Plumbing fixtures

How to Fix a Leaky Faucet, or When to Call for Help

Why faucets drip, how to fix the common causes yourself, and when it makes sense to call a handyman or a plumber.

A dripping faucet seems small, but it rarely fixes itself. The good news is that most faucet leaks come from a few worn parts, and many homeowners can handle the repair with basic tools. Here's how to figure out what's wrong, how to fix a leaky faucet yourself, and when it's time to call someone.

First: Where Is the Leak?

Different leaks have different causes:

• Dripping from the spout when off: A worn cartridge, washer, O-ring or valve seat.
• Water around the base of the faucet: Often a worn O-ring on the spout or a loose mounting nut.
• Leaking under the sink: A loose or worn supply line, a bad shutoff valve, or a leaky drain connection.
• Water from the handle: Worn O-rings or packing in the valve stem.

If water is coming from inside the wall or the cabinet floor is wet with no clear source, stop and call a licensed plumber.

Know Your Faucet Type

Most home faucets fall into one of these:

• Compression: Two handles you twist down tight. Uses rubber washers that wear out. Common in older homes.
• Cartridge: One or two handles that move smoothly. Uses a replaceable cartridge.
• Ball: A single handle on a rounded cap. Common in some kitchen faucets.
• Ceramic disc: A single lever over a wide cylinder. Very durable, but seals can wear.

If you can find the brand name on the faucet, the maker's website often has a parts diagram. That makes the job much easier.

Basic Steps to Fix a Dripping Faucet

What you'll need

• Adjustable wrench and screwdrivers
• Allen wrenches (many handles use a small set screw)
• Replacement cartridge, washers or O-rings to match your faucet
• Plumber's grease (silicone)
• A rag and a small container for parts

The steps

1. Turn off the water. Close both shutoff valves under the sink. Turn the faucet on to drain the lines and confirm the water is off.
2. Plug the drain. Put a rag in the drain so small parts can't fall in.
3. Remove the handle. Pop off the decorative cap and remove the screw or set screw.
4. Remove the valve. Unscrew the retaining nut or clip and pull out the cartridge or stem. Lay parts out in order and take a phone photo at each step.
5. Take the old part to the store. Matching the exact cartridge or washer is the hardest part of this job.
6. Install the new part. Coat O-rings with plumber's grease. Make sure the cartridge faces the right way, or hot and cold may be swapped.
7. Reassemble. Snug, not cranked. Over-tightening can crack parts.
8. Turn the water back on slowly and check for leaks.

When DIY Isn't Worth It

Sometimes replacing the whole faucet makes more sense than chasing parts:

• The faucet is old and parts are hard to find
• The body is cracked or badly corroded
• You've already replaced parts and it still drips
• Mineral buildup has seized the parts

Also watch out for:

• Stuck or corroded shutoff valves. Forcing them can break them and cause a bigger leak.
• Old galvanized pipes. Twisting on fittings can crack old pipe.
• Limited space under the sink. Sometimes the hardest part is reaching the mounting nuts.

Handyman or Plumber?

We do faucet and sink repair at the fixture level. That means:

• Replacing cartridges, washers and O-rings
• Replacing faucets
• Replacing supply lines
• Fixing leaky drain connections right under the sink (P-trap and tailpiece)

A licensed plumber is the right call for:

• Leaks inside walls, floors or ceilings
• Main water lines and sewer lines
• Water heaters
• Moving or adding plumbing
• Low water pressure throughout the house

We'll always tell you if what we see is outside what we should handle.

Related Problems

If the toilet is also running, our guide to running toilet causes covers the usual suspects. If a leak under the sink has gone on for a while, check the cabinet floor and the floor around it. Our guide on soft spots in your floor explains what to look for. And if you've got a list of small fixes adding up, our general home repair service is built for that.

Want Us to Handle It?

Text a photo of the faucet and the space under the sink to (706) 594-5049. Or request a free estimate. Pricing depends on the job, and estimates are free.