The True Cost of a Dripping Faucet

Leaky faucet repair is a common household fix, but many homeowners underestimate the cost of that persistent drip, drip, drip. A single faucet dripping at one drop per second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water annually—enough for more than 180 showers. This is a key focus of initiatives like the EPA’s Fix a Leak Week.

Quick Fix Guide for Leaky Faucet Repair:

Turn off water supply – Use shut-off valves under the sink.
Identify faucet type – Compression, cartridge, ball, or ceramic disk.
Remove handle – Unscrew the cap and handle screws.
Replace worn parts – O-rings, washers, or cartridge.
Reassemble – Reverse the disassembly steps.
Test for leaks – Turn the water back on slowly.

The real cost extends beyond your water bill. Constant moisture can lead to mold growth, attract pests, and cause structural damage. The good news is that most leaks are caused by worn-out parts like washers or O-rings that you can replace with basic tools.

As Mike Counsil, a second-generation plumber with over 30 years of experience, I’ve seen countless homeowners save money by tackling leaky faucet repair themselves. My family has been helping San Jose residents with their plumbing since 1994, and I’m here to guide you through this common fix.

A dripping faucet is more than an annoyance; it’s a drain on your resources. Beyond the frustrating sound, leaks can raise your water bill by hundreds of dollars a year, wasting three to 30 gallons daily. This constant moisture also encourages unhealthy mold growth and can compromise your home’s structural elements over time, leading to costly repairs. Understanding these hidden costs highlights the importance of prompt leaky faucet repair. We often discuss The Hidden Costs of Leaky Faucets and how quick action saves money and hassle.

Before You Begin: Prepping for a Successful Repair

Diving into a leaky faucet repair without proper prep can lead to frustration and a bigger mess. The most important first step is shutting off your water supply. Look for two small valves under your sink and turn them clockwise until they stop. If there are no valves, you’ll need to use your home’s main water shut-off. After the water is off, turn on the faucet to drain any remaining water.

Next, plug the drain with a rag or sink stopper. Tiny screws and O-rings have a knack for disappearing down the drain. It’s also wise to protect your sink surfaces by laying down a towel to prevent scratches from dropped tools.

Essential Tools and Prep for Leaky Faucet Repair

Having the right tools makes all the difference. Your leaky faucet repair toolkit should include:

Adjustable wrench for loosening nuts.
Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers for various screws.
Allen wrenches for set screws on modern faucets.
Pliers (regular and needle-nose) for gripping and delicate work.
Replacement parts that match your faucet. Take the old parts to the hardware store to ensure a perfect match.
Plumber’s grease to create better seals on new O-rings and washers.
Rags for cleanup.
Penetrating oil for stubborn nuts.

How to Identify Your Faucet Type

Knowing your faucet type is crucial for a successful repair. Each type has its own internal mechanism.

Two-handle faucets are often the older compression style, where separate handles control hot and cold water.
Single-handle faucets control everything with one lever. The handle’s movement reveals the type. An up-and-down motion for flow and side-to-side for temperature usually indicates a cartridge faucet. A handle that swivels on a ball-shaped base is a ball-type faucet. An effortless movement with a wide, cylindrical body suggests a ceramic disk faucet.

Faucet Type	Handles	Feel/Action	Common Leak Cause
Compression	Two	Twist to turn, separate hot/cold, can feel stiff	Worn rubber washers, corroded valve seat, O-rings
Cartridge	One or Two	Smooth up/down or side-to-side, precise control	Worn cartridge, worn O-rings
Ball-Type	One	Single lever, swivels on a ball-shaped base	Worn rubber seats and springs, worn O-rings, loose parts
Ceramic Disk	One	Very smooth, wide cylindrical body	Cracked ceramic disks, worn neoprene seals, mineral buildup

Correctly identifying your faucet sets you up for a successful leaky faucet repair.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Leaky Faucet Repair

With your workspace prepped and faucet type identified, it’s time to tackle the drip. Each faucet requires a different approach for a successful leaky faucet repair. Work patiently, keep track of parts in the order you remove them, and avoid using excessive force.

