Faucet dripping when it's off
A faucet that drips with the handle off almost always has a worn sealing part inside: a cartridge, a stem and seat, or seats and springs. Four quick questions narrow it to the part you need.
Also searched as: faucet dripping when off, faucet dripping from spout, faucet dripping from handle, tub faucet dripping when turned off.
Every question and answer on this page, in order
Question 1: How many handles does the faucet have?
Count the handles you turn, not the spout. A single lever that lifts and swings is one handle.
- One handle: go to question 2
- Two handles: go to question 3
Question 2: Where does the water come from?
Watch it for a minute with the handle off. Dry the base with a towel first so you can tell spout from handle.
- From the spout tip: go to question 4
- From around the handle or the base: Likely cause: worn o-rings, or a handle leak puddling at the base
Question 3: Which side is dripping?
Shut off the hot stop under the sink and wait a minute. If the drip stops, it is the hot side. Reopen it and try the cold stop the same way.
- Hot side: go to question 5
- Cold side: go to question 5
- Both sides, or I can't tell: go to question 5
Question 4: Is it a kitchen faucet with a ball-shaped joint under the handle?
Some single-handle kitchen faucets, including many older Delta models, use a rotating ball on seats and springs instead of a cartridge.
- Yes, a ball-type kitchen faucet: Likely cause: worn seats and springs
- No, or I'm not sure: Likely cause: a worn cartridge
Question 5: Do the handles turn a quarter turn, or several full turns?
Quarter-turn handles usually hide a ceramic disc stem. Handles that screw down several turns are compression stems with a rubber washer.
- A quarter turn or so: Likely cause: a worn stem on the dripping side
- Several full turns: Likely cause: a worn washer, seat or stem
Possible results
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