Fixtures
Why Your Faucet Drips, and When to Repair or Replace
Most drips come from a worn washer, O-ring, or cartridge inside the faucet, all inexpensive parts. A repair is usually the right call unless the faucet is old, corroded, or you want to upgrade anyway.
A drip is not just annoying. It wastes water steadily and can worsen, so fixing it promptly is cheaper than living with it, and far cheaper than the fixture damage a neglected leak can cause.
What actually causes a drip
A faucet controls water with internal parts that wear out, and a drip almost always means one of them has. In a compression faucet, it is usually a worn rubber washer or seat. In the more common cartridge, ball, and ceramic-disc faucets, it is typically a worn cartridge, O-rings, or seals that no longer close fully against the water pressure behind them.
These are small, inexpensive parts, which is good news. The steady drip that is driving you up the wall is usually a modest repair, not a sign the whole fixture is finished.
Why a drip is worth fixing promptly
It is tempting to live with a drip, but it costs more than it seems. A steady drip wastes a real amount of water over weeks and months, and it tends to get worse rather than better as the worn part continues to degrade.
There is also the fixture and sink to consider. A constant drip can stain a basin, and a leak that migrates to the base or the supply connections can damage the countertop or cabinet below. Catching it while it is just a drip is the cheap version of the problem.
| Situation | Usually best |
|---|---|
| Drip from a worn washer or cartridge | Repair |
| Faucet is a few years old and sound | Repair |
| Handle loose or hard to turn | Repair |
| Body corroded or mineral-locked | Replace |
| Persistent leaks in multiple spots | Replace |
| You want a new style or finish | Replace |
When repair is the right call
For most drips, repair is both cheaper and sensible. If the faucet is otherwise sound, a few years old, and the problem is a worn internal part, replacing that part restores it to good working order for a fraction of the cost of a new fixture and installation.
Repair is also the right call for a handle that has become loose or stiff, or a spout that swivels poorly, all of which usually trace to worn internal components rather than a failed fixture. A faucet repair addresses these without the cost and disruption of a full replacement.
A drip that will not quit is usually a small part, not a new faucet. Worth fixing before it worsens.
Call (720) 698-9956When replacement makes more sense
Sometimes replacement is the better spend. A faucet whose body is corroded or mineral-locked, one that leaks in several places at once, or an old fixture where parts are hard to find can cost more to nurse along than to replace. And if you were planning to update the look anyway, a leak is a natural prompt.
Installation done properly matters here. A new faucet has to seal correctly, and on older Golden homes the shut-off valves beneath the sink sometimes no longer work, which is worth addressing at the same time. A proper faucet installation includes making sure those supply stops actually function.
A note on older Golden homes
In Golden's older housing, a faucet job occasionally uncovers more than a worn washer. Corroded supply lines, shut-off valves that will not turn, or aging pipe behind the wall can turn up when a fixture is serviced, especially in the downtown Victorians and bungalows on original plumbing.
None of that is a reason to avoid the repair; it is a reason to have it done by someone who will tell you what they find. If a drip turns out to be the visible end of aging supply pipe, that is useful to know, and occasionally it is the first hint that a home is heading toward repiping down the road.
How to make a new faucet last
A quality faucet installed correctly can run trouble-free for many years, and a little care extends that. Avoid forcing a stiff handle, which accelerates wear on the cartridge, and address a new drip promptly rather than cranking the handle harder to stop it, which only wears the part faster.
On Golden's moderate water, mineral buildup is slower than in a hard-water town but not absent, so an occasional clean of the aerator keeps the flow strong. Treating the fixture gently and dealing with small issues early is what turns a good installation into a decade of quiet service.
It is also worth knowing where the shut-off valves under the sink are, and that they turn freely, so a future cartridge swap or emergency is simple. A faucet that is easy to isolate is a faucet that is easy to service when the time comes.
Dripping faucet questions
Why is my faucet dripping even when it is off?
Because an internal part has worn and no longer seals against the water pressure behind it, usually a washer, O-ring, or cartridge. These are small, inexpensive parts, so a persistent drip is normally a modest repair rather than a sign the faucet is finished. The exception is a faucet whose body has corroded or mineral-locked over the years, where the wear is in the fixture itself rather than a replaceable part, and replacement becomes the cleaner answer.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace a faucet?
For a sound faucet with a worn internal part, repair is usually far cheaper than a new fixture plus installation. Replacement makes more sense when the body is corroded, parts are hard to find, or you want to update the look anyway.
How much water does a dripping faucet waste?
A steady drip adds up to a meaningful amount over weeks and months, and it tends to worsen as the worn part degrades further. That, plus the risk of staining or fixture damage, is why fixing it promptly is cheaper than living with it.
Can I replace a faucet myself?
Many people can, but the fixture has to seal correctly and the supply connections must be tight, and on older homes the shut-off valves beneath the sink sometimes no longer work. If those valves are stuck, or the job uncovers corroded pipe, it is worth having a plumber handle it.
Could a drip mean a bigger problem?
Usually not, but in an older home a faucet job occasionally uncovers corroded supply lines or failing shut-offs behind the wall. That does not make the drip itself serious, but it is useful information, and worth having someone note what they find. It is the difference between fixing a symptom and understanding the plumbing behind it, which on an older home is knowledge that pays off later.
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Call (720) 698-9956This article is general guidance reflecting standard plumbing practice and the International Plumbing Code (IPC). Every home is different, so treat it as a starting point rather than a substitute for an on-site assessment by a licensed plumber.