Banish costly drips and dribbles in a few simple steps with our faucet repair guide.
A bathroom faucet leaking isn’t just annoying; it’s a waste of water, too!
Turn the faucet on until the water stops running.
To remove the handle, you’ll probably need to unscrew a setscrew using a hex wrench orsmall screwdriver.
Lift off the handle and remove the dome housing.
The O rings can be pried out of the cylinder using your fingers.
Remove Rubber Seals
On some models, removing the bottom plate reveals the rubber seals.
Remove them with a small screwdriver, taking care not to nick the plastic housing.
If the cylinder is cracked or scored, replace it.
Otherwise, buy a kit with rubber seals and O rings.
Rub a little silicone grease on the rubber parts.
Finding the Right Parts
A single-handle disk faucet has ceramic or plastic disks encased in a cylinder.
The upper disk rotates when you turn the handle.
Water flows when the inlets of the upper and lower disks line up.
If the bathroom sink is leaking below, the problem may be a leaky stop valve or supply tube.
If the leak is at the point where the supply tube enters the faucet, try tightening the nut.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, replace the supply tube.
You may spend more time finding the correct parts than working on the bathroom faucet leaking.
To prevent multiple shopping trips, remove the worn partsperhaps even the whole faucetand take them to the store.
The faucets in the store are the most common types.
Chances are good that yours will look and work much like one of them.
A helpful and competent salesperson can save you time.
Some home centers have knowledgeable employees.
The staff at a local hardware store may have more expertise.
Otherwise, dismantle the faucet to find out its jot down.
In some cases, only inexpensive O rings and washers are needed.
Other times, a main parta cartridge, stem, or ball, for instanceneeds to be replaced.
Should You Fix or Replace the Faucet?
Depending on the punch in and age of the faucet, replacing it may take less time.
