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Bathtub Faucet Leaking or Dripping? Washer Fix for Two-Handle Taps

A worn rubber washer or a pitted seat makes a two-handle tub tap drip. Swap the washer for a few dollars and the drip stops.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read

Time
45 min
Cost
Under $20
Difficulty
Medium
A chrome two-handle bathtub faucet with a water drop hanging from the spout and a faint rust streak on the white tub below
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Is yours a washer faucet? A quick check
  9. Match the washer to the stem
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

A two-handle tub faucet drips because the rubber washer at the bottom of the stem has worn hard, or the brass seat it presses on has pitted. Shut off the water, pull the stem and replace the washer and the O-ring. A washer and seat repair kit has the parts, and a seat dresser smooths a rough seat. Tightening the handle harder only wears the washer faster.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · 30 minutes

Clean the stem and seat, then refit the old washer

  • Shut off the water and open both taps to drain them
  • Pull the stem and wipe scale off the seat
  • Flip a flat washer, or refit the old one
  • Do not crank the handle harder to stop the drip

How long it lasts: A few weeks at best. A washer that has gone hard or flat will drip again, because cleaning does not bring back its rubber.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Faucet washer and seat repair kit for compression faucets (illustration)
Illustration

A washer and seat repair kit

The drip is a seal that no longer seals. New washers restore the rubber, new O-rings stop leaks at the handle, and a smooth seat lets the washer press flat. The kit holds the sizes you are likely to need, so one purchase covers both handles.

What to get: Faucet washer and seat repair kit for compression faucets

How long it lasts: Years. New rubber on a smooth seat seals tight again.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Adjustable wrench

    Removes the bonnet nut and the stem

    You have it

  • Rag or towel

    Stuff it in the tub drain so small screws do not fall in

    You have it

  • White vinegar

    Soaks scale off the stem and seat

    You have it
  • Our pick
    Faucet washer and seat repair kit (illustration)
    Illustration

    Faucet washer and seat repair kit

    Washers, O-rings and seats in the common sizes

    Check price
  • Faucet washer and O-ring set (illustration)
    Illustration

    Faucet washer and O-ring set

    A cheaper option if the seat is smooth

    Check price
  • Seat wrench and reseating tool (illustration)
    Illustration

    Seat wrench and reseating tool

    Only if the seat is rough or cracked

    Check price

Why it happens

1

A worn or hardened washer

The rubber washer at the bottom of each stem is squeezed against the seat every time you shut the tap. Over the years it flattens, cracks or hardens, and water seeps past it.

2

A pitted or scaled seat

Hard water eats small pits in the brass seat the washer presses on. Even a new washer cannot seal against a rough surface.

3

A loose or wrong-size washer

A washer that is slightly too small, or held by a loose screw, leaves a gap or chatters. This often shows up after a rushed repair.

4

A worn stem O-ring

If water seeps out around the handle when the tap is on, the O-ring or packing on the stem is worn. That is a leak at the handle, not at the spout.

5

Overtightening

Cranking a handle hard to stop a drip squeezes and cuts the washer and wears the seat. The drip returns sooner and gets worse.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. Shut off the water

    Tool used: Rag or towel

    Close the stop valves for the bath, or the main valve if there are none. Open both taps to drain the lines. Stuff a rag in the tub drain so small screws cannot fall in.

  2. Take off the handle and stem

    Tool used: Adjustable wrench

    Pop off the cap, remove the handle screw and pull the handle. Use the wrench to turn the bonnet nut counterclockwise, then unscrew the stem. If the nut is recessed, you may need a deep socket.

  3. Clean the parts

    Tool used: White vinegar

    Look at the washer at the bottom of the stem and the O-ring on its side. Soak scaled parts in vinegar for 30 minutes and scrub the seat inside the valve with a toothbrush.

  4. Replace the washer and O-ring

    Tool used: Faucet washer and seat repair kit

    Remove the brass screw at the bottom of the stem and take off the old washer. Fit one of the same size and shape, flat or beveled. Replace the O-ring too, using the old parts to match.

    Faucet washer and seat repair kit (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Faucet washer and seat repair kit · Washers, O-rings and seats in the common sizes

    Check price on Amazon

  5. Check the seat

    Tool used: Seat wrench and reseating tool

    Run a fingertip over the seat inside the valve. If it is rough, a seat dresser smooths it. If it is badly pitted or cracked, a seat wrench lets you unscrew it and fit a new one.

