Leaky Faucet Handle? How To Do The Repair Yourself

A leaky faucet can be an annoyance, that constant drip, drip, drip noise that you can hear all through your house can make you crazy. A leak in your faucet handle is also an annoyance. You turn on your faucet only to find that there is water leaking out of the base of the handle. This water can damage your faucet over time, eating away at the handle or the base in no time at all if you don't repair it. Make the repair yourself by following the instructions below.

What You Need For The Repair:

  • Screwdriver
  • Adjustable wrench
  • Pliers
  • New handle set screws, o-ring and set washer


  1. To start, turn off the water to your faucet. There should be a shut-off valve under your faucet, or close by. Open up the faucet after you've turned off the water to be sure all of the water is out of the valve.
  2. Next, find the screws in the handle. There may be a cover plate that needs to be taken off. Take off the cover plate to find the screws and take the screws out. (If you have a two-handle faucet, be sure to replace the parts in both sides, as you may have a problem with the other side as well.)
  3. Remove the handle itself to find the insides of your faucet handle.
  4. Take off the packing nut, then the stem. Inspect the o-ring and the seat washer. If these are broken or corroded, they should be replaced. Any parts that are in bad shape should be replaced - this means the stem and packing nut as well.
  5. You can find these parts at your local faucet supply store. Take in the old parts so you can match them up to the new parts.
  6. Add in the new pieces, being sure to do so on both faucet handles.
  7. Replace the rest of the parts in the handle (stem and packing nut). Then replace the handle cover and finally the cover plate.
  8. Finish off by turning on the water and testing out your handy work. Keep an eye out for leaks anywhere. Test out the water for both hot and cold.

Your faucet can leak out of the spout, but it can also leak out of the handles as well. This annoyance should be repaired as soon as you notice a problem to prevent damage to your entire faucet, which could be costly to repair. For professional assistance, contact companies like Do-It-Ur-Self Plumbing & Heating Supply.

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