How To Stop Bathroom Faucet Drip

How to Stop a Bathroom Faucet Drip

A dripping faucet is not only annoying, but it can also waste a lot of water. Depending on the type of faucet and the severity of the leak, you could be losing hundreds of gallons of water per year. Fortunately, most faucet drips are easy to fix with a few simple tools and a little bit of time.

Here are a few of the most common causes of faucet drips:

Worn out washer: The washer is a rubber seal that creates a watertight seal between the faucet handle and the body of the faucet. Over time, the washer can become worn or damaged, which can cause the faucet to drip.

Damaged O-ring: The O-ring is a rubber seal that creates a watertight seal between the faucet stem and the body of the faucet. Like the washer, the O-ring can become worn or damaged over time, which can cause the faucet to drip.

Loose packing nut: The packing nut is a nut that holds the faucet stem in place. If the packing nut is loose, it can allow water to leak out around the stem. Usually, when tightening the packing nut, it's recommended to replace the packing as well.

Damaged cartridge: The cartridge is a single unit that contains all of the internal parts of the faucet. If the cartridge is damaged, it can cause the faucet to leak. If this is the case, you will need to replace the cartridge.

Tools you will need:

Adjustable wrench

Phillips head screwdriver

Flat head screwdriver

Replacement washer (if needed)

Replacement O-ring (if needed)

Replacement packing nut (if needed)

Replacement cartridge (if needed)

Petroleum jelly

Step-by-step instructions:

Turn off the water supply to the faucet. There should be two shut-off valves under the sink, one for hot water and one for cold water. Turn both valves clockwise to turn off the water.

Open the faucet to release any remaining water in the line.

If the faucet has a single handle, remove the handle by pulling it straight up. If the faucet has two handles, remove the screws that hold the handles in place and then pull the handles off.

Once the handles are removed, you will see the packing nut. Use the adjustable wrench to tighten the packing nut.

If tightening the packing nut does not stop the leak, you may need to replace the washer or O-ring. To replace the washer, use the flat head screwdriver to pry the old washer out of the faucet. Then, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the new washer and insert it into the faucet.

To replace the O-ring, use the Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the faucet stem in place. Then, pull the stem out of the faucet and replace the O-ring.

If the leak is coming from the base of the faucet, you may need to replace the cartridge. To replace the cartridge, use the adjustable wrench to remove the nut that holds the cartridge in place. Then, pull the cartridge out of the faucet and replace it with a new cartridge.

Once you have replaced the washer, O-ring, or cartridge, reassemble the faucet and turn on the water supply. Check for leaks and tighten any loose connections as needed.

If you are not comfortable making these repairs yourself, you can call a plumber to do it for you. However, most faucet drips are easy to fix with a few simple tools and a little bit of time.