    Seat wrench and reseating tool (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Seat wrench and reseating tool · Only if the seat is rough or cracked

    Check price on Amazon

  6. Reassemble and test

    Thread the stem back in, snug the bonnet nut, refit the handle and turn the water on slowly. Watch the spout for 10 minutes, then check again the next morning.

When free fixes aren't enough

If the washer is new and the tap still drips, the seat is the problem, and cleaning will not smooth it. A seat dresser or a replacement seat fixes that. If you cannot get the stem out, the bonnet nut is corroded, and forcing it can crack the valve body inside the wall. Stop and call a plumber. Call one too if the water will not shut off at the stop valves, or if your handles are the quarter-turn type that use a cartridge, not a washer.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Our picks compared
PickProductFixesWho it's forBuy
Best pick
Faucet washer and seat repair kit for compression faucets (illustration)
Illustration
Faucet washer and seat repair kit for compression faucets
a drip from the spout of a two-handle tub tap Anyone with separate hot and cold handles that turn several times to shut off the water. Check price
Budget pick
Assorted faucet washer and O-ring set (illustration)
Illustration
Assorted faucet washer and O-ring set
a worn washer or O-ring when the seat is smooth People whose seat is in good shape and who just need new rubber. Check price
Upgrade pick
Faucet seat wrench and reseating tool set (illustration)
Illustration
Faucet seat wrench and reseating tool set
a drip that remains after a new washer, caused by a rough or cracked seat Anyone whose seat is pitted or whose washers wear out within a year or two. Check price
Best pick
Faucet washer and seat repair kit for compression faucets (illustration)
Illustration

Faucet washer and seat repair kit for compression faucets

Fixes: a drip from the spout of a two-handle tub tap

Look for: Flat and beveled washers in several sizes; Matching brass screws and stem O-rings; Valve seats in the common sizes.

Who it's for
Anyone with separate hot and cold handles that turn several times to shut off the water.
Honest downside
You have one handle, or handles that stop at a quarter turn. Those use a cartridge, not washers.
Check price on Amazon
Budget pick
Assorted faucet washer and O-ring set (illustration)
Illustration

Assorted faucet washer and O-ring set

Fixes: a worn washer or O-ring when the seat is smooth

Look for: Flat and beveled washers in common sizes; O-rings in the sizes plumbing uses; Brass washer screws included.

Who it's for
People whose seat is in good shape and who just need new rubber.
Honest downside
The seat is pitted, or the drip comes back after a new washer.
Check price on Amazon
Upgrade pick
Faucet seat wrench and reseating tool set (illustration)
Illustration

Faucet seat wrench and reseating tool set

Fixes: a drip that remains after a new washer, caused by a rough or cracked seat

Look for: A seat wrench with square and hex ends; A seat dresser that smooths a rough seat; Sizes that fit the openings in your valve.

Who it's for
Anyone whose seat is pitted or whose washers wear out within a year or two.
Honest downside
Your seat is part of a one-piece valve that has no hex or square opening to grip.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on faucet repair guides from plumbing suppliers, public water-saving advice on leaks, and what owners report in reviews of faucet repair kits and seat tools. We do not test products by hand.

Is yours a washer faucet? A quick check

  • Two handles, several turns to close: compression valves with washers. This page is for you.
  • Two handles that stop at a quarter turn: ceramic disc cartridges. Replace the cartridge instead.
  • One handle that you move sideways for temperature: a cartridge or ball valve. See the related pages.

Match the washer to the stem

Take the old washer with you to match it. A flat washer fits a flat stem end. A beveled washer, shaped like a shallow cone, fits a tapered seat. The wrong shape or a size too small will leak, even if it looks close. A brass screw holds it in place, so replace that too if it is worn.

What to skip

Cranking the handles shut

Turning a handle hard to stop a drip squeezes the washer against the seat until it cuts or flattens. The drip is back within days and the seat is worse. Replace the washer instead.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my bathtub faucet keep dripping after I changed the washer?
A rough or pitted seat can keep even a new washer from sealing. Smooth it with a seat dresser or replace it. Also check the washer is the right shape and sits flat.
Why does my bathtub keep running after I turn it off?
The washer or seat has failed, so water bleeds past the closed valve. On a single-handle tap, a worn cartridge does the same. Two handles that turn many times point to washers.
Is a dripping tub faucet really wasting water?
Yes. The EPA says a faucet that drips once a second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year. Drips from the hot side also cost you energy.
Do I need to shut off the water to the whole house?
Only if the tub has no stop valves. Check for an access panel behind the tub wall or a basement ceiling below. If you find none, close the main valve.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Faucet washer and seat repair kit for compression faucets (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Faucet washer and seat repair kit for compression faucets

Check price