Do you have a constant drip from your kitchen faucet? Is there a permanent puddle of water at the base? There are few things more annoying than a leaky faucet. It's estimated that a faucet dripping one time per second wastes upwards of 3,000 gallons of water each year, even enough to take 180 showers. Therefore, taking about one hour to repair a leaky kitchen faucet is not only a way to save money but also a benefit to save the planet.

Learning about the main parts of kitchen faucets will make the repair process easier. Although different faucets may have different designs and details, the following parts are often found in kitchen faucets:

Faucet Spout: Located at the outer end of the faucet, the spout is the point of origin for the stream of water.

O-Rings: These plastic or rubber rings provide a tight seal between the spout and handle, allowing water to flow from the spout without leaking.

Dome Assembly: The dome assembly hides the faucet’s mechanical elements and gives it a sleek, uniform look.

Handle of Faucet: The uppermost part of the faucet regulates water flow and temperature.

The materials and tools needed to repair a leaky kitchen faucet are necessary. Make sure the tools you have are specially designed for the make and model of the faucet.

You may need:

Allen wrenches

Slip-joint pliers

Needle-nose pliers

Flat-head screwdrivers

1. Turn off the water at the shut-off valves. If they’re stuck, shut off the main water valve for the house.

2. Use a Flathead Screwdriver to Remove the Protective Cap Covering the Screw. The protective cap covering is usually a plastic disc indicating hot or cold; it might be red or blue or have the letters “H” or “C” on it.

3. Once the plastic disc is removed, you will see a screw underneath. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screw and remove the handle.

4. Then you’ll see a nut at the base of the main stem the handle sits over. Use a wrench to loosen and remove this nut.

5. Lift out the main stem of the faucet revealing the seat washer and o-ring. The seat washer is often thicker than the o-ring and held in place with a brass screw.

6. Check whether the seat washer and o-ring are wear or damage. 

If your faucet is dripping, it’s generally the o-ring at fault. If it leaks from the handle, then it’s the seat washer.

If one of them at fault, buy a new o-ring or washer to replace.

7. Reassemble the faucet by reversing steps 2-5 above. You can use a little plumbers grease to lubricate the washer or o-ring.

8. Turn your water supply back on and test your repair. Any minor leaks should now be fixed.

If you have other questions about faucet maintenance or want to buy new faucets, welcome to contact us now, OUBAO is glad to provide professional advice for you.