How do I keep faucets from leaking?

Faucets leak when their seals wear out, and most of what wears them out is avoidable: heavy-handed closing, mineral scale, grit, the wrong grease and harsh cleaners. Loudoun Water's leak guide sums up the cause: "Faucet leaks are usually caused by worn-out seals."^[1] It also notes that Worn parts or loose water supply connections are common causes for faucet leaks.^[1] A few habits and a twice-yearly check keep both in hand.

Close handles gently

The simplest habit matters most. A USDA plumbing bulletin gives the rule: "Moderate force on the handle of a faucet in good repair should stop all flow and drip."^[5] On a compression faucet, cranking the handle shut crushes the rubber washer against the seat and shortens its life. On a cartridge or disc faucet, forcing the lever past its stop strains the cartridge. If a faucet only stops dripping when you lean on it, it needs a repair, not more force; see how to fix a dripping faucet.

Keep minerals and grit out

Where water is hard, it leaves scale. Virginia Cooperative Extension notes that Hard water can also produce a mineral scale on the inside of pipes, cookware, and plumbing fixtures.^[6] Inside a faucet, that scale and the grit that rides with it wear seals. Moen lists sediment or debris in the cartridge, mineral buildup or a damaged seal within the cartridge as the usual causes of a stiff handle,^[7] which is often the first sign a cartridge is on its way out.

The aerator on the spout is the easiest place to keep clean. Moen notes: "Over time, aerators can accumulate debris and mineral deposits, which can restrict water pressure or distort the spray pattern."^[8] Most unscrew by hand: an aerator with threads on the outside of its shell unscrews clockwise, and one with threads on the inside unscrews counter-clockwise.^[8] Concealed aerators need the small key that came with the faucet. Rinse the screens, scrub off scale with an old toothbrush, and refit it. How to clean a clogged faucet aerator has the detail, and how to keep faucets free of mineral buildup covers descaling.

Clean the outside without harming it

Harsh cleaners can damage a faucet's finish. For most of its finishes Moen recommends a damp cloth and mild liquid dishwashing soap, followed by rinsing with water and drying with a soft cloth, and says: "Avoid using any harsh cleansers (e.g., lime scale removers) or pads/sponges that are unsafe for polished metallic surfaces."^[9] For dried water spots, Moen allows A 50/50 blend of household vinegar and water, rinsed off afterward.^[9] It matters for the warranty too: Moen's lifetime limited warranty excludes damage from cleaners containing abrasives, alcohol, or other organic solvents.^[10]

Use the right grease when the faucet is apart

When you service a faucet, grease its seals with silicone grease and nothing else. For one-handle faucets with a 1225 cartridge, Moen has you remove the cartridge and lubricate it inside and out with a silicone-based grease, and it warns: "Petroleum-based lubricants may react with the rubber seals and could cause the handle to become even more difficult to operate."^[7] Other cartridges are replaced rather than greased, so check the maker's instructions for your model.

Check every faucet a few times a year

EPA's WaterSense leak checklist makes this quick. For bathroom faucets: "Faucets: Listen for drips and turn on the tap to check for water going the wrong direction." And for every sink: "Under the sink: Check for pooling water under pipes and rust around joints and edges."^[4] Loudoun Water adds two jobs: "Periodically replace worn fittings, washers, gaskets and aerators inside the faucet," and check that the supply tubing is secured tightly at the wall and the faucet, and if that does not stop the leak, the tubing may need to be replaced.^[1]

Pick a date so it happens. EPA's annual Fix a Leak Week, which in 2026 ran March 16 through 22,^[3] is a good one. Looking under sinks matters as much as watching spouts: Loudoun Water warns that hidden leaks can cause significant water damage to walls and ceilings if not identified quickly.^[1] How to check your house for leaks once a year covers the rest of the house.

Fix the first drip

A drip is the cheapest point to act. Richmond's Department of Public Utilities puts it simply: "Tightening connections or replacing washers can often stop the leak."^[2] Waiting lets grit cut the seat of a compression faucet and lets scale build up in a cartridge, which turns a washer job into a seat or cartridge job.^[5]

Keep the shutoff valves working

The valves under the sink are what make a faucet repair easy, and valves that never move can seize. Open and close each one by hand once or twice a year. Pfister advises that if your stops won't turn by hand, you can carefully use a wrench to get them moving, then finish turning them by hand,^[12] rather than forcing them all the way. Multi-turn valves tighten a rubber gasket onto a seat inside the valve, while quarter-turn valves pivot a ball with a hole through it.^[11] An old multi-turn valve that drips at its stem or will not close fully is worth replacing before it fails during a repair.

Treat hard water if it is causing trouble

Not every home needs a softener. Virginia Cooperative Extension says that generally, water hardness levels less than 7.0 gpg or 120 mg/L do not require treatment, and treatment is only necessary when the hardness level is causing a problem for the homeowner.^[6] Test first: The Virginia Household Water Quality Program maintains a list of certified laboratories. If the result is high and scale is a problem, "The most common way to treat hard water is through ion exchange water softening." Be wary of magnetic or electronic descalers; Extension notes that no recognized agency in the United States has established protocol to assess the effectiveness of physical water treatment devices.^[6] See do you need a water softener in Virginia.

Stop and call a pro if

• Water is pooling in the cabinet, or there are stains or soft spots under the sink or on a ceiling below.
• A shutoff valve will not close, or leaks at its stem once moved.
• The faucet body or spout is cracked or corroded, or the faucet leaks from several places at once.
• A new washer or cartridge has not stopped the drip; see why a faucet still drips after a new washer.

For when a repair stops making sense, see should you repair or replace a leaky faucet. You can also browse all plumbing repair answers or find plumbers in Blacksburg.

If a faucet has started to leak, describe the repair once and licensed local plumbers quote it.