The Complete Guide to Fixing a Leaky Kitchen Faucet

Is there a permanent puddle of water at the base of your kitchen faucet? A leaking faucet can waste a huge amount of water if it isn’t dealt with.

On average, one leaky faucet in your home dripping 10 times a minute wastes about 3 liters of water per day. If it is allowed to keep dripping for a year, you are looking at about 347 gallons of water down the drain ⁽¹⁾.

In this article, you can follow our simple step-by-step guide on how to fix a leaky kitchen faucet. We will tell you how to detect a leak, the different types of kitchen faucets, and how you can fix them.

How to Detect a Leak in a Kitchen Faucet

There are two main places where water can leak from a kitchen faucet:

1. Leaking From the Spout

This is the most obvious type of leak and should be easy to spot. You might notice a small drip from the faucet spout shortly after you turn the water off. Perhaps you find you need to turn the handle further to tighten it or move it to a specific position to prevent water from escaping.

Leaking from the spout tends to start slowly with an occasional drip and worsens over time. If you suspect you have a leaky faucet in its early stages, there are some easy ways to check.

You can dry the sink after use and place a paper towel beneath the spout. Alternatively, place a cup or another container directly under the spout. Leave it for a few hours, then check for moisture on the towel or water in the container.

2. The Base of the Faucet

This type of leak is less obvious. Water is unavoidably splashed around the base of the faucet when water is running, and it often pools on the sink deck.

To test for a leak in this area, dry the base of the faucet and the surrounding area. These leaks occur when water is flowing, so turn the faucet on and watch for water seeping from the bottom.

If there is leaking from the handle or leaking at the base, the issue is slightly more complicated to deal with, but you should be able to fix it without too much effort.

Different Types of Kitchen Faucets

Kitchen faucets are available in many different styles, both externally and internally. There are four main categories of kitchen faucets.

The compression faucet is easily spotted as it has separate handles for hot and cold water. The other three types (ball, cartridge, and ceramic disk faucets) all look similar externally, with a single handle, but their inner parts are different.

• Compression faucet: This has two handles, one for hot water and one for cold. The water usually comes from a central spout.
• Ball faucet: This faucet has a ball joint inside that controls water flow.
• Cartridge faucet: This faucet has a single cartridge under the handle.
• Ceramic disk faucet: A cartridge is under the handle, which has a ceramic disk.

What Causes a Faucet to Leak?

There are several reasons why you might have a leaky faucet. Four of the most common ones are:

O-Ring Issues

This issue is most commonly found in a cartridge faucet. A faucet handle is held in place by a stem screw, which has a small disc attached called an o-ring. This helps seal the faucet but frequent use can wear it down or loosen it. This then causes a leak near the handle.

Corrosion in the Valve Seat

Compression faucets have a valve seat that connects the spout to the water mechanism. Sediment and mineral deposits can cause this to corrode, causing a leak from the spout area.

Washer Wear

Every time you use your faucet, the internal washers are pressed against the valve seat. This causes friction, and the rubber will eventually wear down and lose its effectiveness. The result is a dripping tap as the water finds its way past the seal.

This is another common issue in compression faucets.

Incorrect Installation

When your faucet is installed, all seals and washers should be correctly placed. If they aren’t positioned correctly, water might be able to leak out of the faucet.

How to Fix a Leaky Kitchen Faucet

The valves to turn off the water to your faucets are usually located under the sink, on the pipes that connect to the faucet.

We recommend plugging the sink so you don’t drop any screws down the drain while you perform the necessary maintenance. Also prepare a clear area to place the parts in, ideally a container. You don’t want to misplace them.

Before reassembling your faucet after a repair, be sure to clean any build-up or debris inside. You can do this using white vinegar and a cloth. Failing to clean the faucet could make your maintenance far less effective.

Now we will take a step-by-step look at how to fix the different types of kitchen faucet.

Compression Faucet

What You Need

• Flathead screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver
• Wrench

Step 1: Remove the Protective Cap Covering the Screw

There are usually plastic caps that indicate the handle controls hot or cold. These might be red or blue or have the letters “H” or “C” on them. You can pop the cap off with a flathead screwdriver.

Step 2: Lift off the Handle

Once the plastic cap has been removed, you should see a screw underneath. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw and then remove the handle.

Step 3: Unscrew the Nut

You should now see a nut at the base of the main stem the handle sits over. Use your wrench to loosen and remove this nut.

Step 4: Remove the Stem

Lift out the main stem of the faucet to reveal the seat washer and o-ring.

If you’re unsure which is which, the seat washer will be thicker than the o-ring and is held in place with a brass screw.

Step 5: Check for Wear and Damage

Examine the seat washer and o-ring for wear or damage.

If your faucet is dripping, it’s usually the o-ring at fault. If it leaks from the handle, the seat washer is to blame.

Step 6: Replace the Washer or O-ring

Visit your local hardware store and get a replacement washer or o-ring.

It’s a good idea to take the old ones with you to ensure you buy appropriate replacements.

Step 7: Reassemble your faucet

Put your faucet back together by reversing steps 1 to 4.

Use a small amount of plumber’s grease to lubricate the washer or o-ring.

Turn your water supply back on and test your handiwork. Any minor leaks should now be fixed.

Pro Tips

• Check for a loose nut: Sometimes a leak might be caused by a loose nut under the handle. Before turning off the water, remove the faucet handle as described in steps 1 and 2, then tighten the nut. If this stops the leak, you can simply reassemble the handle and enjoy a drip-free faucet.
• Plumber’s putty: If your stem assembly doesn’t have a washer, use a plumber’s putty to create a seal at the base of the stem.

