Close the two small valves under the sink, dry everything with a towel and watch which spot gets wet first. That one observation usually names the failed part.
Where the leak is tells you what failed
Match the spot to the likely cause before you buy a single part.
| Where the water appears | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Steady drip from the spout | Worn washer or seat, or a failing cartridge | Replace the washer, seat or cartridge |
| Water around the handle | Worn O-ring or loose packing nut | New O-ring, tighten the nut |
| Water at the base of the spout | Cracked or dry spout O-rings | Replace the spout seals |
| Spray or weak flow from the aerator | Mineral buildup | Soak or replace the aerator |
| Wet cabinet under the sink | Loose or worn supply lines, tailpiece or trap | Tighten, replace the line or reseal the drain |
| Drip even with the faucet fully off and valves closed | Cracked body or failed shutoff valve | Replace the faucet or the stop valve |
The four faucet designs and their parts
Faucets come in four basic designs, and each wears in its own way.
A compression faucet has two handles and uses rubber washers that press against a seat. Washers flatten and seats pit, so a drip in this style is almost always a washer or seat. Cartridge faucets use a plastic or brass cartridge that slides in the body, and a worn cartridge or O-ring lets water by.
Ball faucets use a single handle on a slotted ball with springs and rubber seats, which have many small parts. Ceramic disc faucets use two polished discs in a cylinder and last longest, but mineral deposits can stop the discs from sealing. Knowing your style helps you buy the right kit, and a photo of the part helps the hardware store.
Before you start: a DIY checklist
- Close the small valves under the sink, then open the faucet to relieve pressure.
- Plug the drain or lay a towel in the basin so small parts do not fall in.
- Take photos at each step so you can put it back in order.
- Remove the handle, then the cap, set screw or nut, and lift out the cartridge or stem.
- Check seats and O-rings for wear and scale.
- Bring the old part to the store to match the size and brand.
- Do not overtighten the nut, which can crack the body.
What a plumber does differently
A plumber looks past the drip. They check the shutoff valves, supply lines and finish condition. They also test whether the faucet body itself is worn, because a new cartridge in a corroded body only lasts a few months.
If the valves under the sink do not close or the faucet is badly pitted, replacement is cheaper than repeated repair. See our faucet repair page for what a visit covers. If the faucet is fine but a wall or ceiling is stained, that points to something else, and leak detection is the next step.
North Salt Lake water and your faucet
The city produces about 60% of its culinary water from its own pump stations and deep wells, and buys about 40% from Weber Basin. The 2024 water quality report lists total dissolved solids between 888 and 980 mg/L. Minerals at that level tend to leave scale on aerators and inside cartridges.
What that means for you: if your faucet flow is weak or sprays sideways, soak the aerator in vinegar before you replace anything. Scale also keeps cartridges from sealing, so expect to replace them more often than the maker’s minimum. The report advises flushing taps for 30 seconds to 2 minutes after the water has sat for hours.
If water is coming from somewhere you cannot stop, the city’s Public Works number is 801-335-8726, and after-hours water emergencies are 801-560-3718.
Faucet still dripping after a fix?
Call the 24/7 line. A licensed plumber can replace the cartridge or the whole fixture and check the valves underneath.
Older and newer homes
The city’s General Plan puts the first wave of homes between about 1910 and 1960 west of Orchard Drive and east of Main Street. Faucets and stop valves in that part of town may be decades old. The valves can seize or leak when you try to close them, so turn them gently and be ready to shut the main.
Foxboro was built from 2000 to 2010, and its faucets are newer. A leak there often comes from a failed cartridge, a loose supply line or a cheap fixture finishing its life. Homes near Woods Cross and Bountiful show the same pattern, with age deciding how much the valves can be trusted.
What changes the cost
Prices depend on a few things you can see before a plumber arrives:
- Whether the fix is a seal or cartridge, or the whole faucet.
- Whether the shutoff valves under the sink work.
- The faucet brand and whether parts are still sold.
- Access, such as a wall-mounted or bath faucet with a hidden cartridge.
Homeowners insurance usually covers sudden and accidental water damage, not a worn faucet. Ask your insurer if a drip has soaked a cabinet floor.
When to replace instead of repair
Replace the faucet when the body is corroded, parts are no longer made or you have repaired it twice in a year. Also replace if the finish is flaking, because flakes can clog aerators.
If a bathtub faucet will not shut off, that is more urgent, and a plumber should replace the valve before the water runs for days. Utah limits what homeowners may do themselves, so check with the Building Department and DOPL before you touch anything beyond the fixture.
Code notes for faucet work
Replacing a faucet with a like fixture is ordinary maintenance. Changing supply lines or shutoffs falls under the Utah plumbing code, the International Plumbing Code (IPC), and may need a permit from the Building Department.
Frequently asked questions
A worn washer, seat or cartridge lets water pass. Mineral scale on those parts is a common cause, and the fix is to replace or clean the part.
Often yes. Close the valves under the sink, take photos, replace the washer, cartridge or O-ring, and test. If the valves will not close, or the faucet is corroded, call a plumber.
Dry everything and watch. Water at the spout or handle is the faucet. Water at the connections or in the cabinet is a supply line, a stop valve or the drain.
The city’s report shows high total dissolved solids, which leave scale on parts. Scale does not cause every leak, but it shortens the life of cartridges and aerators.
A like-for-like faucet repair is a fixture repair, but Utah is strict about what homeowners may do. Replacing or relocating piping needs a permit through the Building Department at 10 E Center Street. Call them if you are unsure.
Close the stop valves under the sink. If they do not work, shut off the main water valve and call a plumber. After hours, the city line for water emergencies is 801-560-3718.