How to Fix a Dripping Faucet: Compression, Cartridge, Ball, and Disc

A faucet that drips from the spout after you shut it off has a dirty or worn part inside. Kohler sorts spout drips in two: one that lasts a minute or two comes from debris in the aerator, the screen at the tip of the spout, and one that goes on all day means the valve or cartridge under the handle has worn out. Moen says a spout leak is usually the cartridge, and the EPA's WaterSense program says old and worn washers and gaskets frequently cause faucet leaks.

For weak flow, see low water pressure; for a slow sink, slow or clogged drain; for a toilet that refills by itself, toilet keeps running; for a bang when the faucet shuts off, banging pipes.

Identify Your Faucet Type

The City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, says the first step in fixing a leaky faucet is identifying its type:

• Two-handle compression (stem) faucet. Always two handles, Rio Rancho says. Turning one on raises a stem that lifts a rubber washer off the seat, and as you shut it off you can sometimes feel the washer squeeze against the seat. Both wear.
• Cartridge faucet. A narrow plastic or metal cartridge sits inside the body (Rio Rancho). Moen's cartridges control the flow, one per handle.
• Ball faucet. One handle over a dome-shaped cap. Rio Rancho says small springs hold rubber seats against the ball; Delta's repair steps for its single-handle kitchen faucets replace those seats and springs.
• Ceramic disc faucet. Rio Rancho describes one handle over a wide cylinder with ceramic disks inside. Two-handle faucets use ceramic disc cartridges too: American Standard sells one for many of its two-handle faucets, and Kohler's service kits replace a ceramic valve.

Most Likely Causes

1. Debris or mineral buildup in the aerator, when the drip stops within a minute or two (Kohler). Moen says aerators collect debris and mineral deposits over time.
2. A worn washer or seat in a compression faucet, when the drip never stops.
3. A worn cartridge. Moen says it's usually behind both spout and handle leaks.
4. Worn seats and springs in a ball faucet. Delta says they wear with normal use, depending on your water conditions, and that sediment or debris can cause a drip too.
5. Worn seals or a worn valve in a ceramic disc faucet.
6. Worn O-rings or packing, or a loose nut, when water appears around the handle or base.
7. A loose or worn supply line, or a failing stop valve, when water shows up under the sink.

Check the Warranty Before You Buy a Part

Many makers replace a failed part free under warranty. Their terms:

• Moen: its Lifetime Limited Warranty, on many of its faucets, covers leaks, drips, and finish defects for as long as the original purchaser owns the home where it's installed, and isn't transferable. Moen says it may send parts free; claims need proof of purchase.
• Delta: parts (other than electronics and batteries) and finishes are warranted against defects in material and workmanship to the original consumer purchaser for as long as they own the home where the faucet was first installed. It excludes labor and reasonable wear and tear, and applies to faucets made after January 1, 2019.
• Kohler: faucets made after January 1, 1997, are warranted leak and drip free in normal residential use while the original consumer purchaser owns their home, and Kohler mails the needed cartridge free. Original receipt required; labor excluded.
• American Standard: limited lifetime, from the date of purchase, for non-commercial faucets bought after July 1, 2020, covering only the original purchaser (or the first property owner when a plumber or contractor bought it). Normal wear and tear and labor are excluded.
• Pfister: a Limited Lifetime Warranty covering finish and function for as long as you own your home. Its full terms aren't transferable, need dated proof of purchase, ask you to contact Pfister within 30 days of finding a defect, and exclude labor.
• Glacier Bay (The Home Depot): bath, tub, and shower faucets and faucet repair parts carry its limited lifetime warranty for the original consumer purchaser. Return the defective part to any Home Depot store with the original receipt; normal wear and tear is excluded.

All six tie coverage to the original purchaser, so if the faucet came with the house, ask the brand whether you qualify. Either way, buy the maker's part: Moen says its cartridges are not interchangeable, Delta recommends genuine Delta parts, and Pfister's terms exclude faucets fitted with cartridges or components it didn't make.

What You Can Fix Yourself

Before You Start

1. Find the model number and the exact part. Moen and Kohler look up parts by model number; Pfister posts a Maintenance Guide with parts links for each faucet. No model number? Use Moen's or Kohler's product finder, or take the old part to the store, as Rio Rancho suggests.
2. Shut off both stop valves (Moen). If you can't find them or they won't close, Portland Water Bureau says to shut off the main.
3. Open the faucet to relieve pressure and confirm the water is off, per Moen's instructions.
4. Plug the drain. Delta says to cover it so parts can't fall in; Portland uses a towel.
5. Tape the finish where a wrench will touch (Portland).
6. Keep parts in order. Rio Rancho says to line them up in the order and orientation you removed them; a phone photo at each step helps too.

Clear the Aerator First

Kohler says to unscrew the aerator, soak it in a 50/50 mix of warm water and white vinegar to break down hard-water buildup, and rinse it. Before buying parts, Delta suggests flushing out debris: remove the aerator, shut off the supplies, turn the handle on, then reopen the supplies and flush the faucet and lines for one minute.

Compression Faucet: Washer, O-Ring, Seat

Work on the dripping side (see the FAQ), following Portland's steps. Pry off the decorative button, remove the screw, and pull the handle off gently, never banging it. Loosen the six-sided packing nut with a wrench (it may turn either way) and lift out the stem. A screw at its bottom holds the rubber washer; replace the washer with one the same size. For a leak at the stem, replace its O-ring with an exact match coated in a little petroleum jelly.

