How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

Ready a dripping kitchen faucet with replacement parts.

Time

An 60 minutes or less

Complexity

Beginner

Toll

Less than $20

Introduction

You tin can fix almost any drippy unmarried-lever kitchen faucet in near an 60 minutes. We'll bear witness you lot how. The repair is a lot easier than you might think, even for a plumbing novice.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Faucet repair kit
  • O-ring seals

Doing your own faucet repair may seem daunting, simply once you lot learn the nuts, modern faucets are fairly piece of cake to repair. In fact, the hardest step to fix a leaky faucet is usually finding the right replacement parts. In this commodity, we'll tell y'all how to find replacement parts and show you how to finish spout drips on the three chief types of unmarried-lever faucets: rotary ball, cartridge and ceramic disc. We're showing kitchen faucets and kitchen faucet repair for a dripping faucet, only yous tin can set up near single-lever bathroom faucets using the same procedures. We'll likewise show you how to stop leaks around the base of operations of the spout and gear up leaking faucets.

The tools you lot'll need for this how to prepare a leaky faucet project vary a little depending on the faucet you lot're repairing. Y'all'll probably need an Allen wrench to remove the handle. Buy a set of small Allen wrenches and you lot'll be prepared for all kinds of leaking faucets. Most repairs also crave screwdrivers and a pair of big slip-joint pliers.

Project footstep-by-step (xviii)

Stride 1

Rotary Ball Faucet Beefcake

  • The diagram below shows the parts and assembly of a rotary ball faucet.
    • Note: Nosotros recommend that you buy a repair kit that includes the ball, springs, seats and O-rings for the spout, too as a small repair tool. With this kit, you'll be prepared for almost any repair.

Pace 2

Loosen the Allen Screw

  • Then plow off the water supply to the dripping faucet.
  • Lift the handle and pry off the decorative embrace to expose the Allen screw.
  • Turn the screw counterclockwise until it's loose enough to lift the handle up from the stalk.
    • Note: If water is leaking out around the base of the faucet handle, you may exist able to gear up the leak by removing the handle and simply tightening the adjusting band slightly. Turn it clockwise with the spanner tool included in the repair kit. If the faucet drips from the end of the spout, supersede the seats and springs.

Footstep 3

Remove the Cap

  • Unscrew the cap by turning it counterclockwise with a slip-joint pliers.

Step four

Remove the Rotary Brawl

  • Lift off the plastic cam and packing.
  • Elevator out the ball and audit it.
  • Replace the ball if it's scratched, cracked or visibly worn.

Step 5

Remove and Replace the Seats and Springs

  • Elevator out the two rubber seats and springs with a screwdriver.
  • Drib the new springs in the recesses and printing the new rubber seats over the acme with your fingertip.
  • Align the groove in the ball with the pin in the socket and drop the ball in.
  • Marshal the lug on the plastic cam with the notch in the valve body and set it over the ball.
  • Thread on the cap with the adjusting ring and tighten it with the sideslip-joint pliers.
  • Turn on the water to bank check for leaks.
    • Pro tip: If h2o leaks from around the brawl stem, utilize the spanner tool to tighten the adjusting band until the leak stops.
  • Replace the leaking faucet handle and you're done.

Follow These Nuts for All Faucet Repairs

Before you start, examine the dripping faucet closely to determine where the water is coming from. Leaks around the base of operations of the spout require a dissimilar repair than a drip from the end of the spout.

So plow off the water supply to the dripping faucet. You'll probably detect shutoff valves nether the sink. If those valves don't work or if you don't accept any, you'll have to close the main water valve to your entire domicile. After you turn off the water, open the faucet in the center position to relieve water pressure and make sure the water is close off. Finally, embrace the sink drain holes with strainer baskets or rags to avoid losing minor parts down the drain.

