Lots of homeowners opt to call a plumber for this job, but you can give it a try yourself.
- Find the shut-off valve for your home’s water supply. You don’t have to turn it off to repair a leaky faucet, but if something goes wrong during the repair and water starts to gush, you’ll need to know how to stop it. The water-supply valve is usually outdoors near the front of the house.
- Under the sink, you’ll find another shut-off valve. This one is just for the faucet. Turn it off. If the shut-off valve hasn’t been used regularly it may not function and may break so be prepared to replace the valve.
- Remove the handle of the faucet, not the faucet itself. A leak usually stems from a problem in the on-off handle. If you have two handles, one for hot and another for cold, and if you can tell if the drip is hot or cold, just remove the offending handle and leave the other one alone.
- To remove the handle, you might have to pop a button off of the top to reveal a screw or pins. Under the handle, you’ll see a cartridge or a stem. Unscrew it. Some are attached with pins; just remove the pins and the cartridge will come loose.
- You’ll see a thin rubber ring inside. That’s a washer, and it’s probably what’s causing the leak. It might be ripped or distorted or just covered with gunk, which prevents the handle from turning all the way off. Remove the washer and replace it with one exactly the same. Tip: Take the old washer to the hardware store when you go to buy a replacement washer so you’ll buy the right kind. Buy one that’s made for the brand of faucet you have.
- Replace the washer and put the handle back together. Turn the water back on under the sink. If you have trouble removing the handle or cartridge, call a plumber. Better to pay to have a washer replaced than to have to have the faucet replaced if you break it!
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