A leaking bathroom faucet is one of those things you keep meaning to fix but never quite get around to. The constant drip is annoying, and it’s wasting water every single day. The good news is that most faucet leaks are totally fixable on your own — no plumber required.
Why Is My Faucet Leaking?
There are a few common reasons a bathroom faucet starts dripping. The most typical culprit is a worn-out washer or O-ring inside the handle. Over time, these rubber parts compress and crack, which lets water sneak through even when the valve is shut.
Other causes include:
- Loose packing nut
- Corroded valve seat
- Damaged cartridge (especially on single-handle faucets)
- Worn-out ceramic disc
What You’ll Need
Before you start, gather your supplies:
- Adjustable wrench
- Flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers
- Replacement washers and O-rings (pick up an assortment pack at Home Depot)
- Plumber’s grease
- Towels and a small bucket
Step 1: Turn Off the Water Supply
Look under the sink for the shutoff valves — one for hot, one for cold. Turn them clockwise until they stop. Then open the faucet to release any pressure and drain the remaining water in the line. Put a towel down because it will drip.
Step 2: Remove the Handle
Most handles have a decorative cap hiding a screw underneath. Pop the cap off with a flathead screwdriver and unscrew the handle. Pull it straight back off the stem. If it’s stuck, wiggle it gently — don’t force it or you could crack the housing.
Step 3: Replace the Washer or Cartridge
For a compression faucet, unscrew the packing nut, pull out the stem, and look at the rubber washer at the bottom. If it’s flattened, cracked, or grooved, that’s your leak. Swap it with a matching washer from your kit and reassemble.
For a cartridge faucet, pull the cartridge straight out (note which way it’s oriented) and take it to the hardware store to find a matching replacement. Slide the new one in the same direction, reassemble, and you’re done.
Step 4: Reassemble and Test
Put everything back together, turn the shutoff valves back on slowly, and test the faucet. If it drips again, you may need to re-check the washer seat for corrosion — a seat wrench can clean that up.
When to Call a Plumber
If you’ve replaced the washer and the drip continues, or if you find corrosion deep in the valve body, it’s worth calling a plumber. Sometimes the fix is replacing the whole faucet, which runs about $150–$350 installed depending on the fixture you choose.
But honestly, most bathroom faucet leaks take less than 30 minutes and cost under $10 in parts. It’s one of the best starter plumbing repairs you can do yourself.