Pay close attention to the order and orientation of parts as you remove them. A digital camera or video camera is handy for recording each step in example yous forget. For easier reassembly, gear up the parts aside in the order they were removed. When all the parts are out, audit the interior of the valve for bits of deteriorated gaskets or mineral deposits. Utilise a textile or fine nylon annoying pad to clean the surface. Loosen mineral deposits past soaking them in vinegar.

Slow water flow can be caused by plugged holes in the faucet trunk. Use a small screwdriver or penknife to clean them out. Earlier you lot supercede worn parts and reassemble the faucet, hold a rag over the dripping faucet and open up the water shutoff valve slightly to affluent out droppings that may have been loosened during the cleaning and inspection.

After the faucet is reassembled, open the faucet to the middle position and gradually open the shutoff valves to turn on the water. Leave the faucet open until water flows freely and all the air is out of the pipes. If the water flow through the faucet is slow, the aerator may be plugged. Unscrew the aerator and clean it out.

Take the Old Parts to the Store to Discover Replacements

You'll often discover the brand name stamped on the faucet. And this information volition assistance when it comes time to find repair parts. Just in most cases, the safest bet is to take the worn parts to the store with you.

If you have a Delta or other rotary ball faucet, you're in luck because yous'll find repair kits in most hardware stores and home centers. Cartridges and repair kits for Moen "cartridge blazon" faucets are also readily available. But if you accept another brand or a disc-type faucet, you may have to gild parts, since at that place are too many variations for almost stores to continue in stock. Information technology helps to know the faucet's model proper noun or number when searching for a replacement cartridge. Otherwise, take the cartridge with you to the store so you can lucifer it to a photo in the parts itemize.

Plumbing supply specialists are also a practiced source of repair parts. If you're having trouble finding parts, telephone call the manufacturer of your faucet for assist.

Cartridge-Mode Faucet Anatomy

  • Cartridge-style faucet parts and assembly.

Step six

Remove the Allen Spiral

  • Gently pry off the handle cap with a pocketknife.
  • Turn the Allen screw counterclockwise to remove it and elevator off the handle.

Stride 7

Remove the Metal Handle Adapter

  • Unscrew the dome assembly under the handle.
  • Unscrew the metal handle adapter and lift it off.
  • Lift off the plastic pivot end.

Step 8

Take Out the Retainer Nut

  • Remove the retainer nut by turning it counterclockwise with large skid-articulation pliers.

Step 9

Remove the Retainer Clip

  • Pry out the brass retainer clip with the tip of a screwdriver.
  • Grab the clip with pliers and pull it the residuum of the fashion out to avoid losing it.

Step x

Twist Loose the Cartridge

  • Loosen the cartridge past slipping the plastic spanner cap (included with the new cartridge) over the cartridge and twisting it dorsum and forth.

Footstep 11

Replace Worn Parts and Reassemble the Faucet

  • Grab the cartridge stem with pliers and pull it directly up and out.
  • Replace worn parts.

Stride 12

Reassemble the Faucet

  • Reassemble the faucet in the reverse order.
  • Pull the stalk up before inserting the cartridge.
    • Note: You may accept to twist the cartridge slightly to line it up for the brass retainer clip.
  • Utilize the plastic spanner cap or the tips of needle-nose pliers to rotate the cartridge.
  • Slide the contumely clip into the slots in the valve body to hold the cartridge in place.
  • Look for the small notch on top of the stalk and rotate the stalk until the notch faces y'all.
  • Install the remaining parts and reattach the handle.
    • Note: The directions that come with the stem will help orient you hither.
  • Test the faucet.
    • Note: If the hot and cold water are reversed, but remove the handle, dome associates and handle adapter and rotate the stem 180 degrees.

All About Cartridge-Mode Faucet Repairs

Many faucet brands use a cartridge of some type. Here we show how to supervene upon a Moen cartridge, simply the process is similar for other brands. To stop drips at the spout or right problems with hot and common cold mixing, remove the cartridge and either replace the O-rings on the cartridge if they're worn or supplant the unabridged cartridge. Take the cartridge to the home center or hardware store to discover a replacement.

