How to fix a dripping faucet in your Lakewood home
A faucet that drips after you turn it off is usually a worn cartridge, washer, or valve seat. Here is how to find the cause safely, what you can check yourself, and when to hand it to a plumber.
A dripping faucet is easy to ignore because it is quiet and the water goes down the drain. It is worth fixing anyway. A steady drip wastes water around the clock, it can stain a sink or tub, and in Lakewood it is often the first sign that the faucet's internal parts are wearing out. Most drips come from one of a small number of causes, and you can narrow it down yourself with nothing more than a look under the sink and a few minutes of attention.
Why faucets drip in Lakewood
A faucet seals water off with a cartridge, a washer, or a ceramic disc, depending on the design. Every time you turn the handle, those parts move against each other, and over years they wear. Lakewood's water adds to the wear. Denver Water, which serves about sixty percent of Lakewood addresses, averages around 105 milligrams per liter of hardness, about 6.1 grains per gallon, which is soft to moderately hard. That is not extreme, but mineral scale still builds up on valve seats and cartridges over time, and it keeps a worn seal from closing fully. The result is a drip that starts occasionally and then becomes constant.
The other common cause is the shutoff valve, not the faucet at all. The small angle stops under a sink seize with age, especially in older Lakewood homes, and when they are finally turned they can weep. If water is coming from under the sink rather than from the spout, the problem is a supply connection or a shutoff valve, and that is a plumber's job.
First step: find the shut-off and stop the drip
Before you touch the faucet, find the shut-off valves under the sink. There is usually one for hot and one for cold. Turn them clockwise until they stop. If they turn easily and the drip stops, you have confirmed the water is coming through the faucet and you can work on it without water running. If a shutoff valve will not turn, is stiff, or starts leaking when you touch it, stop. Do not force it. A seized valve can snap or start leaking badly, and replacing it is a plumber's job. Call (720) 909-6690 and we will replace the valve and then deal with the faucet.
If your sink has no working shut-offs, the main house shut-off is the fallback. It is usually near where the water service enters the house, often in a basement, utility room, or garage. Turn it off only if you need to, and turn it back on slowly when you are done so you do not send a surge of pressure through the house.
Work out which part is failing
Watch where the drip comes from and when it happens. A drip from the spout after the handle is fully off usually means the cartridge, washer, or disc inside the faucet is worn. A drip from around the base of the handle or the spout usually means an O-ring or a packing seal has failed. A faucet that drips only when the handle is in a certain position often has a worn cartridge. Hot-side-only drips point to the hot cartridge or washer, and cold-side-only drips point to the cold one. That distinction matters, because it tells a plumber which part to bring.
Note the brand and model of the faucet if you can. The name is often stamped on the faucet body or on the handle cap. Cartridges are not universal, and the right part depends on the make and model. Take a photo of the faucet and of any markings before you take anything apart, so you can put it back together the way it was.
What you can safely do yourself
If you are comfortable with basic hand tools, you can remove the handle and look at the cartridge or stem. Turn the water off at the shut-offs first, open the faucet to release pressure, and keep the parts in order as you remove them. Look for a cartridge that is scored, cracked, or coated in white mineral scale, and look for a washer that is flattened, torn, or hardened. Cleaning off loose scale and reseating the parts sometimes stops a drip that is caused by grit rather than wear. If the cartridge is visibly worn or the washer is damaged, the part needs replacing, and matching it exactly matters more than finding something close.
Do not use excessive force on any part of a faucet. Faucet bodies, especially older chrome and brass ones, crack when a nut is overtightened, and a cracked faucet body means replacing the whole faucet. If a part will not move with steady hand pressure, leave it and call a plumber. The same applies if you open the faucet and find corrosion, a stripped screw, or parts that crumble when touched. Those are signs the faucet has reached the end of its service life.
When a drip means replacing the faucet
A faucet is worth repairing when the body is sound and the problem is a single worn part. It is worth replacing when the body is corroded, the finish is failing, the valve seat is pitted and will not seal with a new washer, or you have already replaced the cartridge and the drip continues. Replacing a faucet also means new supply connections and shutoffs in many older Lakewood homes, which is a good thing, because the old ones are often the next leak waiting to happen. Our fixture installation page covers faucet replacement, including matching the new fixture to your sink and your existing supply lines.
A dripping faucet can also be a symptom of high water pressure in the house. If several faucets drip, if toilets run, or if you hear banging in the pipes when a tap closes, the pressure may be higher than the fixtures are designed for. A plumber can check the pressure and advise on a regulator if one is needed. See our leak detection page if a drip is accompanied by water you cannot account for, such as dampness under a sink or a stain on a ceiling below a bathroom.
When to call a plumber
Call a plumber when the shutoff valve will not close or leaks, when the faucet body is corroded or cracked, when a new cartridge does not stop the drip, when water is leaking under the sink, or when you would rather not take the faucet apart yourself. None of those are emergencies in the usual sense, but a leak under a sink can damage a cabinet and a floor quickly, so do not leave standing water while you decide.
If the drip is from a tub or shower faucet rather than a sink, the same causes apply, but the repair is harder to reach because the valve sits behind tile or a wall. Do not open a wall to reach a shower valve. Call a plumber and let the valve be serviced through the access panel or the trim, which is how the work is designed to be done.
A dripping faucet is a small job, and it is one of the most satisfying to get fixed. The house gets quieter, the sink stops staining, and the water meter stops turning when nothing is running. If you would like us to take care of it, call Emergency Plumber Lakewood at (720) 909-6690. We are open 24 hours, every day.
Get help with plumbing in Lakewood
If you would rather have a plumber take it from here, call Emergency Plumber Lakewood at (720) 909-6690. We serve homes across Lakewood, and we are open 24 hours, every day.
What Lakewood homeowners ask
What causes a dripping faucet in Lakewood?
Usually a worn cartridge, washer, or valve seat. Mineral scale from Lakewood's moderately hard water, about 105 milligrams per liter, builds up on the sealing surfaces over time and keeps a worn part from closing fully.
How do I stop a dripping faucet before a plumber arrives?
Turn the shut-off valves under the sink clockwise until they stop. If a shut-off valve will not turn or starts leaking, do not force it. Call a plumber and use the main house shut-off only if you need to stop the water.
Can I fix a dripping faucet myself?
You can check the shut-offs, identify which side drips, and inspect the cartridge or washer if you are comfortable with basic hand tools. Do not force seized parts, and do not open a wall to reach a shower valve. If a new cartridge does not stop the drip, call a plumber.
When should I replace a faucet instead of repairing it?
Replace it when the body is corroded or cracked, the valve seat is pitted and will not seal with a new washer, or a new cartridge does not stop the drip. Replacement also makes sense when the shutoff valves and supply lines under the sink are as old as the faucet.
Does a dripping faucet waste much water?
Yes. A steady drip runs around the clock, and over weeks it adds up to a noticeable amount of water on your bill. It can also stain the sink or tub and, if the leak is under the sink, damage the cabinet and floor.
Sources
- Denver Water — The hard truth about soft water — Denver Water hardness figures cited in this guide.
- Denver Water — Water quality reports — published water-quality data for Denver Water customers.
