Home Doctor

Plumbing guide

Leaky faucet: find your faucet type and stop the drip

By the Home Doctor team · Reviewed

Quick answer

Most drips come from a worn part inside the faucet, and the fix depends on the type. Two-handle faucets you crank down to close are compression faucets and need a new washer, sometimes a new seat. Single-handle faucets use a cartridge, a ball (common on older kitchen faucets) or a ceramic disc, and you replace that part or its seals. A leak at the base is usually worn O-rings. Parts run $5 to $60. A plumber typically charges $150 to $350 to repair a faucet, and $250 to $800 to install a new one.

How urgent
Fix soon

Not dangerous, but a steady drip can waste thousands of gallons a year, and a hot drip wastes the energy to heat it too. Cranking the handles harder to stop it wears the washer and seat faster.

DIY or pro
DIY if handy

Replacing a washer, O-rings or a cartridge is a handy-homeowner job with a screwdriver, a hex key and an adjustable wrench. Call a plumber if the shutoff valves won't close or the parts are seized. Swapping the whole faucet is DIY if the connections underneath are in good shape.

Stop and call a pro now if

  • A shutoff valve under the sink breaks, sprays or won't stop leaking when you turn it: shut off the main water valve and call a plumber.
  • Water is dripping onto an outlet or the garbage disposal wiring under the sink: switch off that breaker before you reach in.

Common causes and how to tell them apart

  1. 1. Worn washer or seat (compression faucet)

    How to tell
    Two separate hot and cold handles that turn several times and have to be cranked down to stop the flow. The drip often comes from one side only: feel whether it's hot or cold.
    What fixes it
    Replace the rubber washer on the bottom of the stem, and the stem O-ring while it's apart. If the brass seat inside the faucet is pitted, replace it with a seat wrench or smooth it with a seat-grinding tool.

  2. 2. Worn cartridge

    How to tell
    A single handle that lifts and swivels, or two handles that stop after a quarter or half turn. The spout drips, or the handle is getting stiff.
    What fixes it
    Replace the cartridge. Note the brand, take the old cartridge to the store to match it, and check the warranty first: some manufacturers replace cartridges free.

  3. 3. Worn O-rings

    How to tell
    Water seeps out around the base of the spout when the water runs, most often on a kitchen faucet with a swivel spout. Or it seeps from under a handle.
    What fixes it
    Replace the O-rings on the faucet body or stem and coat the new ones with silicone plumber's grease.

  4. 4. Worn seats and springs (ball faucet)

    How to tell
    A single handle on a rounded, dome-shaped cap that moves in every direction, usually on an older kitchen faucet. It drips from the spout or leaks under the handle.
    What fixes it
    Rebuild it with a ball faucet repair kit: new rubber seats, springs and O-rings, plus a new ball if the old one is scratched. Match the brand.

  5. 5. Dirty or worn seals (ceramic disc faucet)

    How to tell
    A single lever over a wide, round cylinder under the handle. It drips even though the discs rarely wear out, sometimes right after the water was shut off and turned back on.
    What fixes it
    Pull the disc cartridge, clean grit off the discs and replace the rubber seals on its bottom. Replace the cartridge if a disc is cracked or scored.

  6. 6. Faucet at the end of its life

    How to tell
    The body is corroded or cracked, it leaks in several places, parts are hard to find, or it still drips after new parts.
    What fixes it
    Replace the faucet. Replace the supply lines and, if they're stiff or crusty, the shutoff valves at the same time.

Not sure which one you have?

Snap a photo. Home Doctor narrows it down, tells you how urgent it is, and prices the fix.

Diagnose it from a photo

First diagnosis free. No account needed.

What you can safely try first

  1. 1Close both shutoff valves under the sink (turn them clockwise), then open the faucet to confirm the water is off and let the pressure out.
  2. 2Put the stopper in or cover the drain with a rag so no small parts go down it, and lay a towel in the sink.
  3. 3Identify the faucet type: two handles you crank down (compression), a round cap that moves every direction (ball), a single lever on a wide cylinder (ceramic disc), or anything else (usually a cartridge). Look for a brand name.
  4. 4Pry off the decorative cap, remove the handle screw, and lay the parts out in order. Take a photo at each step.
  5. 5Take the old washer, cartridge or kit parts to the store, with the brand name, to get an exact match.
  6. 6Reassemble, leave the faucet open, and turn the valves back on slowly so air and grit flush out.

When to call a pro

  • The shutoff valves under the sink won't close or leak when you turn them.
  • The handle, stem or cartridge is seized and won't come out without force.
  • It still drips after you've replaced the parts.
  • Water is showing up inside the cabinet or the wall, not just at the faucet.

What it costs

Typical costs to fix: leaky faucet
JobDIY partsPro, installed
Replace washers and O-rings$5–$15$150–$300
Replace a faucet cartridge$15–$60$150–$350
Rebuild a ball faucet with a repair kit$10–$30$150–$300
Replace a shutoff valve under the sink$10–$30$150–$350
Replace a kitchen or bathroom faucet (mid-range)$75–$350$250–$800

Ballpark US ranges as of September 28, 2026. Your region, access and the specifics of your home can move these a lot. Get two or three quotes for anything over a few hundred dollars.

What to tell the pro

My [kitchen / bathroom / tub] faucet [drips from the spout / leaks at the base / leaks under the handle]. It's a [single-handle / two-handle] faucet, [brand if known], about [age] years old. The shutoff valves under the sink [work / are stuck or leak]. I've [replaced the washer / replaced the cartridge / not tried anything yet]. Is it worth repairing, or should I replace it? If it's a replacement, does your price include the faucet, new supply lines and haul-away?

Questions people ask

Why is my faucet leaking at the base?

Worn O-rings, most often. On a kitchen faucet with a swivel spout, the O-rings around the faucet body wear out and water seeps out under the spout when it runs. Shut off the water, remove the handle and spout, and replace the O-rings, coating the new ones with silicone plumber's grease.

Why is my faucet still dripping after I replaced the washer?

Usually the brass seat the washer presses against is pitted or worn, so the new washer can't seal. Replace the seat with a seat wrench, or smooth it with a seat-grinding tool if it isn't removable. Also check that the washer is the right size and that you're not overtightening the handle.

Should I repair or replace a leaky faucet?

Repair it if the faucet is otherwise in good shape and parts are available: a washer, O-rings or a cartridge costs $5 to $60. Replace it if the body is corroded or cracked, it leaks in several places, or parts are hard to find. A new mid-range faucet installed by a plumber typically costs $250 to $800.

How do I know what kind of faucet I have?

Two handles that turn several times and crank down to close are compression faucets. A single handle on a rounded, dome-shaped cap that moves in every direction is a ball faucet. A single lever over a wide, round cylinder is usually a ceramic disc faucet. Most other single-handle faucets, and two-handle faucets that stop after a quarter or half turn, use a cartridge.

Get an answer for your house

Every house is different. A photo gets you the likely cause, how urgent it is, and a fair price, in about 30 seconds.

Diagnose it from a photo

First diagnosis free. No account needed.

General guidance, not a substitute for a licensed professional who can see the problem in person. If you smell gas, see sparks or smoke, or anyone is hurt, leave the area and call 911.