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Remove the faucet handle.
Remove the retainer nut to access the cartridge.
Remove and, if needed, replace the cartridge with an exact replacement.
Below the cartridge are two O-rings that seal the water from entering the faucet when it isn't supposed to (dripping).
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Dripping faucets can be nerve-wracking—and costly. Lucky for you there's a special meeting of the Fix-It Club being called on faucets right now.
A faucet is a plumbing fixture for drawing water from a pipe. Household faucets use simple valves that control the flow of water. There are several types of valves; compression (sometimes called stem-and-seat), disk, ball, and cartridge are the most common. Outdoor faucets typically are compression or a long-stem compression design called a freezeless sillcock. Faucets also use different configurations of levers and handles to open and close the valves. That's why they look different.
Faucets are fed from below by hot- and cold-water supply lines. Shutoff valves in the lines can be turned off while you're working on a faucet.
To repair a faucet, you first need to know what kind of valve is inside. Start by identifying the brand and, if possible, the model. You can then take this information (or the removed faucet) to a plumbing supply store or home center for repair parts or kits. If you've kept the owner's manual for the faucet from the last time it was replaced, you'll have brand, model, and even parts information you need.
To service a compression faucet:
- Turn off the water supply and open the faucet handle to relieve water pressure.
- Carefully pry off the trim cap with a small screwdriver or putty knife.
- Remove the locknut with an adjustable wrench, then lift the spindle out of the faucet.
- As needed, remove and replace the O-ring. Before reinstalling, coat the stem lightly with plumber's grease.
- As needed, remove the retaining screw and pry out the washer. Install an exact-replacement washer and tighten it.
- As needed, inspect the seat and replace if damaged.
- Install the valve and tighten, then reinstall the handle and test.
To service a cartridge faucet:
- Turn off the water supply and open the faucet handle to relieve water pressure.
- Remove the handle (often held on by a hex screw) and any trim.
- Unscrew the retainer nut by hand or with adjustable pliers and lift it off the faucet.
- Remove the retainer clip, if any, that holds the cartridge in the faucet body.
- Remove the cartridge stem and lift it out of the faucet body.
- If the cartridge is worn or damaged, replace it. If the O-rings are damaged, replace the rings only.
- Reassemble and test the faucet.
To replace a faucet:
- Turn off the water supply and open the faucet handle to relieve water pressure.
- Carefully loosen the coupling nuts at the shutoff valves and at the base of the faucet.
- Carefully remove the supply tubes.
- Remove the locknuts that hold the faucet to the sink and lift the faucet out.
- Clean the area where the old faucet sat.
- As needed, install the new spray hose and supply tubes, if any, through their holes in the sink.
- Set the rubber gasket that came with the faucet on the sink where it will be mounted. If no gasket is supplied, apply plumber's putty.
- Set the faucet into position and center it.
- From under the sink, attach the faucet locknuts to hold it to the sink.
- Reinstall the supply lines, then turn them on and test the faucet. Turn it on carefully because the line and faucet have air in them.
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