The part number for the replacement seals will vary depending on the faucet model number. If the cartridge is stuck and you cannot remove it, you will have to use a cartridge puller. Variation: When Retaining Nut Is Not Visible, How to Replace a Cartridge on a Moen Faucet, How to Replace the Cartridge on a Mixet Shower Faucet, How to Repair a 2-Handle Cartridge Faucet, Tutorial for Repairing a Compression Faucet, How to Repair a Moen Pressure-Balanced Shower Valve, How to Repair a Price Pfister Shower Valve, How to Use a Moen Faucet Cartridge Puller, How to Disconnect and Remove a Dishwasher, How to Install a 4" Centerset Bathroom Faucet in a New Vanity. This part is responsible for controlling the water flow. Causes for the Leak The cartridge faucet is a special type of washerless fixture commonly used in kitchens and bathrooms, and it's designed so that the cartridge insert is easy to replace when the faucet begins to drip and leak. Once that bracket is removed you may find a white plastic ring that sits inside the faucet body. If your "O" ring is broken or crumbled, make sure to remove any small pieces from the faucet. If your faucet does not have a plastic cap, the screw might be concealed under a decorative sticker on top of the faucet cap, as is the case on as some older Moen-brand faucets. Even a bathroom faucet for that matter. After removing the handle using screwdriver you will have to remove the nut and for this you must need a wrench in good shape. Lift the handle and pry off the decorative cover to expose the Allen screw. Then, pull the top of the stem to an UP position to open the cartridge. The new cartridge is simple to replace—just take care to align it properly as it goes in. The cartridge is held in place within the faucet body with a U-shaped brass clip that needs to be removed. You can learn more about it here. You can test for a handle leak by wrapping a paper towel around the handle and turning on the faucet. Turn the water valves back on and test for leaks. If the valve is similar to the style shown here, turn the handle clockwise to tighten and shut it off. With these parts removed, you should now see the retainer nut that holds the cartridge in place, which you can now remove. It is recommended that you buy a new seal and place it as it could be in really bad shape after long usage. Continuous leak while faucet is on: Replace the seals/o-rings to return the faucet to water-tight operation. Usually, though, a single-handle cartridge faucet will give you the distinct sensation of the inner cartridge lifting upward when you turn the water on. DIY Faucet Repairs: Here's the Easiest Way to Fix a Leaky Faucet Even the smallest of faucet leaks can have a major impact, wasting up to three gallons of water a day. Newer or more expensive cartridge faucets may have a decorative collar and other parts that need to be removed before you can reach the retaining nut. Watch the video! This can be harder than it sounds because minerals in the water can make your cartridge stick. You will want to confirm the water on the base plate (escutcheon) is not a handle leak. There you go as you are now inspecting the O-rings and washer you need to be pretty much careful here. This ring will orient the movement of the handle. Again the process starts from removing the handle and here you will see escutcheon cap which is made up of metal (in most of the cases). As you work, it's a good idea to line up the parts on your counter in the order they were removed. With ball-type or disc-type faucets, the sensation is of inner parts sliding or rotating.Â. Phew! With all this information back in your mind you have to move forward and learn how to handle each of the type differently. How To Fix a Leaky Cartridge Faucet: Pry off the decorative cap on the handle, remove the handle screw, tilt the handle back, and pull it off. Cartridge faucet: Handle in this faucet has a cartridge underneath the handle and that will play an important role in leakage repair. For the sake of your water bill (and our planet! Two-handle cartridge faucets operate in a similar fashion, but in this design there are two cartridges, each controlling the flow of either hot or cold water. Faucet Is Leaking Under the Sink When a swivel faucet is leaking from the base, some of the water may drip underneath the sink. Install the retainer clip by placing it back into its slot until fully seated. Identify the area that is leaking. Both hot and cold water flow into the same cartridge, and a turn of the handle controls the mixture and temperature. With the cartridge free of all clips and fasteners, it can be removed by lifting it up and out. Access the handle screw by carefully prying the plastic cap up with a thin-blade screwdriver. With single-handle faucets, the water should not turn hot when the handle is turned to cold. Disassemble and remove the cartridge, and rotate it 180 degrees before reinstalling.Â. For the matter of fact, rotary ball faucet needs very basic tools and you do not need to worry about if you have got other types. Kitchen Faucet Repair: Loosen a stuck screw on a single-handle faucet A single-handle ball-type faucet If the Allen screw is stuck, or if you strip it so it won’t come out, remove the cap with the handle still in place. Older, simpler faucets retain the cartridge with just a large nut that is exposed once the handle is removed. Bob Formisano is a licensed architect and builder with 30 years of experience in the industry. 