Steps
Part 1
Getting Started
1
Turn off the water to your faucet. Look underneath your sink for the pipes that run up. Along those pipes somewhere will be handles that you can turn to shut off the water to your sink. Twist clockwise to shut off.
2
Plug the drain. Use a sink plug if you have one or a rag. Nothing will ruin your day faster than having a screw or a washer go down the drain.
3
Determine what type of faucet you have. A compression faucet has two screw handles, one for hot and one for cold, and is the easiest to recognize by sight. The other three types of faucet all have one central, swiveling arm that you can swing from hot to cold as desired.[1] You may have to take your faucet apart before you know which is which, because the internal mechanisms at the base of their arms are all different:
A ball faucet contains a ball bearing.
A cartridge faucet contains a cartridge. The materials of the cartridge will vary, but handle often has a decorative cap.
A ceramic-disk faucet contains a ceramic cylinder.
Part 2
Fixing a Compression Faucet
1
Remove each handle. Pry off the decorative cap if necessary (usually reading “Hot” or “Cold”), unscrew, and remove the handle.
2
Use a wrench to remove the nut. Underneath, you will find the stem, which sits on top of the O-ring, which sits on top of a seat washer. The seat washer is usually made of rubber, which can get worn out after a while. If your faucet is dripping, this is mostly likely the culprit.[2]
3
Pull out the stem. This will expose the O-ring, which will be thinner, and seat washer, which will be thicker.
If the handles are leaky (as opposed to the faucet), replace the O-ring. Take the old one to the hardware store and use it to find a replacement.
4
Remove the seat washer. This will be held in place with an upside-down brass screw.
5
Replace the seat washer. Since these washers vary in size, you might need to bring the old one in with you to a parts store to find an exact match. Coat the replacement in plumber’s grease before installing it.
6
Reassemble each handle. Any minor leaks should now be fixed.
Part 3
Fixing a Ball Faucet
1
For a leaky faucet, can I unscrew the tip that the water comes out of into the sink and replace a washer there?
wikiHow Contributor
Suppose that the washer is washed into the drain? It is best not to put unscrewed parts in the sink but on top of the counter and where they are sure to be safe.
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Tips
Your faucet may not look like one of the models shown above (ex. the handle of a ball faucet may be placed to one side for a more elegant effect). However, the internal mechanisms should still be the same.
If you notice a lot of lime build-up on the faucet handle post, clean it off with a lime-away product. This build up can cause leaky faucets also.
Things You’ll Need
All Methods
Compression Faucet
Ball Faucet
Cartridge Faucet
Ceramic-Disk Faucet
Article Info
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