How to Fix a Compression Faucet

Recognized by their two separate handles, compression faucets work by compressing a rubber washer against a valve seat. Leaks are typically caused by worn seat washers or damaged O-rings.

Shut off the water and remove the handle’s decorative cap and screw.
Use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the packing nut under the handle.
Lift out the stem assembly. At the bottom, you’ll find a rubber washer held by a brass screw. This is the most common culprit.
Replace the washer and any worn O-rings on the stem.
Inspect the valve seat inside the faucet body. If it’s pitted, smooth it with a valve-seat dresser tool.
Coat new parts with plumber’s grease, reassemble in reverse order, and tighten the packing nut until snug.

How to Fix a Cartridge Faucet

Common in modern homes, cartridge faucets offer smooth, precise control. When they leak, the solution is usually to replace the entire cartridge.

After shutting off the water, remove the handle by locating and removing its set screw.
Some models have a retaining clip holding the cartridge. Use needle-nose pliers to pull it straight out.
Grip the old cartridge with pliers and pull it straight up, noting its orientation to ensure the new one is installed correctly.
If the leak is from the spout’s base, pull the spout off and replace the spout O-rings, coating the new ones with plumber’s grease.
Install the new cartridge, ensuring it’s aligned correctly, then replace the clip and reassemble the handle.

How to Fix a Ball-Type Faucet

Found mostly in kitchens, these faucets use a single joystick-like handle that pivots on a ball. They have many small parts, but repair kits are widely available.

Remove the handle with an Allen wrench, then remove the cap and collar.
Lift out the cam washer and ball. Inspect the ball for wear and replace if needed.
Carefully remove the tiny rubber seats and springs from the inlet holes inside the faucet body.
Install the new springs and seats from your kit. A pencil eraser can help press the new seats into place.
When reassembling, ensure the ball’s keyway aligns with the tab inside the faucet. Tighten parts until snug but not overly tight.

How to Fix a Ceramic Disk Faucet

These high-end faucets are durable and known for incredibly smooth operation. Leaks usually stem from cracked ceramic disks or deteriorated neoprene seals.

Remove the handle by finding its set screw.
Remove the escutcheon cap to expose the cylindrical disk assembly. Unscrew it and lift it out.
Flip the cylinder over and inspect the neoprene seals at the bottom. Pry out the old seals and replace them.
Clean all parts with white vinegar and a soft brush to remove mineral buildup.
Inspect the ceramic disks for cracks. If damaged, the entire cylinder must be replaced.
Reassemble carefully, ensuring proper alignment. Turn the water back on slowly to avoid cracking the new disks.

Repair or Replace? Making the Right Call

After a leaky faucet repair, you might wonder if replacing the faucet would have been a better choice. While many leaks are simple fixes, sometimes repairing an old or damaged faucet isn’t the best long-term solution. Knowing when to repair versus replace is key to managing your home’s plumbing effectively.

Consider the faucet’s age, the cost of parts versus a new unit, the frequency of repairs, and the presence of severe corrosion. If your faucet is over 10-15 years old, other parts may soon fail, leading to a cycle of repairs. Sometimes, a new installation is a wiser investment. Proactive care, like what we discuss in Why Annual Plumbing Inspections Save You Money, helps you make these decisions before they become emergencies.

When to Choose Replacement Over Leaky Faucet Repair

Here are clear signs it’s time for a new faucet:

High Repair Costs: If replacement parts cost nearly half as much as a new faucet, replacement offers better value and a fresh warranty.
Frequent Repairs: If you’re fixing the same faucet every few months for different issues, the entire unit is likely worn out. You’re patching symptoms rather than solving the core problem.
You Want an Updated Style: A replacement is a great opportunity to refresh your kitchen or bathroom’s look and improve functionality.
Cracked or Corroded Body: Visible cracks or severe corrosion on the faucet body are beyond a simple parts fix and can lead to major leaks.
Parts are Hard to Find: For old or discontinued models, finding the right parts can be impossible. Save yourself the frustration and invest in a new unit.