Ball Faucet

What You Need

• The correct ball replacement kit for your brand of faucet. This kit should contain the parts and tools you need.
• Flathead screwdriver
• Wrench
• Needle-nosed pliers
• Pencil

Step 1: Remove the Protective Cap Covering the Screw

At the center front of the handle, you should see a protective plastic cap. It might be colored half red and half blue, or display the company logo. Prise it out gently using the flathead screwdriver.

Step 2: Lift Off the Handle

Use the Allen key supplied in your kitchen faucet repair kit to remove the screw that holds the handle. Once the screw is removed, remove the handle.

Step 3: Remove the Collar and Cap

Beneath the handle, you should see a cap and collar holding the ball assembly in place.

Use a wrench to loosen the cap and collar and remove them.

Step 4: Lift out the Cam

Using the tool supplied in your kit, remove the plastic cam. This looks like a round disc with a D shape in the middle.

There will be indents that the special tool fits into to make removal easier.

Step 5: Take out the Ball Assembly

Once the cam has been removed, the ball assembly can be easily lifted out.

Step 6: Remove the Seals and Springs

Beneath the ball assembly and each spring, you will see two o-rings. Use your needle pliers to lift them from the faucet.

Step 7: Renew the Seals and Springs

Take the new seals and springs from your kit and place them into the faucet.

You might find it easier to place them over the end of a pencil or flathead screwdriver to fit them.

Step 8: Replace the Ball Assembly and Cam

Replace the ball assembly and cam with the new parts, making sure they are correctly aligned.

Step 9: Reassemble the Faucet

Reverse steps 1 to 3 to reassemble your faucet. Turn the water supply back on to test your repair.

Cartridge Faucet

What You Need

• Allen key
• Wrench
• Needle-nose pliers
• Phillips screwdriver
• Small flathead screwdriver

Step 1: Remove the Protective Cap Covering the Screw

Pop out the cap covering the screw that holds the handle in place.

Step 2: Detach the Handle

The screw holding the handle in place can be removed with an Allen key or a Phillips screwdriver, depending on the screw.

Remove the handle by tilting it away.

Step 3: Remove the Retaining Nut

Once the handle has been removed, a retaining nut should be exposed.

On some faucet models, you might need to remove a decorative collar, a plastic ring, and a stem washer to expose the retaining nut. Use your wrench or pliers to loosen the retaining nut and remove it by hand.

Step 4: Take Out the Retaining Clip

You will see a u-shaped clip that holds the cartridge in place.

Take this out by using a flathead screwdriver to loosen it or a pair of needle-nosed pliers.

Step 5: Pull out the Cartridge

Use pliers to pull the cartridge straight up by the stem.

This could require some force if mineral deposits have sealed it in place. You can try twisting it back and forth to free it.

Step 6: Replace the Cartridge

Take the old cartridge to your local hardware store and buy an appropriate replacement cartridge.

Secure it in the faucet by pushing it down and make sure it is correctly aligned.

Step 7: Reassemble the Faucet

Reverse steps 1 to 4 to put your faucet back together.

Ceramic Disk Cartridge

What You Need

• Small Allen wrench.
• Adjustable wrench.

Step 1: Remove the Protective Cap Covering the Screw

Pop out the cap covering the screw that holds the handle in place. This could be on the front or rear of the faucet.

Step 2: Lift off the Handle

Remove the screw holding the handle in place. Use either an Allen key or a Phillips screwdriver, depending on the screw. Lift the handle away from the faucet.

Step 3: Detach the Decorative Cover

Once the tap is removed, there will be a decorative cover or escutcheon. This might lift away easily or it may need to be unscrewed. Either method can be done by hand.

Step 4: Unscrew the Retaining Nut

At the top of the cartridge, there will be a retaining nut.

Use a wrench to loosen and remove it.

Step 5: Take out the Ceramic Disk Cartridge

The internal cartridge can now be lifted out of the faucet.

Step 6: Clean or Replace the Cartridge

Examine the removed cartridge for damage to the o-rings in the base.

If the rings are broken or worn, replace the whole cartridge and make sure it’s properly sealed. If they aren’t damaged, clean the cartridge by soaking it in white vinegar to remove any mineral deposits, and then put it back.

Step 7: Reassemble the Faucet

Put the faucet back together by reversing steps 1 to 5.

Leaking at the Base of the Spout

What You Need

• Wrench
• Cloth
• Small flathead screwdriver
• Plumber’s grease

Step 1: Remove the Spout

Cover the base of your spout with a cloth, then use a wrench to loosen the retaining cover on the bottom.

Twist the spout back and forth to release it.

Step 2: Check the O-Rings

Once the spout is removed, you will see one to four rubber o-rings at the base.

Use a flathead screwdriver to remove them and inspect them for damage. Replace them if necessary.

Step 3: Reassemble the Spout

Put the spout back together and check for any leaks.

Extending the Life of Your Kitchen Faucet

Time will eventually take its toll on a kitchen faucet, and your faucet might be beyond repair.

If not, there are a few things you can do to help prolong the life of your faucet:

1. Treat your faucet with care: Be gentle when turning your water on and off. Using unnecessary force could damage internal parts and speed up the process of wear and tear.
2. Look for pressure drops: Sometimes, dirt and metal can get into water lines, especially in a new build property. These can damage the washers of your faucet. If you notice any drop in your faucet’s flow rate, take it apart and flush it out.
3. Check the aerator: Many faucets have a small screen at the end of the tap called an aerator. This easily unscrews so you can check it for mineral build-up, and clean it with white vinegar if necessary.

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