Should I repair or replace a leaky faucet?

Repair it, in most cases. A drip is usually one worn part, and a cartridge, washer or O-ring is less work and less money than a new faucet. Replace the faucet when the faucet itself has failed: a cracked or corroded body, parts that are no longer made, leaks from several places at once, or a repair quote that comes close to the price of a new faucet installed.

Why repair is usually the answer

Utilities that field leak calls say the same thing. Chesterfield County's utility department: "A faucet leak is usually due to old or broken interior parts of the valve. In most cases, the entire fixture does not need to be replaced." It adds that Replacement washers and valves, available at a local hardware store, may solve this problem.^[1] Moen says that leaks are often caused by a scratched or torn cartridge, O-ring, or grommet, and a cartridge replacement typically corrects the leak.^[2]

A worn part does not mean a worn-out faucet. Cartridges, washers and O-rings are made to be replaced, which is why faucet makers sell them as service parts. How to fix a dripping faucet covers the repair itself.

Find out what is actually leaking

Before deciding, work out where the water comes from, because some leaks look like others. Moen notes: "A handle leak can puddle onto the base plate (escutcheon) making it appear to be a leak at the base of the faucet."^[3] To tell them apart, wrap a paper towel around the handle and turn the faucet on; a wet towel points to a handle leak rather than one at the base.^[3] For a leak at the base of the spout on a two-handle widespread faucet, Moen's fix is new O-rings.^[3] All of these are repairs.

Water under the sink is different again: it may be a supply line, a shutoff valve or the drain, not the faucet. See why water leaks under a kitchen sink.

Check two things before you buy anything

Parts. Look the faucet up on the maker's site. Pfister notes that if your faucet is more than five years old, you may need to tick the box that shows discontinued items to find it,^[5] and the model's maintenance guide links the parts. If the maker still lists your cartridge, repair is easy. If no one makes a part that fits, replacement is the honest answer.

Warranty. Some faucets carry a lifetime warranty on leaks. Under its current lifetime limited warranty, Moen will provide parts free of charge if a covered faucet develops a leak or drip during the warranty period, for the original consumer purchaser as long as they own the home, though the current text applies only to faucets purchased after November 2024 and labour is not covered.^[4] Older faucets fall under the warranty that came with them. Free parts tip the decision firmly toward repair.

When replacing makes sense

Replace the faucet when:

• The body is cracked, the spout is loose in its base, or corrosion has eaten into the metal.
• Parts are no longer made, or the faucet has no brand you can identify.
• It leaks from the spout, the handle and the base, so you would be replacing most of its insides anyway.
• You have already replaced the cartridge or washers and it still leaks. EPA's WaterSense program advises: "If you've already determined you have leaks and you find these step-by-step solutions aren't enough to stop them, it might be time to replace your leaking fixtures."^[6]
• You are remodeling, or want a different style or a more efficient faucet.

If you replace, buy with water use in mind. WaterSense labeled bathroom sink faucets and accessories that use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute can reduce a sink's water flow by 30 percent or more from the standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute.^[7] EPA only has WaterSense labeling criteria for bathroom sink and bar sink faucets, so there is no label to look for on a kitchen faucet, and in many areas, utilities offer rebates and vouchers on labeled models.^[7]

A new faucet should also be lead free. Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act defines lead free as a weighted average of 0.25% lead across the wetted surfaces of a pipe, fitting or fixture, and the Act prohibits using any fixture that is not lead free in the installation or repair of plumbing that provides water for human consumption.^[8] Buy from a known maker and check the packaging for a lead-free certification mark.

Permits, and whether to hire

Neither choice needs a permit if the pipes stay as they are. Virginia's building code lists, among ordinary repairs that need no permit, "Replacement of plumbing fixtures and well pumps in all groups without alteration of the water supply and distribution systems, sanitary drainage systems, or vent systems."^[9] Moving the faucet, adding a sink or changing the piping does need one.

If you hire the work out, hire a licensed plumber. DPOR's Board for Contractors regulates individual tradesmen in electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas fitting work, and says that state certification of these trades is mandatory, not optional.^[10] The Board's consumer guide advises: "It is advisable to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors."^[11] Asking each plumber to quote both the repair and a replacement makes the decision a straight comparison. If you intend to do some of the work yourself, the guide says this also should be written into the contract.^[11]

Stop and call a pro if

• The shutoff valves under the sink will not close, or leak once you move them.
• The faucet body or a supply connection is cracked, corroded or leaking into the cabinet.
• The old cartridge or stem is seized and will not come out without force.
• The job turns into moving the faucet, changing pipes or replacing the sink.

For what each option costs, see what a plumber charges to fix a leaky faucet and what a plumber charges to replace a kitchen faucet. If you decide to replace it yourself, how to replace a kitchen faucet walks through it. You can also browse all plumbing repair answers or find plumbers in Blacksburg.

To get both prices for your own faucet, describe the leak once and licensed local plumbers quote it.