Stop ignoring that drip, drip, drip
Worn-out washers, o-rings, and gaskets are often the culprit.
You can usually fix a leaky faucet yourself.
Fixing a leaky faucet promptly is key to keeping the cost down.
The average cost of fixing a dripping faucet is $270.
That incessant dripping may as well be the sound of money flowing down the drain. While an itty bitty drip from a leaky faucet may not seem like it amounts to much, over time it can add up. Even a leaky faucet that releases just a few drops of water each minute can waste more than 100 gallons per year. And, left unchecked, water dripping from a leaky faucet can lead to costlier issues such as mold and rot. Don’t delay. Identify what’s causing that annoying drip and tackle this repair.
Whether it's a leaky bathroom faucet or garden spigot, there are a few issues that could be causing dripping water. Here are some of the most common causes.
If the leaky faucet has two handles, then each handle contains a cartridge that’s responsible for regulating the flow of water. The internal components inside these cartridges wear out over time, losing their ability to cut off the flow of water when the handle is in the closed position. If your faucet is dripping water from the spout, it may need a new cartridge.
Sometimes the problem isn’t with the cartridge but with the rubber O-ring that’s responsible for creating a watertight seal in the connection between the spout and the faucet base or the handles and the base. Over time, rubber O-rings dry out and crack, losing their ability to serve as a water barrier. If it is indeed the O-ring, water won’t be dripping from the faucet spout but rather from beneath the faucet’s handle or from the spout base.
While most modern homes use cartridges instead of compression faucets, they’re still commonly found on outdoor faucets. The most common cause of dripping on a compression faucet is a failing seat washer.
This disk-shaped piece of rubber is responsible for stopping water from flowing through the valve when the faucet is off. Over time, the rubber loses its ability to create a watertight seal. This issue is especially common with outdoor spigots that must endure extreme temperatures throughout the year.
There is also a screw that holds the seat washer in place. If that screw becomes loose, the washer won’t be able to create a seal.
Bathroom and kitchen faucet handles see a lot of action. All that turning eventually causes screws and bolts that hold the faucet’s components in place to become loose. If the handle of the sink is wobbly or has a lot of play in it when you turn it off or on, then there is probably a loose connection that’s preventing the handle from closing the valve, causing the drip.
Most faucets are designed to handle water pressure that ranges between 45 pounds per square inch (psi) and 55 psi. If your home’s water pressure exceeds that range, it might be forcing water through the valve even when it’s in the closed position. Check your water pressure with a $10 water pressure test gauge to see if it’s too high.
You’ll need to access the faucets inner components to find out which of the above problems is the culprit. Here’s how to locate the source of a leak, so you can fix it.
Before you start unscrewing things, make sure you shut off the water to avoid potentially flooding your bathroom or kitchen. Check the cabinet below the sink for the faucet’s two supply lines. There should be two, one for cold (typically with a blue handle) and one for hot (typically a red handle). Turn both valves clockwise to shut off the water. Next, open both hot and cold valves to make sure the water is indeed off and to drain existing water from the lines.
Use a flathead screwdriver to pop off the caps on the faucet handle to reveal the screws holding them in place. If there is a lot of play in the handles, first tighten these screws to see if that fixes the problem. If it doesn't, unscrew the screws and pull the handles off.
If you have a modern faucet, you should be able to pull out the cartridge.
If you’re working on a leaky outdoor spigot or a faucet in an older home, then the faucet will likely use a compression valve. You'll need to remove it using a plumber’s wrench and a pair of pliers. Hold the valve body with a plumber’s wrench then grip the nut with a pair of pliers and turn it counterclockwise to loosen and remove it.
Now that you’ve successfully dismantled the faucet, you can examine its parts to see what the problem is. Inspect the rubber washer, o-rings, and other seals for problems. If these pieces are worn or cracked, then replace them.
If you have a cartridge faucet and all the washers, seals and rings appear to be in good shape, then you probably need to replace the cartridge. The easiest way to do that is to take the stem or cartridge to the hardware store and ask for the right replacement parts.
Often, you can fix a leaky faucet yourself. However, if your efforts fail, or if you don’t feel comfortable taking apart a faucet, then consider calling a plumber near you for help.
As much as you might will it to happen, a leaky faucet isn’t going to fix itself. The leak will probably get worse over time as the failing parts causing the leak continue to deteriorate, eventually morphing into a much more damaging leak inside the walls.
If you don’t have time to address the leak yourself right away, call in a plumber. The cost of repairing a leaky faucet is between $125 and $330. The actual price depends on faucet type, parts required for the repair, and cause of the drip.