Rio Rancho says to run a finger around the seat, the metal ring the washer presses on; if it's pitted, replace it using a seat wrench. If the stem itself is worn, BrassCraft says to tighten a new one by hand plus a quarter turn with a wrench, and not to overtighten.

Cartridge Faucet: Replace the Cartridge

For the Moen 1225 cartridge in pre-2009 single-handle bathroom faucets, take off the handle, slide out the retainer clip with a flat screwdriver, loosen the cartridge a quarter turn with the kit's plastic tool, and pull it out by the stem with pliers. Moen recommends flushing the valve body, then seating the new cartridge with its tabs flush and centered. Don't force the clip back in. If it won't go or looks damaged, Moen says the water cannot be turned back on until it's replaced.

On its two-handle widespread faucets, Pfister warns that hot and cold cartridges are sometimes different parts, with cold on the right, and to stop at a half to full turn past hand tight: over-tightening can crack the cartridge.

Ball Faucet: Seats and Springs

Delta's steps: pry off the hot/cold button, loosen the set screw with an Allen wrench, and lift off the handle. Unscrew the cap; if the cam turns with it, Delta says to stop immediately and call a plumber. Lift out the cam, packing, and ball, then the seats and springs, and wipe the sockets. Put new seats over new springs, small end into the seat. Soak a ball with mineral deposits in vinegar and wipe it with a rough towel; replace it if it's scratched. Reassemble, tightening the adjusting ring just until the stem stops leaking; Delta warns overtightening wears the seals early. Rio Rancho also replaces the two O-rings under the spout, lightly greased.

Ceramic Disc Faucet: Seals or Cartridge

Rio Rancho's steps: remove the handle and cap, unscrew the disc assembly, clean dirt from between the disks, and replace the rubber seals; if it still leaks, replace the assembly. Kohler's fix for a constant drip is a new valve or cartridge for your model. Its kit says to thread the valve in until its shoulder meets the body, and warns that overtightening can cause internal leakage. American Standard's two-handle cartridge is reversible for either side.

Leaks at the Handle, the Base, or Under the Sink

Which is it? Moen notes that a handle leak can puddle on the base plate. To check, wrap a paper towel around the handle and turn the faucet on.

At the handle. On a compression faucet, Portland wraps the threads under the packing nut with Teflon tape and tightens it gently, then replaces the nylon washer if needed. Moen and Kohler point to the cartridge. On its kitchen faucets, Pfister has you tighten the retainer ring first.

At the base. Kohler says a leak while the water runs means the seals or O-rings, and one that continues after shutoff means the cartridge, or on some models the check valve. Moen's fix on its two-handle widespread bathroom faucets and on kitchen faucets without a pull-out or pull-down wand is new O-rings; on its single-handle and two-handle centerset bathroom faucets, clean the aerator, then replace the cartridge.

Under the sink. Pfister says to snug the supply-line nut, then replace the supply line if it still leaks, matching the old one at the store. Moen adds failed seals on the shutoff valves, which leak around their handles; replacing those valves is a plumber's job.

When to Call a Pro

Call a licensed plumber for:

• A stop valve that sticks, won't close fully, or leaks. Close the main and have it replaced.
• A ball faucet cam that turns with the cap, per Delta.
• A Moen retainer clip that won't go back in.
• A cartridge that breaks, leaving its shell in the faucet; Moen's removal takes a tap wrench and a hardwood dowel.
• A faucet that still leaks after new parts. Rio Rancho says to call a plumber, and Delta says to replace the faucet if its stainless steel liners are missing, damaged, or raised.
• A shower valve that drips when it's off. The EPA points those to an experienced handyperson or licensed plumber.

Delta's warranty goes further and recommends a professional plumber for all faucet installation and repair.

Prevent It

• Clean aerators when flow weakens or a drip lingers.
• Don't overtighten nuts, rings, or valves when you reassemble.
• Look under sinks. The EPA suggests checking faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for water on the outside of the pipe; a leak sensor catches what you miss.
• Test each stop valve gently, as our emergency shutoffs guide shows.
• Keep the receipt and register new faucets. Moen, Kohler, Pfister, and Glacier Bay ask for proof of purchase; Delta waives it for registered faucets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much water does a dripping faucet waste?

EPA WaterSense: "A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That's the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers!" It adds that the average household's leaks can account for more than 9,300 gallons wasted every year.

How do I tell whether the hot or cold side is dripping?

Portland suggests feeling the drip's temperature. Or close one stop valve at a time, as Rio Rancho and Pfister do; when the drip stops, the side you just closed is leaking.

Why does my faucet still drip after a new cartridge?

Check the install: Moen's cartridge tabs must sit flush and centered, Pfister's hot and cold cartridges can differ, and Kohler warns an overtightened ceramic valve can leak internally.

Is a dripping faucet covered by warranty?

It can be, if you bought it. Moen and Kohler cover leaks and drips for the original purchaser; Delta, American Standard, and Glacier Bay exclude normal or reasonable wear and tear.

The Bottom Line

Clean the aerator first. Still dripping? Identify the type, find the model, and check the warranty. Shut both stops, open the faucet, plug the drain, and replace the worn washer and seat, cartridge, seats and springs, or disc seals without overtightening. A stuck or leaking stop valve, a broken cartridge, or a faucet that keeps leaking goes to a licensed plumber.

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