How to Repair a Single Handle Kitchen Faucet

A leaky faucet can be costly as well as annoying.

A leaky faucet can add unnecessary costs to your water bill as well as give you some sleepless nights thanks to the constant sound of dripping water. While you always have the option of calling a plumber to fix the leak, repairing a single handle faucet is a relatively simple task that even the most inexperienced plumbers can perform. If you know how to use a wrench, you have all of the skills needed to fix your faucet.

Things You'll Need

• Adjustable wrench
• Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers
• Manufacturer and model number of your faucet
• Repair kit for your faucet
• Plumber's grease

Instructions

1. Take a close look at your faucet and determine the location of the leak. A leak from the base of the spout requires a different repair and parts than a leak from the end.

2. Buy a repair kit from your local hardware store or directly from the manufacturer of your faucet. Make sure you know the manufacturer and model number of your faucet. If the leak is from the end of the spout, you will want to buy a new cartridge or rotary ball, depending on your faucet. If the leak is from the base of the spout, you will want to buy new spout O-rings. Talk to your retailer to make sure you get the correct parts.

3. Reach under the sink and turn off the water supply valves. Turn your faucet on and let it run to clear any remaining water out of the pipes.

4. Remove the handle. Depending on your faucet, the handle will either be attached by a screw on top of the handle, or at the handle's base. Both will be concealed by a plastic cover. Use a flat-head screwdriver to pry off the cover, and remove the screw. Once the screw is removed, the handle should slide right off of the stem.

5. Remove any retaining nuts and washers underneath the handle. All faucets are slightly different, so you will have to examine your own faucet to determine what needs to be removed. You can typically expect to have to remove a chrome handle dome and at least a few washers. Use an adjustable wrench to remove these parts.

6. Remove the cartridge or rotary ball. Delta and Peerless faucets use a rotary ball to control water flow. Use your wrench or pliers to pull the ball from the socket. Moen uses a cartridge. Attach the plastic socket that came with your repair kit to the cartridge and use your wrench to work the cartridge loose by twisting it back and forth. If your leak is from the end of the spout, simply insert a new cartridge or rotary ball and reassemble your faucet. If the leak is from the base of the spout, continue disassembling.

7. Grab your faucet spout and gently twist it back and forth until it comes free of the faucet stem. Be patient, as the spout sometimes takes a while to work free. Once the spout is removed, you will see a couple of black rubber O-rings around the stem. Remove the old rings. Lightly coat new O-rings with plumber's grease and slide them into place. There will be grooves in the stem for the O-rings. Slide the spout back into place and reassemble your faucet.

8. Turn the water supply back on. Remove the aerator from the end of your spout. Turn the hot water on and allow it to run for about a minute to clear any air and debris in the pipes. Do the same for the cold water. Clean out an debris from the aerator and reinstall it.

Tips & Warnings

• Many faucet manufacturers have warranties on the their cartridges. Contact the manufacturer to see if they will send you a new one for free before purchasing one.

References

• Family Handy Man: How to Repair a Kitchen Faucet
• Hammer Zone: Fixing a Delta Single Handle Faucet