Replacement cartridges for Moen faucets include a plastic spanner cap that allows you to twist and loosen the cartridge to make it easier to pull out. Don't exist surprised if the cartridge seems stuck. It may take considerable force to pull it out. Really stubborn cartridges may require the apply of a special cartridge-pulling tool.

Ceramic Disc Faucet Anatomy

  • Parts and associates of ceramic disc faucets.

Step thirteen

Unscrew the Handle

  • Pry off the decorative spiral cover with your fingernail or the tip of a pocketknife.
  • Unscrew the handle spiral by turning it counterclockwise with an Allen wrench.
  • Elevator off the handle.
  • Unscrew or unclip the cap.

Step fourteen

Remove the Disc Cartridge

  • Remove the screws that hold the disc cartridge to the faucet body and lift out the cartridge.

Pace xv

Replace the Seals in the Cartridge

  • Inspect the cartridge for mineral buildup and carefully make clean it out.
  • Then replace the prophylactic seals on the underside.

Step xvi

Replace the O-Band Seals

  • Lift out the plastic disc (on some faucets) and replace the O-rings under it.
  • Inspect the holes in the faucet body and clean them out if they're clogged.

Ceramic Disc Faucets 101

Ceramic disc valves are merely another blazon of cartridge. Discs inside the cartridge control the water flow. This type of valve is sturdy and reliable and rarely needs fixing. In fact, many manufacturers offering a lifetime guarantee on the cartridge. If yours is damaged, check with the manufacturer to see if it'south covered by a warranty.

Leaks can result from faulty prophylactic seals or a cracked disc inside the cartridge. Since it's difficult to spot a cracked disc, and disc cartridge replacements are very expensive, it'due south best to showtime by replacing the seals and reassembling the faucet. And so if the faucet however leaks, remove the disc cartridge and accept it to the store to order a replacement.

Early versions of ceramic disc faucets may be more fragile and tin crack if subjected to a blast of pressurized air. That's why it's of import to leave the faucet open up as you plow the water back on. This allows air trapped in the lines to escape. When the water runs smoothly, information technology's safe to plough the faucet off. Manufacturers take improved the strength of ceramic discs on newer faucets to withstand air blasts, as well as abrasive droppings that may get dislodged from the inside of pipes.

Step 17

Repair a Spout Leak

  • Remove the handle and cartridge.
  • Twist and pull up on the spout to remove it and expose the O-band seals.
    • Pro tip: The diverter valve controls water to the sprayer. Their appearance varies considerably among brands, but you'll normally observe them under the spout. If your sprayer isn't working properly, start clean it in vinegar or merely replace information technology. If this doesn't work, the diverter valve may exist clogged. If it doesn't simply pull out, contact the manufacturer or enquire a knowledgeable salesperson for help with cleaning information technology.

Step 18

Supersede the O-Rings

  • Slip the tip of a screwdriver nether the O-rings to slide them out of the groove.
  • Install the new O-rings and lubricate them with plumber's grease.
  • Reinstall the spout.

Leaky Spout Nuts

Leaks around the base of the spout are caused by worn O-rings located nether the spout. All that's usually required to access these O-rings for replacement is to wiggle and pull up on the spout to remove it.

Depending on the dripping faucet, you'll also take to remove the handle and other parts to access the spout. Be persistent. The spout may exist a little stubborn. Spout O-ring kits are available for many faucets, or yous can take the old O-rings to the hardware store or plumbing supply store and match them up with new ones. Remember to selection up a small toothpaste-type tube of plumber'southward grease while yous're in that location.

Additional Information

  • Figure A: Brawl faucet parts
  • Figure B: Cartridge faucet parts
  • Figure C: Ceramic faucet parts

Originally Published: November 30, 2022