How to Fix a Leaky Faucet: Find the Type, Replace the Part

How to fix a leaky faucet: shut off the water, identify which of the four faucet types you have, and replace the part that has worn out, which is usually a rubber washer, an O-ring or a cartridge. Most repairs take under an hour and need only a screwdriver, an adjustable wrench and a replacement part that matches the old one.

How to fix a leaky faucet: the quick answer

A drip from the spout means the part that seals the water inside has worn. A leak around the handle means a worn O-ring or packing. Take the old part to a hardware store so the new one matches exactly, and work in this order: water off, plug the drain, take the faucet apart, replace the worn part, reassemble, test.

Quick facts: how to fix a leaky faucet
Time needed	30 to 60 minutes
Tools	Screwdriver, adjustable wrench, hex key, towel, replacement parts
Difficulty	Easy to moderate
First step	Turn off the shut-off valves under the sink and plug the drain

Which type of faucet do you have?

Type	Typical look	What usually wears out
Compression	Two separate handles that you turn several times	Rubber washer and valve seat
Cartridge	One or two handles that move smoothly	The cartridge or its O-rings
Ball	A single handle over a rounded cap, common in kitchens	Springs, seats and O-rings
Ceramic disc	A single handle with a wide cylindrical body	The seals in the disc cylinder

Steps to repair most faucets

1. Shut off the water. Close the two valves under the sink, or the main valve if there are none. Open the faucet to drain the pressure.
2. Plug the drain. A small screw or O-ring dropped down the pipe is gone for good.
3. Remove the handle. Pry off the decorative cap, undo the screw underneath, and lift the handle off. A hex set screw is common on modern models.
4. Remove the retaining nut or cap and pull out the stem or cartridge. Note how it sits so you can put it back the same way.
5. Inspect and replace. Cracked rubber, flattened washers and gritty or pitted seats cause drips. Replace washers, O-rings or the whole cartridge. Coat new O-rings with plumber's grease.
6. Check the valve seat on a compression faucet. If it is rough, smooth it with a seat dresser or replace it.
7. Reassemble, restore the water slowly, and run the faucet to flush out air and debris.

Why faucets leak

Constant use wears rubber and plastic, and hard water leaves scale that scratches seals. Over-tightening a compression handle chews through the washer. Knowing how to fix a leaky faucet properly means replacing all the seals in a cartridge or stem at once, not just the one that is visible, because the others are the same age.

Where the leak shows up

Where it leaks	Likely cause	Fix
Drips from the spout when off	Worn washer, seat or cartridge	Replace washer or cartridge, check the seat
Leaks around the handle	Worn O-ring or loose packing nut	Replace the O-ring, snug the nut
Leaks at the base	Worn base O-rings, loose body	Replace O-rings or the base seal
Water seeps under the sink	Supply line or shut-off valve	Replace the line or valve

When to call a plumber

Call if the handle will not come off, if the shut-off valves do not close, if the faucet body is corroded, or if the leak continues after new parts. A shut-off valve that will not close needs replacing, and that is a job for a plumber, because forcing it can break the pipe behind it.

Keeping it from leaking again

Do not overtighten handles, wipe scale away from the spout, and replace aerators when they clog. Even a slow drip adds up over a year, so a prompt repair pays for itself in the water saved.

Related reading

• Outdoor Faucet Leaking? Find the Leak, Fix It, Winterize
• How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink: Plunger, Trap and Snake
• How to Increase Water Pressure in Your House: 7 Checks
• How to know if a pipe burst: A Step-by-Step Guide

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