How to Repair a Drip in the Kitchen Faucet?

A dripping faucet is annoying and wastes water.

A dripping faucet is annoying, particularly if it is near the bedroom area. The drip adds up over time and will increase your water bill and waste this natural resource. Often you may have to wait days for a plumber to visit you, and the labor is expensive. You can follow a few simple guidelines to repair your own kitchen faucet drip by using basic tools

Things You'll Need

• Monkey or adjustable wrench
• New rubber washer
• New valve stem (if necessary)

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Instructions

1. Look under the kitchen sink for the water turnoff valve. If it is not beneath the sink, look on the outside of your house to find the main water valve. Typically, it is on the side nearest the street. Once you've found the appropriate valve, turn it to the off position.

2. Remove the screw at the top of the kitchen faucet. Now you should be able to remove the handle.

3. Loosen the bonnet with an adjustable wrench or a monkey wrench. The bonnet will be underneath the handle area when you remove it.

4. Rotate the handle of the monkey wrench to the left to loosen the stem valve.

5. Remove the screw from the bottom of the valve stem and the rubber washer that surrounds it. Wear and tear on the washer is probably the reason your kitchen faucet is leaking.

6. Replace the worn-out washer with a new one that is the same type and size. You can find these at discount, home supply or hardware stores.

7. Inspect the valve stem to make sure it is in good shape and not scored. If it is, you will need to purchase a new valve stem at a home supply or hardware store.

8. Replace each of the faucet parts in reverse order and remember to turn the water supply back to the "on" position.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to lay the pieces out in the order you remove them so that when you replace the faucet you will know which part goes next.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Repairing Dripping Faucets