If your kitchen faucet is leaking that drip isn’t just annoying, it costs money, but a leaking kitchen faucet is not hard to fix if you know how. All you need is ten minutes and few simple tools.
All kitchen faucets today have a cartridge in the round base (on single handle kitchen faucets) or inside each of the two handles, on double handle models. If you have an older model kitchen faucet, your repair is a little different because it features a ball and stem valve instead of a cartridge.
Step 1
Turn the valve handles under the sink off.
Step 2
Loosen the set screw on the handle with an Allen wrench and slide the handle off the base of the faucet. On single handle faucets, the screw is on the base of the handle, and may be behind a plastic stopper. To get at the screw, pull out the stopper. On double handle faucets, it is underneath a plastic cap. Pry off the cap to get to the screw.
Step 3
Unscrew and remove all handle adapters if applicable.
Step 4
Unscrew the bonnet or dome cap (faucet body) under the handle with a large pair of pliers. Wrap the pliers in a towel or tape to prevent scratches on your faucet’s finish.
Step 5
Unscrew the cartridge retaining nut (most faucet models have this part). Or, pry out the cartridge retaining clip (on Moen faucets), or unscrew the cartridge screws (American Standard faucets).
Step 6
Pull the cartridge out and replace the cartridge.
Step 7
Tighten the retaining nut, bonnet and dome cap. Replace the handle and tighten up the set screw.