How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

Co-authored by David Balkan

The annoying drip of a leaky faucet can cause higher water bills and irritation. Fortunately, it's easy to fix yourself if you can identify the type of faucet and get the necessary tools for the job. Why pay a plumber when you can fix a leaky faucet yourself? To fix leaks on the four most common types of faucet, follow these instructions.

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Getting Started

1
Turn off the water to your faucet. Look underneath your sink for the pipes that run up. Along those pipes somewhere will be handles that you can turn to shut off the water to your sink.^{[1]
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Expert Source

David Balkan
Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main
Expert Interview. 29 April 2021.} Twist clockwise to shut off.
2
Plug the drain. Use a sink plug if you have one or a rag. Nothing will ruin your day faster than having a screw or a washer go down the drain.

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3
Determine what type of faucet you have. A compression faucet has two screw handles, one for hot and one for cold, and is the easiest to recognize by sight. The other three types of faucet all have one central, swiveling arm that you can swing from hot to cold as desired.^{[3]
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Research source} You may have to take your faucet apart before you know which is which, because the internal mechanisms at the base of their arms are all different:
- A ball faucet contains a ball bearing.
- A cartridge faucet contains a cartridge. The materials of the cartridge will vary, but handle often has a decorative cap.
- A ceramic-disk faucet contains a ceramic cylinder.

Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Fixing a Compression Faucet

1
Remove each handle. Pry off the decorative cap if necessary (usually reading “Hot” or “Cold”), unscrew, and remove the handle.
2
Use a wrench to remove the nut. Underneath, you will find the stem, which sits on top of the O-ring, which sits on top of a seat washer. The seat washer is usually made of rubber, which can get worn out after a while. If your faucet is dripping, this is mostly likely the culprit.^{[4]
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3
Pull out the stem. This will expose the O-ring, which will be thinner, and seat washer, which will be thicker.
- If the handles are leaky (as opposed to the faucet), replace the O-ring. Take the old one to the hardware store and use it to find a replacement.^{[5]
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4
Remove the seat washer. This will be held in place with an upside-down brass screw.
5
Replace the seat washer. Since these washers vary in size, you might need to bring the old one in with you to a parts store to find an exact match. Coat the replacement in plumber’s grease before installing it.
6
Reassemble each handle. Any minor leaks should now be fixed.

Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Fixing a Ball Faucet

1
Buy a replacement kit. Ball faucets have several parts that will need to be replaced and some that require special tools. You won't need to replace the entire faucet, just the faucet cam assembly. All of the stuff you'll need, including tools, should be included in this type of kit that runs about $20 and is available in the plumbing section of most home repair shops.^{[6]
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2
Start by unscrewing and removing the handle. Lift off the handle and place it aside.
3
Use pliers to remove the cap and collar. Also, loosen the faucet cam by using the tool provided in your replacement kit for this purpose. Remove the faucet cam, washer, and ball.
- This will look like a "ball and socket" joint in your body--a movable (usually white) rubber ball plugs the socket, stopping up the water and releasing it.
4
Remove the inlet seals and springs. To do this, you will need to reach into the mechanism itself, probably using needle-nose pliers.
5
Replace the O-rings. Cut off the old ones and coat the new ones in plumber’s grease before installing.
6
Install new springs, valve seats, and cam washers. These should all be included in your kit, and should be essentially the reverse of the process you completed.
7
Reassemble the handle. The leak should now be repaired.

Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Fixing a Cartridge Faucet

1
Remove the handle. Pry off the decorative cap if necessary, unscrew, and remove the handle by tilting it backwards.
2
Remove the retaining clip if necessary. This is a circular, threaded piece (usually plastic) that sometimes holds the cartridge in place and can be pulled out with pliers.^{[7]
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3
Pull the cartridge so that it stands straight up. This is the position the cartridge sits in when the water is on full blast.
4
Remove the faucet spout. Set aside and locate the O-rings.
5
Replace the O-rings. Cut off the old ones using a utility knife and coat the new ones in plumber’s grease before installing them.
6
Reassemble the handle. The leak should now be repaired.

Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Fixing a Ceramic-Disk Faucet

1
Remove the escutcheon cap. After unscrewing and removing the handle, locate the escutcheon, which sits directly beneath the handle and is usually made of metal.
2
Unscrew and remove the disk cylinder. This will expose several neoprene seals on the underside.
3
Pry out the seals and clean the cylinders. White vinegar would work well for this purpose, especially if you have hard water. Soak them for several hours to work out the build-up and then assess whether or not they're reusable.^{[8]
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4
Replace the seals if necessary. If they look pitted, frayed, thin, or otherwise worn – or if you simply want to play it safe – bring them into the hardware store to find exact replacements.
5
Reassemble the handle and very slowly turn the water on. Running the water too forcefully can crack the ceramic disk.

Community Q&A

Question

Do I need to shut off the main water supply before I do this?

David Balkan
Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main
David Balkan is a Professional Plumber, CEO of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service, and President of Balkan Sewer and Drain Cleaning. As a hands-on owner of these companies for over 40 years, David is knowledgeable about water service lines, sewers, and drain line issues. David is a Committee Chairman of the Master Plumbers Council and has sat on the Executive Committee of the Sub Surface Plumbers Association of New York for over 30 years. His knowledge and solution-oriented approach contributed to Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service being the largest and most trusted service in New York City and the recipient of the 2017 Angie’s List Super Service Award.

David Balkan

Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main

Expert Answer

No, every sink has its own shutoff valve that you can use. It should be under the sink. You just need to turn the water supply to the sink off.
Question

How do I determine the cause of a leaky faucet?

Community Answer

If it is leaking from the tap, it is probably the seat washer. If it is leaking from the handle, it is probably the O-ring.
Question

While my faucet has two handles, they do not have a top that I can remove (hot/cold). They have a very small hole on each side of the faucet, but I have no idea what tool to use. What kind of faucet is this?

Community Answer

From your description, it could be the compression faucet type and that "small hole" on either side of the two handles is indicative of where to begin to unscrew them.

Things You'll Need

All Methods

A Phillips-head (+) and flat-head screwdriver (-); even if your faucet uses Phillips-head screws, a flat-head screwdriver can be useful for prying
Plumber’s grease (heat-resistant and non-toxic so it can be used with hot, potable water)
Pliers
Wrench

Compression Faucet