How to Fix a Leaky Faucet: Causes & Solutions

How to Fix a Leaky Faucet: Causes & Solutions

A leaky faucet is almost always caused by a worn O-ring, a deteriorated cartridge, or a corroded valve seat. The fix depends on your faucet type — compression, ball, cartridge, or ceramic disc — but most repairs cost under $20 in parts and take 30–60 minutes.

How Much Water Does a Leaky Faucet Waste?

A faucet dripping once per second wastes about 3,000 gallons per year — that’s roughly $20–$35 added to your water bill annually. A faster drip can waste 5,000+ gallons. Beyond cost, persistent dripping can stain sinks, grow mold in the cabinet below, and drive you crazy at 2 AM.

Identify Your Faucet Type

Before you start, figure out what kind of faucet you have:

• Compression faucet: Two handles, turn to tighten/loosen. Most common in older homes. Uses rubber washers that wear out.
• Ball faucet: Single handle that moves over a rounded ball cap. Common in kitchens. Has springs and inlet seals that fail.
• Cartridge faucet: Single or double handle, moves up/down and side to side. Uses a replaceable cartridge with O-rings.
• Ceramic disc faucet: Single handle with a wide cylinder body. Most durable type. Rarely leaks, but the ceramic discs can crack.

Fixing a Compression Faucet

1. Turn off the water supply under the sink
2. Remove the handle (pry off the decorative cap, unscrew the screw underneath)
3. Use a wrench to unscrew the packing nut, then pull out the stem
4. At the bottom of the stem, you’ll find a rubber washer held by a brass screw
5. Replace the washer with an exact-size match (bring the old one to the hardware store)
6. While you’re in there, coat the new washer with plumber’s grease
7. Inspect the valve seat (the brass surface the washer presses against) — if it’s pitted or corroded, use a seat grinder to smooth it, or replace it
8. Reassemble and test

Fixing a Cartridge Faucet

1. Turn off water supply
2. Remove the handle and any retaining clip or nut holding the cartridge
3. Pull the cartridge straight out (pliers may help — grip and wiggle gently)
4. Replace the O-rings on the cartridge body, or replace the entire cartridge
5. Replacement cartridges cost $10–$30 depending on brand. Moen, Delta, and Kohler each use proprietary cartridges — bring the old one to match it
6. Reassemble, making sure the cartridge orientation matches (hot on the left)

Fixing a Ball Faucet

Ball faucets have multiple small parts (springs, inlet seals, cam, cam washer) that can wear out. The easiest approach is to buy a ball faucet repair kit for your model ($10–$20) and replace everything at once.

1. Turn off water supply
2. Remove handle and cap
3. Remove the cam, cam washer, and ball
4. Use needle-nose pliers to pull out the inlet seals and springs
5. Install new springs, seals, ball, cam washer, and cam from the kit
6. Reassemble and test

Fixing a Ceramic Disc Faucet

These rarely leak, but when they do:

1. Turn off water supply
2. Remove handle, then unscrew the escutcheon cap to access the disc cylinder
3. Pull out the cylinder and check the neoprene seals on the bottom
4. Clean or replace the seals. If the ceramic discs themselves are cracked, replace the entire cylinder ($20–$50)
5. When reassembling, turn the water back on slowly — full blast can crack new ceramic discs

When to Call a Plumber

Handle it yourself if it’s a straightforward washer, O-ring, or cartridge swap. Call a pro if:

• The valve seat is badly corroded and a seat grinder doesn’t help
• The leak is coming from the base of the faucet (body corrosion)
• You can’t identify the faucet type or find replacement parts
• The supply lines or shut-off valves are corroded and fragile
• You’ve replaced parts and it still leaks — could be a crack in the faucet body

Should You Repair or Replace the Faucet?

If the faucet is over 10 years old and the repair would cost more than $50 in parts, consider replacing it entirely. A quality kitchen faucet runs $150–$350. Bathroom faucets are $75–$200. Professional installation adds $100–$175.

Faucet Repair in Winchester, VA

Leaky faucet that won’t quit? Powell’s Plumbing & Air repairs and replaces all faucet types — kitchen, bathroom, tub, and outdoor. We serve Winchester and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley. Call (540) 313-9199 or schedule service online.