Faucet Leak Repair 101

A faucet leak is one of the most common home improvement problems. From bathrooms to kitchens, worn out washers, seats, o rings, and seals can cause a faucet leak that ranges from inconvenient to catastrophic. Most leaky faucets are within reach of your average homeowner to fix if you have the right tools, though many homeowners choose to call in a professional plumber to ensure the job is done right. Here's a list of some common faucet leak problems and how to fix them.

The Compression Faucet Leak
The first step of identifying any leaky faucet is figuring out what type of faucet you have. Compression faucets are older, though still fairly common. They generally consist of a faucet with two knobs, one for cold water and one for hot. When the knobs are turned open, the faucet is opened and water is allowed through. These faucets tend to fail when the washers on each knob fails. To fix these faucets, you're usually looking at a simple washer replacement.

The Washerless Faucet Leak
The other type of faucet that is common in most households is of the washerless variety, though the term "washerless" is a bit misleading. These faucets still have washers of different varieties, but they also have a host of other components that allow them to operate and that can fail and cause leaks. These types of faucets include ball faucets, disk faucets, and cartridge faucets. While washerless faucets are generally more reliable and last longer than compression faucets, fixing leaks in them can also be more of a challenge. Here's a quick breakdown of how each faucet works, and the most common failures of each.