A leaky faucet will increase your water bill over time, so you must fix it immediately. You can fix it yourself or have it fixed by professionals, depending on the type of faucet you have. An ordinary washer-type faucet is oftentimes easy to repair, so you can do it yourself.

Determining the Type of Faucet You Have

The first step in fixing your leaky faucet is determining what type of faucet you have. Troubleshooting will depend on how your faucet works. Follow these steps to determine the type of your faucet.

• Turn off the water supply to the faucet. Shutoff valves are often located under the sink. Older houses typically have only one main water shutoff valve for the entire house. It’s usually located where the pipes enter, often facing the street.
• Open the leaky faucet, and let the water in the pipes drain out.
• Make sure that the drain plug is in the sink, or put a towel in the sink bottom. Some faucets have small parts, and you don’t want to lose one down the drain.
• Almost all faucet handles are hidden under a decorative cap. Use a small screwdriver to pry off this cap, then remove the screw that attaches the handle.
• Remove the other attachments of the faucet. The best way to determine the kind of faucet you have is to take it to a plumbing supply or hardware store. You can identify it yourself through these features:

Washer-type: If your faucet has separate handles for hot and cold water, you probably have a washer-type or compression faucet. This type has an internal shutoff valve that has a washer on the end to stop leaks. Some dual handle faucets, though, also have cartridge or disc mechanisms. Washerless type: Single-handle faucets are often washerless. They often have a disc, ball, or cartridge mechanism instead of a washer to control water flow.

Fixing a Washer-type Faucet

You have to determine what exactly causes the leak to fix the faucet. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the washer causes the leak in washer-type faucets. Follow these steps to fix a washer-type faucet:

• If your faucet has decorative parts, pad your pliers with electrical tape or cloth to protect the finish. Special care must also be taken with plastic parts found in many faucets.
• Unscrew the nut beneath the handle to expose the rest of the stem. Next, remove the stem by rotating it in the “on” direction. You may reinstall the handle if it’s difficult to turn the stem.
• Clean chips from the faucet cavity, but don’t use a file or other harsh abrasives.
• Examine the stem. Are the threads worn or badly corroded? If they are, take the stem to your retailer and get a new stem. Clean the stem thoroughly if it’s dirty.
• If there’s nothing wrong with the stem, the washer is probably causing the leak. The washer needs to be replaced if it has a groove worn in it, or if it’s squeezed flat. Take the washer to your dealer and get a new washer that exactly matches the size and style of the old one.
• Washer-type faucets have washer seats located inside the faucet cavity. Reface the seat using a seat-dressing tool. This tool is cheap, and you definitely need to buy one if you have a washer-type faucet. Read the manufacturer’s directions, then place the tool in the faucet along with the packing nut.
• Some washer seats can be replaced. Only seats with hexagonal and square holes are replaceable. Replace the washer seat using a faucet seat wrench, which comes with hexagonal and square heads. Turn the seat counterclockwise to loosen, or clockwise to tighten.
• If your faucet leaks around the stem rather than from the spigot, you probably need to install new packing. Wrap the packing around the stem just beneath the packing nut. Use three full wraps if you have a string-type packing. Some stems have O-rings rather than packing. If your stem is this type, replace the O-ring to stop the leak.
• Put the parts back together, then spread a bit of silicone grease or petroleum jelly on the stem’s threads to lubricate the faucet.

Fixing a Disc-type Washerless Faucet

Leaks in washerless faucets usually indicate that the parts need to be replaced. There are prepackaged repair kits that you can use to repair your washerless faucet. Here is a step-by-step guide to fix a disc-type washerless faucet.

• Examine the discs that control the water flow. If the dics are worn, turn the handles harder to stop the leak.
• If you have a two-handle disc faucet, remove the handle on the leaking side.
• Use padded pliers to pull the disc assembly out of the faucet.
• Beneath the disc is a seal or seat assembly. Replace this O-ring to stop the leak.
• If you have a single-handle disc faucet, remove the handle to expose the disc.
• Beneath the disc are three O-ring seals. Clean the disc assembly and install a new set of seals to stop the leak.
• If step six doesn’t work, replace the entire disc by placing the three O-rings into their recesses. Install the disc, tighten the screws, replace the handle, and you’re done.

Fixing a Ball-type Washerless Faucet

A ball-type washerless faucet may either leak at the handle or spigot. Follow these instructions to stop the leak.

• Handle leak: Tighten the adjusting collar to fix a handle leak. Turn the wrench and collar clockwise until the leak stops when you turn the faucet on and off. If the adjusting ring doesn’t budge when you use the wrench, it’s corroded. Remove the cap to free the ring, then apply penetrating oil to the threads. Remove the adjusting ring, and clean all the parts before putting it back together.

• Spigot leak: Install new rubber seats and springs if your faucet leaks at the spigot. Turn the chrome cap counterclockwise to unscrew it. You may wrap electrical tape around the cap to facilitate easier turning. Pull the ball out by its stem, then locate the two rubber seats and springs inside the cavity. Remove them using your fingers or pliers, then install the new ones.

Fixing a Cartridge-type Washerless Faucet

The only moving part in a washerless cartridge-type faucet is the stem that slides up and down to regulate the water flow. Follow these steps to replace the cartridge and stop the leak.

• Remove the handle to access the cartridge. Cartridge-type faucets have different features, so it may be difficult to figure out how to remove the handle. The best way to do this is to read the manufacturer’s instruction sheet for the faucet if you still have it.
• If you don’t have the instruction sheet, you have to work it out by yourself. Remove these assemblies if you encounter them:
  • A retainer clip at the back of the faucet below the handle
  • A set screw, a snap-in button that controls water temperature, or a handle pin or screw
  • A swing spout
  • Two retainer clips: one by the cartridge, and the other by the handle
• Once the retainer clip and other parts have been removed, simply pull the cartridge out using pliers. Push the new cartridge into place with the flat arrow mark upward. You may apply silicone grease on the cartridge to lubricate the faucet.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you’re not sure about how to fix your faucet. While fixing the faucet by yourself is a good learning experience, hiring professionals will surely save you a lot of time and energy. To avoid leaks, always purchase high-quality parts that last a long time.