Tips for Fixing Cartridge Faucets

One of the most common repairs you can make around the house is repairing a leaky cartridge faucet. With the right project instructions, you can easily learn how to change a cartridge faucet quickly. Buy learning how to change a leaky cartridge faucet yourself, you'll save some money by not having to call a plumber to repair the faucet.

Here are step-by-step do-it-yourself instructions on how to repair a leaky cartridge faucet:

Gather your project tools. The tools you'll need to repair a leaky cartridge faucet are an Allen wrench, a pipe wrench and a Phillips screwdriver.

Turn off Water Supply. Before you do any work, turn off the water supply. Look for the water shutoff to your faucet, which is usually right under the sink. You'll find a valve and a little handle. Turn the handle to shut it off. If the faucet doesn't have a shutoff valve at the faucet, turn the water supply off at the water main.

Remove cover plate or handle lever. The handle body will be attached to the faucet cartridge and perhaps under a plastic cover. The plastic cover will be on the top or the side of some handles. Take the cover plate off to unscrew the faucet handle.

Remove faucet body. Now that you've gained access to the screw that holds the cartridge to the faucet body, it's time to remove it with a screwdriver. Use the Phillips screwdriver or the Allen wrench to unscrew the screw and remove the faucet body from the cartridge stem.

Remove Locking Nut. Locate the locking nut if the faucet has one. Use a pipe wrench or pliers to remove it. You'll notice a brass screw at the top of the cartridge. Remove it and set aside to use when you install the new cartridge.

Remove Old Faucet Cartridge. Use some pliers to remove the old faucet cartridge. Take it with you to the hardware or home improvement store to better help you find the replacement faucet cartridge.

Install New Faucet Cartridge. Place the new faucet cartridge where the old faucet cartridge was removed. Use the slots to align the cartridge in the correct position. The faucet won't work if not properly aligned.

Put the Faucet back together. Replace the lock ring, tighten the faucet body and replace the cover plate or handle. Turn the water supply by on and make sure there aren't any leaks.