A dripping faucet wastes water and money — and it's usually a worn washer, O-ring, or cartridge you can replace yourself. Here's how to fix a leaky faucet by type, step by step.
A dripping faucet is more than annoying — a steady drip can waste gallons of water a day and slowly raise your bill. It's also one of the most satisfying DIY plumbing fixes, because the cause is almost always a small, cheap worn part: a washer, an O-ring, or a cartridge. With basic tools and the right replacement part, most homeowners can stop a leak in about 30 minutes.
The key is knowing which type of faucet you have, because each one comes apart a little differently. Here's how to identify yours and fix the leak.
The Four Faucet Types
- Compression: older two-handle faucets you screw down to stop the water. They leak when the rubber washer wears out — the cheapest, easiest fix.
- Cartridge: single or double handle with a smooth motion; fixed by replacing the cartridge.
- Ball: single-handle (common on older kitchen faucets) with a ball mechanism; fixed with a ball-faucet repair kit.
- Ceramic disc: modern single-handle faucets with a sealed disc cartridge; very durable, but the seals or disc can be replaced.
If you're not sure which you have, take the handle off and snap a photo to match parts at the hardware store — or bring the old part in.
Before You Start
- Shut off the water at the supply valves under the sink (turn clockwise). If there are none, shut off the main.
- Plug the drain with a rag or stopper so small parts can't fall in.
- Lay the parts out in order as you remove them, so reassembly is easy.
- Have plumber's grease and replacement washers/O-rings/cartridge on hand before you start.
Fixing a Drip From the Spout
A drip from the spout itself means the part that shuts off the water has worn. On a compression faucet, replace the rubber washer (and the seat if it's pitted). On a cartridge, ball, or ceramic-disc faucet, replace the cartridge or the seals/springs in the repair kit. Take the handle and trim off, pull the old cartridge or stem, drop in the matching new part, and reassemble. Turn the water back on slowly and check.
Fixing a Leak Around the Base or Handle
If water seeps from around the base of the spout or the handle rather than dripping from the spout, the culprit is usually a worn O-ring. Remove the spout or handle, slide off the old O-rings, coat new ones in plumber's grease, and reinstall. This is an even simpler fix than a spout drip.
A Tampa Note: Hard Water
Tampa's hard water leaves mineral scale that wears washers and cartridges faster and can crust up the aerator (the screen at the tip of the spout). If your faucet is also spitting or low-flow, unscrew the aerator and soak it in vinegar — that alone fixes a lot of 'faucet problems' here. Expect to replace washers and cartridges a bit more often in hard-water areas.
When to Call a Pro
Most faucet leaks are a confident DIY job. Call a pro if: the leak continues after replacing the washer or cartridge, the shutoff valves are corroded or won't turn, the faucet body itself is cracked or corroded (time for a new faucet), or you'd rather just have it swapped. Faucet repair and replacement is a quick handyman job and an easy one to bundle.
Faucet beyond repair or you want an upgrade? See our service: Faucet Replacement in Tampa
For other fixture plumbing — toilets, valves, and more in Tampa: Plumbing Fixture Services in Tampa
Frequently asked questions
- Why is my faucet dripping?
- A drip from the spout means the part that shuts off the water has worn out — a rubber washer on older compression faucets, or the cartridge/seals on modern faucets. A leak around the base or handle is usually a worn O-ring. Both are inexpensive parts you can replace yourself.
- How do I know what kind of faucet I have?
- Compression faucets have two handles you screw down tight to stop the water. Cartridge, ball, and ceramic-disc faucets have a smoother motion. If you're unsure, remove the handle and take the inner part to the hardware store to match it — or photograph the brand and model.
- How much does it cost to fix a leaky faucet?
- DIY, usually $5–$25 in parts (a washer or O-ring is a few dollars; a cartridge $10–$25). If you hire a handyman, faucet repair is a quick, low-cost visit — and replacing the whole faucet is also an easy job if it's old or corroded.
- Why do my faucets wear out fast in Tampa?
- Hard water. Tampa's mineral-heavy water leaves scale that wears washers and cartridges faster and clogs the aerator at the tip of the spout. Soaking the aerator in vinegar fixes a lot of low-flow and spitting issues, and you may replace internal parts a bit more often here.
- Should I repair or replace a leaky faucet?
- Repair it if the faucet body is sound and just needs a washer, O-ring, or cartridge. Replace it if the body is cracked or corroded, the finish is failing, or you want an upgrade — a new faucet install is a quick job and often worth it on an old fixture.
Drip won't quit, or the shutoff valves are stuck? Get the faucet fixed or replaced in Tampa — call or text (786) 509-5555. Get a faucet repair quote.
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