Fix leaking faucet in 3 steps
- This Old House and Family Handyman both say most faucet leaks can be fixed by shutting off water, opening the handle, and replacing worn seals. - Their beginner guides estimate the repair takes 20 to 60 minutes, uses basic hand tools, and often costs less than $20 in parts. - A faucet dripping once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year, adding urgency to simple DIY repairs. (epa.gov)
A leaking faucet is usually a worn part problem, not a full-plumbing emergency: shut off the water, open the handle, and replace the failed seal or cartridge. (thisoldhouse.com) (familyhandyman.com) This Old House says the first move is closing the hot- and cold-water shutoff valves under the sink before removing the handle and top cap. (thisoldhouse.com) Family Handyman says most single-lever kitchen faucets fall into three repairable types — rotary ball, cartridge, and ceramic disc — and the hardest part is often matching replacement parts. (familyhandyman.com) For cartridge faucets, the usual fix is simple: pull the cartridge, note its orientation, and replace bad seats, springs, O-rings, or the cartridge itself. (familyhandyman.com) For ball-style faucets, Richard Trethewey of This Old House shows a similar repair: remove the handle, lift out the ball, then swap in new rubber seats and springs. (thisoldhouse.com 1) (thisoldhouse.com 2) The tool list is short in both guides: Allen wrench, screwdriver, pliers, and sometimes the spanner wrench that came with the faucet. (familyhandyman.com) (thisoldhouse.com) The price is short too. Family Handyman puts many faucet fixes at less than $20, while This Old House estimates one kitchen-faucet repair at $4 to $8. (familyhandyman.com) (thisoldhouse.com) The time commitment is measured in minutes, not weekends: This Old House estimates 20 to 30 minutes, and Family Handyman says many jobs take an hour or less. (thisoldhouse.com) (familyhandyman.com) The reason to fix a drip fast is not cosmetic. The Environmental Protection Agency says household leaks waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water a year nationwide. (epa.gov) The same Environmental Protection Agency campaign says a faucet dripping once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water in a year. (epa.gov) That makes the three-step version of the job pretty clear for beginners: stop the water, get to the valve parts, and replace the worn piece that is letting the drip through. (thisoldhouse.com) (familyhandyman.com)
