Plumbing Guide · Quick Reference

Why is my faucet dripping?

Usually a worn washer or cartridge — a cheap fix that saves real water.

By The T.A.P. Team · January 2024 · 5 min read

A dripping faucet almost always comes down to a worn-out part inside — a rubber washer, an O-ring, or a cartridge that no longer seals. It's usually an inexpensive, satisfying DIY repair, and worth doing: a steady drip can waste thousands of gallons a year. The right fix depends on your faucet type, but the process is the same — shut off the water, open it up, and replace the worn seal.

Before you start

1Shut off the supply valves under the sink.
2Plug the drain so parts don't fall in.
3Note your faucet type (compression, cartridge, ball, ceramic disc).
4Take the old part to match the replacement.
5Reassemble and test with the water back on.

What's actually dripping

Inside every faucet, a seal opens and closes to start and stop the flow. In older compression faucets it's a rubber washer that hardens and wears; in modern faucets it's a cartridge, ceramic disc, or a set of O-rings and springs. When that part wears out, water seeps past it and drips from the spout — or from the handle, if it's an O-ring.

Fixing it by faucet type

Compression faucets (separate hot/cold handles that tighten) need a new seat washer and O-ring. Cartridge faucets: pull and replace the cartridge — often the easiest fix. Ball and ceramic-disc faucets use replacement kits for the springs, seals, or disc. In every case, our hard water leaves mineral buildup, so cleaning the parts while you're in there helps.

Why a small drip matters

A faucet dripping once per second wastes thousands of gallons a year — money down the drain and, on the hot side, wasted energy too. It also tends to get worse and can stain fixtures. Because the parts are cheap, fixing a drip is one of the best returns in home maintenance.

When to call a plumber

If replacing the washer or cartridge doesn't stop it, the valve seat may be corroded or the faucet worn out — sometimes replacing the faucet is simpler than chasing parts. Leaks at the base or under the sink (versus the spout) can point to supply-line issues worth a pro. Persistent drips can also relate to high water pressure.

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
Drip from the spout	Worn washer/cartridge	Replace the seal/cartridge
Leak at the handle	Worn O-ring	Replace the O-ring
Two-handle faucet drips	Seat washer worn	Replace washer + seat
Still drips after new parts	Corroded valve seat	Reseat or replace faucet
Leak under the sink	Supply/connection issue	Tighten or call a pro

You can DIY

Shut off the under-sink valves
Replace a worn washer or O-ring
Swap a faucet cartridge
Clean mineral buildup off parts
Match the old part at the store

Call a pro

A corroded valve seat
Replacing the whole faucet
Leaks at supply connections
Persistent drips after repairs
Shutoff valves that won't close

Best practice: match the part, and fix it early

The key to a clean faucet repair is matching the exact washer, O-ring, or cartridge for your faucet — bring the old part to the store. And fix a drip early: it only gets worse, wastes water daily, and the longer a worn seal grinds on the valve seat, the more likely you'll need a bigger repair. A $3 part today beats a new faucet later.

Hard water and dripping faucets

North Texas's hard water is tough on faucet seals and leaves mineral scale that makes drips more common and repairs a little messier. We fix and replace faucets across Plano, Allen, and Frisco — and can advise on whether a water softener is worth it. See our plumbing team.

The short version

A dripping faucet is almost always a worn washer, O-ring, or cartridge.
It's usually a cheap, satisfying DIY fix once you know your faucet type.
Shut off the under-sink valves and plug the drain before you start.
Bring the old part to the store to match the replacement exactly.
A one-drip-per-second faucet wastes thousands of gallons a year.
If new parts don't stop it, the valve seat or faucet may need replacing.