When to Call a Professional Plumber

While DIY leaky faucet repair is satisfying, some situations require a professional. Knowing your limits can prevent a small problem from becoming a large, expensive one. Here are some signs it’s time to call a plumber:

The repair seems too complex. There’s no shame in recognizing when a job is beyond your comfort level. It’s better to call us before an accident than after.
You lack the right tools. Some repairs require specialized equipment that most homeowners don’t own.
The leak persists after your repair. This often indicates a deeper issue, like a damaged valve seat or internal piping problems that our technicians can diagnose.
You have water pressure issues. If the faucet only leaks under high pressure or you hear banging pipes, you may have a system-wide problem requiring professional assessment.
The main shut-off valve is faulty. If you can’t turn off the water supply safely because the valves are stuck or broken, we can resolve the issue properly.

For emergency situations like major leaks, our 24/7 emergency service is ready to help. We maintain a 90-minute response time throughout San Jose, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, and the surrounding areas. As we explain in When Should You Call Same Day Plumbers, some situations can’t wait.

At Counsil Plumbing, we’re here to support you. With over 800 five-star reviews and our 100% satisfaction guarantee, you can trust us to get the job done right when DIY isn’t the answer.

Frequently Asked Questions about Faucet Repair

After three decades of helping San Jose homeowners, we’ve heard nearly every question about leaky faucet repair. Here are the most common ones.

What is the most common cause of a leaky faucet?

Worn-out internal parts are the number one culprit. After years of daily use, components simply wear down.

For compression faucets, the problem is usually a hardened or cracked rubber washer or O-ring. Sometimes the valve seat it presses against becomes corroded, preventing a tight seal.
For washerless faucets (cartridge, ball, and ceramic disk), leaks are typically caused by a worn cartridge, deteriorated seals, or cracked ceramic disks.

How long should a leaky faucet repair take?

For a straightforward leaky faucet repair, expect it to take 30 minutes to an hour if you have the right tools and parts. The time can vary based on your experience and the faucet type. Compression faucets are often the quickest, while ball-type faucets can be more complex. If you’re struggling for more than an hour, it’s a good sign to call a professional.

Can a dripping faucet really increase my water bill?

Yes, significantly. That seemingly minor drip is a major source of water waste. A single drip per second wastes over 3,000 gallons of water per year—enough for more than 180 showers. Depending on local rates, this can add $35 to over $100 to your annual utility bills. If it’s a hot water leak, you’re also paying to heat that wasted water. Fixing a small drip can lead to big savings.

Stop the Drip and Reclaim Your Peace of Mind

You now know that leaky faucet repair is an achievable DIY project. Silencing that persistent drip saves water, money, and prevents bigger problems, offering a great sense of accomplishment. You’ve gained valuable knowledge about your home’s plumbing and built confidence in your abilities.

However, as we’ve learned in our three decades serving South Bay families, knowing your limits is just as important as knowing how to fix things. There is no shame in recognizing when a job is beyond your comfort zone. What seems like a simple fix can sometimes reveal a more complex issue with corroded pipes or underlying water pressure problems.

The smartest DIYers know when to call in the professionals. We’ve seen well-meaning homeowners turn a small repair into a much larger problem.

For complex plumbing issues or emergency repairs, when a leak persists or you find something unexpected, trust the experts to get the job done right. Our team at Counsil Plumbing has been solving these puzzles since 1994.

Whether you’re in San Jose, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, or the surrounding communities, we’re here with our 24/7 emergency service and 90-minute response time. With over 800 five-star reviews and our 100% satisfaction guarantee, we’re committed to delivering the peace of mind you deserve.