Dripping Faucet Repair — Ball, Cartridge, Ceramic Disc & Compression Fix Guide

Common Symptoms

• Faucet drips from the spout when handle is fully off
• Water seeps out around the base of the handle
• Faucet requires more force to fully stop the flow over time
• Dripping gets worse after hard water deposits build up
• Single-handle faucet drips even when moved to the fully-off position

Most Likely Causes

1. 1

   Worn Seat Washer or O-Ring — Compression Faucet

   Compression faucets are the oldest type and use a rubber seat washer that presses down against a metal seat to stop water. With every use, the washer wears against the seat. Over time, the washer hardens, flattens, or tears, and the seat develops pitting from the metal-on-rubber contact. When either surface degrades, water seeps past. Replacement washers: Danco 88369 (assorted sizes) or Ace 44396 (full assortment kit). If the seat itself is pitted, a seat wrench and seat grinder tool can resurface it — otherwise install a replacement seat. These faucets have two separate handles for hot and cold that screw all the way down to close.

2. 2

   Worn Cam, Ball, Seats, Springs, or O-Rings — Ball Faucet

   Ball faucets have a single handle that rotates over a rounded dome — the handle controls a slotted ball that aligns with inlet ports to mix hot and cold water. Delta faucets are the most common ball-style. Inside, there are two rubber seats, two springs, a cam assembly, the ball itself, and multiple O-rings on the body. Any of these can wear and cause dripping — but because they all interact, attempting to replace just one worn part rarely fixes the leak permanently. The correct repair: replace the entire kit. Delta RP3614 repair kit includes cam, ball, seats, springs, and all O-rings. Moen uses a cartridge mechanism in its single-handle faucets rather than a true ball valve, despite the similar appearance.

3. 3

   Worn Cartridge — Cartridge Faucet

   Cartridge faucets use a ceramic or plastic cartridge that slides up and down (or rotates) inside the faucet body to control water flow and temperature. They can be single-handle or two-handle. When the cartridge seals wear, water bypasses them and drips from the spout. Part numbers matter: Moen 1225 (two-handle), Moen 1255 (single-handle), Price Pfister/Pfister 974-042, Delta RP19804. Replacement is straightforward — pull the old cartridge straight out and insert the new one in the exact same orientation. Inserting the cartridge rotated 180 degrees reverses hot and cold.

4. 4

   Mineral Deposits on Ceramic Disc — Ceramic Disc Faucet

   Ceramic disc faucets have a single lever on a wide, cylindrical body — the mechanism uses two ceramic discs that rotate against each other to control flow. These are extremely durable and rarely fail from mechanical wear. Most drips in ceramic disc faucets are caused by mineral deposits (calcium/limescale) on the disc faces preventing a full seal — not a cracked or failed disc. Cleaning the disc cylinder with white vinegar resolves the majority of ceramic disc drips without any parts replacement. If the disc is cracked (visible fracture on the ceramic surface), replacement is required: Kohler GP30509 disc cylinder, American Standard M952247-0070A.

Quick DIY Checks

1. 1Step 1 — identify your faucet type before buying any parts: Compression — two separate handles (one hot, one cold) that screw all the way down when turned fully off; oldest style, found in homes pre-1980s. Ball — single handle that rotates in a dome-shaped cap; Delta kitchen faucets are the most recognizable. Cartridge — single or two handles that lift/push up-down rather than screw; smooth operation, very common in modern bathrooms (Moen, Pfister). Ceramic disc — single lever on a wide cylindrical body; handle moves side-to-side for temperature and front-to-back for volume. If unsure, search your faucet's brand and model number + 'repair kit' to confirm the mechanism type.
2. 2Step 2 — shut off water and prepare the work area: turn off the angle stop valves under the sink (clockwise until they stop). If there are no angle stops, shut off the main house water valve. Turn the faucet handles to open to release remaining pressure and drain water from the supply lines. Place a towel in the sink basin to catch small parts. Put the drain stopper in the closed position so screws and springs don't fall down the drain. Take a photo of the faucet before disassembly.
3. 3Step 3 — compression faucet repair: remove the decorative cap on top of the handle (pry with a flathead screwdriver). Remove the handle screw and pull off the handle. Use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the packing nut — turn counterclockwise. Pull the stem straight out of the valve body. At the bottom of the stem, find the rubber seat washer held by a brass screw — unscrew and replace it (match the shape: flat or beveled). Also inspect and replace the O-ring on the stem body. Inspect the valve seat inside the faucet body — run your finger around it; if it feels rough or gritty, use a seat wrench to remove it and a seat grinder to resurface it, or replace it. Reassemble in reverse, turn water on slowly, and test.

