Identify the faucet before you buy parts.
Faucets look alike from the outside, but the parts inside differ. A compression faucet has separate hot and cold handles that you turn several times. A cartridge faucet has one handle or two that move smoothly. A ball faucet has a rounded cap under a single handle, and a ceramic disc faucet has a short cartridge that turns a quarter or half turn.
Take a photo of the faucet and the cap under the handle, and keep the old part when you shop. The wrong cartridge is the mistake we hear about most often. According to the City of Garfield's 2018 water quality report, hardness is above the recommended range, so a worn cartridge is often a scaled cartridge.
Faucet types and how they leak.
If the faucet is old and the finish is worn, a new faucet may be a better value than hunting for parts. A plumber can price both options side by side.
| Faucet type. | How it usually leaks. | Typical fix. |
|---|---|---|
| Compression (two handles, many turns). | Steady drip from the spout. | New washer and a cleaned or replaced seat. |
| Cartridge (smooth, single or double handle). | Drip from the spout or water at the base. | Replace the cartridge and its O-rings. |
| Ball (rounded cap, single handle). | Water at the base and a drip from the spout. | Replace seals, springs and the cam. |
| Ceramic disc (short cylinder, quarter turn). | Slow drip or water at the handle. | Clean the disc ports or replace the cartridge. |
Repair a leaking faucet, step by step.
Close the shutoffs.
Turn the two valves under the sink clockwise until they stop. Open the faucet to release pressure and confirm the water is off.
Protect the sink.
Plug the drain so no small part falls in, and lay a towel in the basin. Take a photo before you take things apart.
Remove the handle.
Pry off the cap, remove the screw and lift the handle away. Loosen the retaining nut or clip under it.
Pull the washer or cartridge.
Lift out the stem or cartridge and look at the washer, seat and O-rings. Cracked rubber, pitting or white crust show the cause.
Replace and reassemble.
Fit the matching part, apply a thin film of plumber's grease to rubber seals and reassemble in reverse. Open the shutoffs slowly and check for drips.
If the handle or cartridge will not come out after a gentle effort, stop. Forcing it can damage the faucet body.
Cartridge or washer: how to decide.
A washer is a simple rubber disc, so it is quick and cheap to replace. But a washer that keeps wearing out may point to a rough or pitted seat, and a new washer on a damaged seat will drip again. A cartridge is a sealed unit, so replace the whole thing when it fails.
If you have changed the part once and the drip returned within weeks, the seat or the faucet body is the real problem. At that point a plumber can check whether repair is worth it. Our faucet repair page explains what that visit includes.
Faucet dripping all night?
A steady drip wastes water and can stain the sink. Call and describe the faucet, and we will tell you what to expect.
Scale, aerators and low flow.
Mineral buildup does more than leave white crust. It can scratch rubber seals, clog the aerator at the tip and make a handle stiff. Unscrew the aerator and soak it in white vinegar for an hour, then rinse and scrub gently with a toothbrush.
Scale also hides inside cartridges. When you replace one, rinse the cavity of the faucet body and wipe the seat clean. A little cleaning now keeps the new part sealing properly. If the crust is thick on the faucet body itself, that is a sign the whole faucet is aging and may need replacing soon.
Garfield's hard water and your sink faucet.
The City of Garfield's 2018 water quality report marks hardness as above the recommended range and says hardness scales pipes. Faucets are small, so scale shows up there first as crusty spouts, stiff handles and slow aerators. Test your tap by watching the stream for spitting or weak flow, and clean the aerator every few months.
If you have a faucet that keeps coming back for repairs, tell the plumber how often it happens. That history helps decide between another repair and a replacement faucet.
When to stop and call a plumber.
- Water leaks from under the sink at the supply lines or the drain. That is a different repair from a dripping spout.
- The shutoff valves will not close or leak when you turn them. Forcing them can break them.
- The faucet body is corroded, cracked or loose on the sink or counter.
- A pull-down hose or sprayer leaks at the fitting or the weight. Parts differ by brand and need matching.
- You see water damage on the cabinet floor. A garbage disposal or drain connection may also be involved, so ask us about garbage disposal service when you call.
Who fixes it and what shapes the price.
Price depends on the faucet type, how easy the parts are to find, the condition of the shutoffs and whether the sink or counter is hard to reach. Ask for a written price before work starts, and expect a plumber to explain whether repair or replacement makes more sense. We serve Wallington and Elmwood Park the same way.
Questions homeowners ask us.
A worn washer or seat in a compression faucet, or a worn cartridge or disc in a single-handle faucet, is the usual cause. Scale can also stop the seal from closing fully.
A faucet with separate hot and cold handles that turn many times is usually a compression type with washers. A smooth, short-travel handle points to a cartridge or a ceramic disc.
Sometimes a loose retaining nut is the cause, so a gentle tightening can help. Do not overtighten, since that damages the cartridge and the seals.
White vinegar works well on aerators and chrome parts. Do not use it on natural stone counters, and skip it on finishes the maker warns about. Rinse everything well afterward.
The city's water quality report marks hardness above the recommended range, and scale can wear seals and clog small parts. Cleaning the aerator and checking cartridges now and then can extend a faucet's life.
Replace it when the body is corroded, the finish is flaking or repairs keep failing. A new faucet also makes sense if parts for the old model are hard to find.