2 Loosen the cam nut to reveal the plastic cam and ball assembly. You may also have to gently pry the handle off. Tightening the cap works because most leaks in rotary ball faucets occur around the handle or spout. Turn off the water valves under the sink and open the faucet to relieve water pressure. Once removed, you may find a bracket attached to the cartridge by a Phillips-head screw that was controlled by the handle. You may need to twist the cartridge a bit to get the clip fully seated if the cartridge tabs were not precisely aligned with the retaining clip notches. Now you have seen that the faucet is leaking and here comes the first question that needs to be answered. If there’s a threaded retaining clip holding the cartridge in place, use needle-nose pliers to remove it, then pull the cartridge straight up. The repair process requires that you: Clear the sink, plug the drain, and turn off the water supply valves. To make a quick fix of your ball-type faucet, proceed as follows: Take the faucet apart and remove the ball assembly/lever. If just the handle and not the entire faucet is shaky, you will need the same tools listed above. Recommended Solution -Moen faucets are designed with an interior component called a cartridge. You can also try this with needle-nose pliers.​ Carefully remove the clip, being careful not to drop and lose it, then set it aside with other parts in the order it was removed. Knowing how to fix a leaky faucet will save money, and it’s easy. What is the source of leakage? You can use wrench for taking out the faucet spout and then only you will be able to find out O-rings. After having complete tool kit and repair parts you need to remove the handle. www.TouchlessKitchenFaucet.info is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Then you will have to place new O-rings using grease and fix it where the old one was placed. Then, find the solutions to that area below. Although most leaks are easy to fix, if the faucet isn't dealt with immediately even the smallest of leaks can cost a lot of money in the long run. Turn off the water supply to the sink. Remove the handle screw with an Allen wrench, and then remove the handle from the Faucet. This is probably the most reliable type of faucets but the bad news is that if you get a leaky cartridge faucet then it gets bit more complicated to fix. The problem could be a damaged cartridge or worn seals. Other types of valves may have a lever handle that is closed by turning them perpendicular to the water line. There are many dozens of replacement cartridges sold, so make sure you are buying the correct one. There’s a slight difference between their processes of fixing where the sink is common or different. This can be a bit tricky since manufacturers often conceal the screw that holds the handle under a removable plastic cover plate or cap. If a faucet is leaking water from the handle, the reason is usually the cartridge. With ball-type or disc-type faucets, the sensation is of inner parts sliding or rotating. First, place the tool on top of the cartridge stem and line up the notches in the plastic tool with the tabs on the cartridge so that it fits squarely on top of the cartridge. After getting done with this job you are simply required to reassemble the handle. After knowing this difference well al you have to do is to bring the new O-rings or washer accordingly and place it. In a single-handle faucet, the handle causes the internal cartridge to rise or lower within the faucet body to start and stop the flow of water. Cartridge faucets come in both single-lever and two-handle versions, and various models use different types of plastic or brass-body cartridges. This is most likely the reliable type of faucets where you do not get leakages even after a long time of use. Turn the screw counterclockwise until it's loose enough to lift the handle up from the stem. Now all you need to do is to get back the handle in its initial position. In these, the motion the handle twists the cartridge rather than lifting it up and down.Â, The type of water control valve your faucet uses is not always readily apparent just by looking at the faucet. Next sections are divided based on the material used in the faucet or the company where they are manufactured so that you could get a clear idea of what’s going on behind leaking and how to fix a leaky kitchen faucet. Once the cartridge is in place, the faucet is reassembled in the reverse order of disassembly. Insert an Allen wrench into the rubber seat, tilting it slightly to catch the spring. In order to remove the old cartridge, you first have to remove the handle. Set the nut aside. If the connections are tight and water is still leaking, you may need a new hose. In this article, we are going to describe the process to fix a single-handle kitchen faucet. How to Repair a Delta Brand Kitchen Faucet. A homeowner needs to mend a leaky kitchen faucet at the earliest. Then offer your services to help fix all of your family and friend's leaky kitchen faucets as well. Determine which side of your faucet is leaking by shutting off the water supply valves one at a time. Continuous leak when faucet is off : Resolve the issue by replacing the valve/cartridge and/or the spacer/check valve assembly (depending on your faucet model). Using an adjustable wrench or pliers, grab the square top of the plastic tool and twist the cartridge back and forth in its housing to loosen the cartridge. This will make reassembly a little easier. ​If you do not readily see a retaining nut once the handle is removed, you have a newer, more complicated cartridge faucet. Set all following parts aside in the order they were removed.