How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

What’s Actually Wrong

A dripping faucet almost always comes down to a worn-out rubber or seal part inside the handle mechanism — which specific part depends on the faucet type. Compression faucets (separate hot and cold handles, common in older homes) usually just need a new washer. Cartridge, ball-type, and ceramic disc faucets need their internal cartridge, ball assembly, or disc seals replaced. None of these are hard to identify once the handle is off, and all of them are cheap, common repair-kit parts.

How to Fix a Leaky Faucet: Quick Overview

The short answer for how to fix a leaky faucet is: identify the faucet type first, then replace the specific worn part inside — a washer, cartridge, ball, or ceramic disc — using the steps below. It’s one of the cheapest plumbing repairs there is. If you’re also dealing with a slow bathroom drain while you’re under the sink, check our bathroom sink drain guide. And if leaks and clogs keep coming back across an older home, it may be worth reading about plumbing repipe costs.

Tools You’ll Need

An adjustable wrench, a flathead screwdriver (to pop off the decorative cap), a Phillips screwdriver, needle-nose pliers, and plumber’s grease. Pick up a universal O-ring and washer assortment kit ahead of time so you have the right size on hand no matter which faucet type you end up with.

Step-by-Step Fix

Shut off the water supply valves under the sink before you touch anything, and plug the drain so you don’t lose a small part down it. Pry off the decorative cap on the handle with a flathead screwdriver, remove the screw underneath, and lift the handle off. For a compression faucet, use a wrench to loosen the packing nut, pull the stem, and replace the worn washer and O-ring at the bottom. For a cartridge faucet, remove the retaining clip with needle-nose pliers and pull the cartridge straight out, then push in a matching replacement. For a ball-type faucet, loosen the hex-head screw, remove the cap and collar, and lift out the ball, spring, and rubber seats, replacing the worn ones. For a ceramic disc faucet, lift out the cylinder, clean the openings with a little vinegar to remove mineral buildup, and swap the neoprene seals. Apply a light coat of plumber’s grease to whatever moving parts you reinstall, reassemble in reverse order, then turn the water back on and run the faucet for a few minutes to confirm the drip is actually gone.

Watch the Repair

Cartridges and washers look different from brand to brand. This walkthrough from Ask This Old House shows the same teardown on a typical kitchen faucet.

When to Call a Plumber

If you’ve replaced the obvious wear parts and the faucet still drips, the problem may be a worn valve seat or a crack in the faucet body itself, which usually means replacing the whole faucet rather than repairing it further. If water is leaking from underneath the sink rather than the spout, or you can’t get the water supply valves to fully shut off, stop and call a plumber — that points to a bigger problem in the supply lines, not just the faucet.