Kitchen Faucet Dripping? Match the Faucet Type and Buy the Right Kit
A drip means a washer, O-ring or cartridge inside has worn out. Find your faucet type, then match the repair kit to it so the fix holds.
By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 7 min read
- Time
- 45 min
- Cost
- $20-$50
- Difficulty
- Medium
In this guide
Quick answer
A kitchen faucet drips because a rubber washer, seal or cartridge inside has worn out and no longer shuts the water off. Turn off the water, take the faucet apart, clean it and look at the parts. When one is worn, a repair kit matched to your faucet type (compression, ball, cartridge or ceramic disc) and brand stops the drip for years.
Free fix vs. permanent fix
Clean and re-seat the parts
- Shut off both supply valves under the sink
- Take the faucet apart and photograph each step
- Soak crusty parts in white vinegar and scrub them
- Rebuild it and watch the spout for ten minutes
How long it lasts: Sometimes years, if mineral buildup caused the drip. If a washer or cartridge is worn, the drip comes back in days or weeks.
A repair kit matched to your faucet type and brand
A drip comes from the part that seals the water off, and that part wears out. Cleaning cannot repair a torn washer or a scored cartridge. A kit that matches your faucet's type, brand and model fits and seals on the first try.
What to get: Faucet repair kit or replacement cartridge matched to brand and model
How long it lasts: Years. New seals and a new cartridge replace the parts that wore out.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What you'll need
-
Adjustable wrench
For the packing nut or cartridge nut
You have it -
Screwdrivers and hex keys
For the handle screw
You have it -
White vinegar and an old toothbrush
Dissolves mineral crust
You have it - Our pick Illustration
Faucet repair kit or replacement cartridge
Match brand, model and type
- Illustration
Washer and O-ring assortment
Only for old two-handle faucets
- Illustration
Silicone plumber's grease
A dab on new O-rings helps them seal
Why it happens
A worn washer or seat
In a two-handle compression faucet, each handle presses a rubber washer onto a metal seat. The washer hardens and the seat gets scratched, so water seeps past.
A worn cartridge, ball or disc
Single-handle faucets use a cartridge, a ball with springs or a ceramic disc. Their O-rings and seals wear, and water drips from the spout even with the handle down.
Mineral buildup
Hard water leaves a crust on seats and discs. The crust stops the seal from closing flat and creates a slow drip.
Age
Faucets that are 10 to 15 years old have worn seals and often pitted metal. Even a clean rebuild may not hold.
Try this first (free)
Do these in order, starting with the simplest.
-
Shut off the water
Turn both valves under the sink clockwise until they stop. Open the faucet to drain the pressure. Put a rag or stopper in the drain so small parts cannot fall in.
-
Take off the handle
Tool used: Screwdrivers and hex keysPop off the cap on top, remove the screw underneath (Phillips or hex) and lift the handle off. Photograph each part in order as it comes apart.
-
Pull out the stem or cartridge
Tool used: Adjustable wrenchUnscrew the packing nut, cap or retaining clip with the wrench. Lift out the stem or cartridge straight, without twisting. A ball faucet has a cap and a ball with springs behind it.
-
Clean and check the parts
Tool used: White vinegar and an old toothbrushLook for cracked washers, flattened O-rings, a scored cartridge or a rough metal seat. Soak crusty parts in white vinegar for an hour and scrub them. If nothing is worn, rebuild and test: this can be the whole fix.
-
Swap in the matching parts
Tool used: Faucet repair kit or replacement cartridgeTake the old cartridge to the hardware store, or look up your faucet's brand and model number. Buy the matching kit. Dab plumber's grease on new O-rings, then fit everything back in the same order you took it out.
IllustrationCheck price on AmazonTool for this step
Faucet repair kit or replacement cartridge · Match brand, model and type
-
Turn the water on slowly and test
Open the supply valves slowly and run the faucet to clear air. Watch the spout for ten minutes and check under the sink for drips at the connections.
