Quickly fix your leaky kitchen faucet.
To stop a leaky kitchen faucet you will need to determine what type of faucet you have. Kitchen faucets will have either a rotating ball or a cartridge to control water flow. One way to know is by looking at your handle. Handles with a cover most often will be a cartridge, while handles with a set screw on the side will most likely be a ball type. It is a good idea to remove the defective part and take it to the hardware store to get a compatible replacement.
Instructions
Ball-Type Faucet
1. Turn off the water supply valves under the kitchen sink. Turn on the faucet to allow any remaining water inside the lines to drain.
2. Remove the rubber decorative cover that hides the faucet handle set screw. The cover and set screw will be on the front side of the faucet handle. The set screw will be more accessible if you lift the faucet handle in the up position as if you were running water.
3. Insert an Allen wrench into the set screw and turn the screw counterclockwise to remove it from the faucet handle. Lift the handle off the faucet stem.
4. Turn the faucet cap counterclockwise with a pair of channel lock pliers and remove the cap from the faucet. The faucet cap is the silver piece between the faucet handle and the base of the faucet. The faucet handle rides on top of the cap.
5. Lift the plastic cam and the packing washer off the faucet body. Lift the ball out of the faucet body and inspect for damage or corrosion. Look inside the faucet body and locate the two rubber seats.
6. Insert a flathead screwdriver into each rubber seat and lift the seats out of the faucet. The seat springs should come out with the seats. If necessary, remove the seat springs from the faucet with a pair of needle-nose pliers.
7. Take the seats to a hardware store for replacements. Insert the new seats into the faucet body, with the springs pointing down. Place the faucet ball back inside the faucet body and slide the packing washer and plastic cam over the ball stem and onto the faucet body.
8. Thread the faucet cap back onto the faucet body until the cap is hand tight. Turn the cap another half turn clockwise with the channel lock pliers. Position the faucet handle over the cap and secure the handle with the set screw. Replace the rubber set screw cover on the handle.
Cartridge-Type Faucet
9. Insert a flat-head screwdriver under the decorative cover on top of the faucet handle and pry the cover off the handle. Remove the screw on top of the handle with an Allen wrench and pull the handle off the faucet. Turn the faucet cap counterclockwise to remove the cap from the faucet.
10. Remove the screw, using a Phillips-head screwdriver, that secures the handle adapter to the top of the plastic pivot stop. Lift the handle adapter and the pivot stop away from the faucet. Turn the packing nut securing the faucet cartridge counterclockwise with a pair of channel-lock pliers. Remove the packing nut and pull the faucet cartridge out of the faucet.
11. Take the cartridge to a home improvement center to purchase an identical replacement. Set the new cartridge inside the faucet and screw the packing nut over the cartridge until the nut is hand-tight. Turn the nut another half turn clockwise with the pliers.
12. Place the pivot stop over the packing nut and cartridge and secure the handle adapter over the pivot stop with the retaining screw. Screw the faucet cap back into the faucet and tighten with the channel-lock pliers.
13. Position the faucet handle over the faucet cap and the handle with the set screw. Place the decorative cover back on top of the handle and snap the cover into position with your thumb. Turn on the water supply valves under the kitchen sink.
Tips Warnings
Always turn the water supply off before servicing your faucets.
