If your kitchen faucet leaks, it can be incredibly aggravating. Especially when you pour your time into fixing a leaky faucet by replacing the cartridge just to find out it still leaks. The constant drip that simply will not cease is frustrating.
Here’s the painful part: The leak may not have been due to a faulty cartridge. Now that’s not to say you wasted your time on replacing the leaky faucet cartridge. It is just to say that you have a bit of troubleshooting inside the faucet’s plumbing ahead of you.
Why Does My Delta Faucet Keep Dripping?
Your Delta faucet may be dripping due to an array of issues. To determine why it is leaking, you will need to isolate the leak. It could be caused by faulty parts inside the faucet, such as the rubber seats, O-rings, or springs. You will likely need replacement parts to fix the leak.
How Do I Stop My Delta Faucet From Leaking?
The first step in identifying the leak is determining the type of faucet you have, whether it is a shower head, bathtub faucet, or kitchen faucet. Since you already replaced the cartridge, it’s probably safe to say you have already determined that.
Next, you’ll need to figure out where the leak was coming from. If it is leaking under the faucet, the cartridge may have been faulty. Considering it is still leaking, you may need to tighten the nut holding the cartridge unit itself in place.
If it appears to be leaking from the aerator, which is the part fitted just inside the end of the spout, then the seats and springs might be your issue. The O-rings on the cartridge may be faulty or have built up hard water, so try cleaning these as well to see if that is the problem.
How To Fix A Leaking Aerator
What you’ll need:
- An adjustable wrench or tongue-and-groove pliers
- Allen wrench or screwdriver
- Rubber seat and spring replacements
- Replacement stem (if required)
- Plumber’s grease
You may be able to tell which side the leak is originating from by holding your hand under the drip from the faucet. If the water is warm, the hot side of the tap is likely the problem. If cold water is dripping, the cold side is what you should focus on.
Before you go to town taking apart your faucet, make sure you shut off the water supply so you don’t end up with a mess on your hands. If you are fixing one side of the faucet, you only need to shut off the side you are working on.
Remember to check that the water is off on that side by turning the specific handle on.
Start by removing the faucet handle using the screwdriver or Allen wrench. Remove the bonnet nut that secures the faucet stem using the tongue-and-groove pliers or adjustable wrench.
Before removing the stem, observe the position the stem was in, as you will need to reinstall it in the exact position, or your faucet will not work correctly. You can use pliers if necessary to remove the stem.
Next, you’ll need to remove the valve seat and spring. You’ll need to note the orientation of the spring within the valve seat, as you need to install the replacements the same way. Install your replacement seat and spring.
Reinstall the stem, then the bonnet nut, ensuring to tighten it carefully. Check to see if the leak is still a problem before replacing the handle. If it still leaks, carefully tighten the bonnet nut until the leaking ceases. Do not overtighten.
Reinstall the handle onto the stem and secure it with the screw, and you are done with your faucet repair and good to go!