Â. Remove the stem washer. Some of the common types of faucets are discussed here to give you a basic knowledge. This troubleshooting document relates to standard, pull-out, and pull-down kitchen faucets. You fix this by replacing the O-rings. Once you determine which side is leaking, turn off both supply valves. A damaged “O” ring is the cause of a leaky faucet handle. Note: The diagram below is a general representation of this faucet type showing common replacement parts. Some water will come out with the cartridge—that’s normal. Bring all your new repair kit items and place them like O-rings, seals, cam washer etc. Your hot and cold adjustments should be working properly. For a two handle or single control faucets with a sidespray, pull down on the sidespray hose and make sure the diverter connection will not disconnect and is secured/tight. You need to know how to fix a leaky kitchen faucet. Once the handle screw is exposed, use a Phillips-head screwdriver or Allen-head wrench to remove the screw, then lift and remove the handle. How to replace all of the gaskets and springs in a Delta brand Single-Handle kitchen faucet. If your valves are … We hope, this article could help you deal with every kind of faucet repair. Lift out the seat and spring. If you see the retainer nut once the handle is removed, Use channel-type pliers or an adjustable wrench, turn the retaining nut counter-clockwise and remove it. If your house does not have local shutoff valves, then you'll need to go to the water main and shut off the water supply there. A handle leak can puddle onto the base plate (escutcheon) making it appear to be a leak at the base of the faucet. Stretch the ring off the spout and pull it out of the faucet. As we mentioned earlier if the leakage is from the handle then you go for O-ring change and if there is faucet’s body that is the source of leakage. If that doesn’t stop the […] Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Step 7: Look down into the bottom of the valve and you’ll see the seats and springs. Some faucet models are more complex than others but these instructions will apply to most situations. Check the water’s flow as well. First, put the sink basket strainers in place in your drain to help catch any falling parts. Now the next step is to loosen the cartridge and right after that you have to take out the faucet spout. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the products. Carefully remove the spring-loaded rubber seals found in the concave bowl in the body of the faucet which held the ball assembly. You can’t grab the flattened edges with the handle in place. That’s why your new cartridge kit usually comes with a white plastic tool with a square top provided to help you loosen the cartridge. However, your kitchen faucet may have one handle or two. First of all, you have to take the retaining clip and for this you can remove the handle and use pliers to get the job done. You have to change washer instead. Keep the “O” ring in case you need it to identify what size replacement ring you will need. If you have a Moen pull out kitchen faucet leaking from the base, however, the problem could be that the quick connector between the spout hose and the faucet base is leaking. No matter if you buy an expensive and leak-free kitchen faucet but chances are that it might leak at some point or even right after installation. The first step in the faucet repair is to locate the water shutoffs and turn off both hot and cold water supply lines running to the faucet. After reassembling the handle you have to take care that right after the repair you have to turn on the water gradually. Carefully lift the sticker with a knife blade and remove the sticker. This cap may be found on the top of the handle, on the sides, or it may be an exposed Allen-head set-screw on the side of the faucet handle body. Having removed the cap you will be able to remove the disk cylinder using wrench, where you will see neoprene seals. Turn your water back on and test your faucet for any leaks. Taking the old cartridge with you to the store for comparison is often the best way to avoid mistakes. Description of the Issue: With this issue, water will drip from the end of the spout after the water has been turned off at the handle.. If you use the white plastic tool to slightly twist the cartridge while pushing the clip into position, it should click into place. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. In some cases, this is a simple matter of loosening the set-screw to remove the handle. Note: If water is leaking out around the base of the faucet handle, you may be able to fix the leak by removing the handle and simply tightening the adjusting ring slightly. Insert a flat-blade screwdriver behind the clip and gently pry it away from its retention slot. The water shutoff is usually found directly under the sink and consists of a small valve and a small handle—one for the cold water pipe and one for the hot water. Set the handle back in place and tighten the retaining screw, then turn the water back on and check for leaks. To fix a leaky rotary ball faucet (or rotating ball faucet) you usually just tighten the cap or cap-adjusting ring. Trust me, once you've done it a few times it will be easier and make more sense. You may read my full disclosure policy for more information. After that you have to dislocate the cam and there you go, take out the springs and seal. Using heatproof silicone plumber's grease, apply a light coating to all rubber O-rings and rubber seals on the cartridge. Here comes the type of faucet where you not only in need of expensive repair parts but also the tools as compared to what we have seen earlier. How to Tighten a Loose Handle on a Single Faucet. For example, a single-handle kitchen faucet could use a ball, a disc, or a cartridge faucet valve. You may need to use pliers to grab the top of the cartridge stem and push the cartridge down fully. It is a standard practice to solve any problem that you need to be well aware of the model at which you are going to work on. Gently place the cartridge back into the faucet body and push down until it is fully seated, making sure the two cartridge tabs are precisely aligned with the retaining clip notch or slots in the faucet’s cartridge housing. Make sure the valves are turned snugly tight. 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