1. 4Step 4 — ball faucet repair (Delta-style): unscrew the setscrew on the side of the handle (Allen/hex key, usually 1/8 inch), remove the handle. Unscrew the cap (adjustable wrench, counterclockwise — pad jaws with tape to prevent scratching). Lift off the collar, then use needle-nose pliers or the included tool to remove the cam assembly and ball. Use a thin screwdriver to pop out the rubber seats and springs from the inlet ports. Apply a thin coat of plumber's grease (Sil-Glyde) to all rubber parts in the kit. Insert new seats and springs, insert new ball aligned with the slot and inlet ports, install new cam assembly, reassemble cap and handle. Do NOT use petroleum-based lubricants on rubber faucet parts — they swell and degrade rubber.
2. 5Step 5 — cartridge faucet repair (Moen, Pfister, Delta single-handle): remove the handle screw (under the decorative cap), pull off the handle. On Moen cartridges, look for a retaining clip (U-shaped metal clip) at the top of the cartridge — grip it with needle-nose pliers and pull straight up to remove it. Grip the cartridge at the top with pliers or a cartridge puller tool (Moen 104439 puller recommended for stuck cartridges). Pull straight up with firm, even force — do not twist. Note the orientation before removing (the ears at the top of the cartridge must face the same direction). Insert the new cartridge in the exact same orientation, replace the retaining clip, reassemble the handle. Turn water on slowly. If hot and cold are reversed, remove the cartridge and rotate it 180 degrees.
3. 6Step 6 — ceramic disc faucet repair: rotate the single lever to the full-open position to relieve any spring tension. Remove the handle screw (under the cap), lift off the handle. Unscrew or unsnap the decorative shroud if present. Remove the mounting screws holding the disc cylinder to the faucet body — lift the cylinder straight out. Inspect the two ceramic disc faces for cracks (look for a visible fracture line). If uncracked, soak the cylinder in white vinegar for 30–60 minutes to dissolve mineral deposits, then rinse thoroughly with water. Dry and inspect — the faces should be smooth and free of scale. Reinstall. If the disc is cracked, install the replacement cylinder (Kohler GP30509 or American Standard M952247-0070A). Important: do not use ceramic disc faucets in the OFF position until water pressure is fully restored — sudden pressure on a dry ceramic disc can crack it.
4. 7Step 7 — verify the repair: turn the angle stop valves back on slowly. Turn the faucet handle to full open, let water run for 15–20 seconds to flush debris. Turn off the handle and observe the spout for 2–3 minutes. No drip = repair complete. If still dripping after a cartridge replacement, check orientation (Moen cartridges must have ears aligned correctly). If still dripping after compression washer replacement, the seat is likely pitted — resurface or replace it.

Repair vs Replace

Recommended Tools & Parts

• Delta RP3614 Ball Faucet Repair Kit

  Complete repair kit for Delta single-handle ball faucets: includes cam, plastic ball, seats, springs, and all O-rings. Fits most Delta ball-style kitchen and bathroom faucets. Replace the entire kit — don't try to identify just one bad part.

  $12–$20

  Buy on Amazon →

• Moen 1255 Cartridge (Single-Handle)

  Replacement cartridge for Moen single-handle faucets. Genuine Moen part for Chateau, Monticello, and Posi-Temp single-handle faucets. Moen often provides free cartridge replacements under their lifetime warranty — call 1-800-BUY-MOEN before purchasing.

  $20–$35

  Buy on Amazon →

• Danco 88369 Seat Washer Assortment Kit

  Assorted rubber seat washers for compression faucets. Includes flat and beveled washers in multiple sizes. Also includes packing washers and O-rings. Covers virtually all compression faucet seat washer replacements.

  $5–$10

  Buy on Amazon →

• Sil-Glyde Plumber's Grease

  Silicone-based lubricant safe for rubber O-rings, seat washers, and cartridge seals. Critical for ball faucet reassembly. NEVER use petroleum-based grease (Vaseline, WD-40) on faucet rubber parts — petroleum swells and degrades rubber seals.

  $6–$10

  Buy on Amazon →

• Moen 104439 Cartridge Puller

  Cartridge puller tool designed for Moen faucets. Grips the cartridge body and applies straight-pull force without rocking — prevents damage to the valve body when the cartridge is stuck from mineral deposits. Works on Moen 1225 and 1255 cartridges.

  $8–$15

  Buy on Amazon →

Links are Amazon affiliate links (tag: fixitfastai-20). Prices are estimates.

Related Repairs