If the stem and handle are undamaged, your next step is to inspect the O-ring and the washer. Read More: 5 Warning Signs of Plumbing Leaks 4. Once you’ve removed all the parts, inspect them to see whether they have sustained any damage. The stem may come off easily, otherwise you’ll need to manually twist it off from the valve. Using your wrench, loosen the packing nut and then remove the stem. If necessary, you can use penetrating oil to loosen the handle so that it lifts easily off of the stem. Use your flat-head to unscrew, then carefully remove the handle. Beneath the decorative knob, you will find screws that fasten the handle to the faucet stem. Use a flat head screwdriver to (gently) pry off any decorative aspects of your faucet handle hardware. Turn off the water supply to the faucet at every supply point – from the handles to the main water supply. The last thing you want is for the problem to reverse itself and your faucet to start spouting water. It’s surprisingly simple to fix a leaky faucet, so read up and do it yourself!īefore you start, you will need to gather the following tools:įollow these five simple steps to fix a leaky faucet: 1. But those little drops of water can add up to a lot of water wasted, which translates to dollars on your next utility bill. Reinstall the handle.ġ2. Turn on the water to ensure you’ve fixed the leak.Drip, drip, drip! The constant sound of the faucet dripping can drive you crazy, especially if it’s the middle of the night and you’re trying to catch some ZZZs before your busy day tomorrow. Maybe you have enough patience to tolerate the steady dripping of a leaky faucet. Replace the adjusting ring and tighten with needle-nose pliers. Repeat on the other set.ĩ. Replace the ball assembly, aligning the pin and the valve to the slot on the ball.ġ0. Replace the cam and packing, aligning the tab on the cam with the slot on the valve.ġ1. Gently screw the cap on the valve using only your hand. Use the wrench to tip the seat and spring into its hole in the valve. Thread one set onto the Allen wrench through the flat side of the seat, then through the skinny end of the spring. Turn the water off at the supply lines again before re-assembling.Ĩ. Insert a new set of seats and springs into the holes. For kitchen & bathroom faucets, be sure to put a bucket upside down over top of the faucet in order to direct the water down to the sink, or water will spray everywhere. Use the Allen wrench to pry out the seats and springs for both the hot and the cold water.ħ. Before putting the faucet together again, remove the aerator and turn on both the hot and cold water all the way to flush the lines. The new cam and packing are gray.ĥ. Pull out the round metal stem when you do, you’ll remove the ball, as well as the piece called the “cam and packing.” If your faucet’s leaking from here, replacing the cam and packing should resolve the problem.Ħ. Look into the valve and you’ll see a small mechanism called the “seats and springs.” The “seat” is the small circular part, and the “spring” is beneath the seat. If your cam and packing are black and white like this, you have an older faucet model. Be careful: Use too much pressure to remove the cap and it may bend. Then, unscrew the dome-shaped cap by placing a cloth over the cap for grip and using tongue-and-groove pliers to unscrew it. If that doesn’t stop the leak, you’ll need to replace the faucet’s seats and springs.Ĥ. Unscrew and remove the adjusting ring. If the faucet seems to be leaking from there, try tightening the adjusting ring with needle-nose pliers. Investigate the cap and adjusting ring by taking a good look. If you have an older faucet with an adjusting ring, it will not be needed after the repair if the cam/packing is replaced. For those with newer faucets that don’t contain adjusting rings, please skip this step. Lift off the handle.ģ. Depending on the age of your faucet, you may not have an adjusting ring. Turn on the faucet and let the last of the water trickle out to completely drain the water lines.Ģ. To remove the handle, take off the screw cover use a screwdriver or Allen wrench to remove the screw. Replacement parts (If you have a lever-handle style product, you need RP61 if you have a knob handle you need RP188.)ġ. Shut off both the hot and cold water supply valves underneath your sink.