. Take the old cartridge to the hardware store — exact match matters for cartridges
5. Install the new cartridge in the same orientation
6. Reassemble and test

Fixing a Ball Faucet

Ball faucets have more parts (a cam, ball, seats, springs, and O-rings), making them more complex. A ball faucet repair kit for your specific brand ($10–$20) includes all the parts and instructions. The kit approach is much easier than buying parts individually.

Drip From the Base vs. From the Spout

• Drip from the spout — internal mechanism issue (washers, cartridge, ball)
• Leak around the base — worn O-rings on the faucet body. Remove the faucet spout, replace the O-rings, and lubricate with plumber's grease before reassembling.

When to Call a Plumber

• The shut-off valve under the sink won't close (it needs replacement itself)
• The faucet body is cracked
• You can't identify what type of faucet you have and the repair kit approach isn't working

For a genuinely old or badly corroded faucet, replacing the whole unit (starting around $30–$80) is sometimes easier than repairing it.