When free fixes aren't enough
If cleaning stops the drip for a week and it comes back, the seal is worn. If the metal seat inside a compression faucet is rough or scored, new washers will not seal; it needs a seat tool or a plumber. If the faucet is 15 years old, pitted or its parts are no longer made, replacing the whole faucet is often the better use of your time. Call a plumber if the supply valves will not shut or drip, the handle will not come off, or water leaks at the base or under the sink rather than from the spout.
Buy the fix
Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.
| Pick | Product | Fixes | Who it's for | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best pick | Faucet repair kit or replacement cartridge matched to brand and model | a drip from the spout when the handle is off | Anyone with a faucet under about 15 years old whose brand and model they can find. | Check price |
| Budget pick | Faucet washer and O-ring assortment | drips from old two-handle compression faucets | Owners of two-handle faucets with rubber washers on the stems. | Check price |
| Upgrade pick |  Replacement kitchen faucet | old or pitted faucets whose parts are hard to find | A faucet over about 15 years old, or the third repair in a few years. | Check price |
Faucet repair kit or replacement cartridge matched to brand and model
Fixes: a drip from the spout when the handle is off
Look for: Listed as compatible with your faucet's brand and model; The cartridge or stem included, not just rubber washers; O-rings and seats included; Right for your faucet type: compression, ball, cartridge or ceramic disc.
- Who it's for
- Anyone with a faucet under about 15 years old whose brand and model they can find.
- Honest downside
- You cannot identify your faucet. Take the old cartridge to a hardware store to match it before buying online.
Faucet washer and O-ring assortment
Fixes: drips from old two-handle compression faucets
Look for: Flat and cone washers in several sizes; O-rings in several sizes; Brass screws for the washers.
- Who it's for
- Owners of two-handle faucets with rubber washers on the stems.
- Honest downside
- Your faucet has a single handle, or uses a cartridge, ball or ceramic disc. Those need a specific part.
Replacement kitchen faucet
Fixes: old or pitted faucets whose parts are hard to find
Look for: Fits your sink's hole count (one-hole or three-hole); A brass or stainless body; A cartridge from a common brand that is easy to buy later; A written warranty.
- Who it's for
- A faucet over about 15 years old, or the third repair in a few years.
- Honest downside
- Your faucet is in good shape and a kit is easy to find. A kit is the cheaper fix.
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 draws on plumbing repair guides, faucet makers' parts instructions and the drip problems and fixes owners describe in reviews. We do not test products by hand.
Which type of faucet do you have?
- Two handles that tighten with a firm turn: compression. Washers and seats wear.
- One handle with a rounded dome cap: ball. It needs a ball kit with seats and springs.
- One handle that lifts and swings, no dome: cartridge. Replace the whole cartridge.
- One handle with a smooth lift and a wide cylinder: ceramic disc. Replace the disc cylinder.
Where the water comes out matters
A drip from the spout points to the washer, seal or cartridge, which is this page. Water that seeps from the base or under the handle usually comes from a worn O-ring. See the related page on a leaking base.
What to skip
Cranking the handle tighter, and one-size washers
Forcing the handle tighter to stop a drip squeezes the washer flat and wears it out faster. A washer that is the wrong size or shape will not seal, and you end up with the same drip plus a new part.
Frequently asked questions
How much water does a dripping faucet waste?
Why does my kitchen faucet keep dripping after I replaced the washer?
How do I fix a kitchen sink tap that drips when turned off?
Do I need a plumber to stop a dripping faucet?
Related problems
Free fix inside Kitchen · Kitchen Faucet
Kitchen Faucet Leaking at the Base? The 15-Minute O-Ring Swap
Read the fix
Free fix inside Kitchen · Kitchen Faucet
Kitchen Faucet Keeps Coming Loose? Tighten It From Below With One Tool
Read the fix
Free fix inside Kitchen · Kitchen Faucet
Kitchen Faucet Sprayer Not Working? Hose, Diverter, or Clog: Find Out
Read the fixAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure