Repairing a Compression Washer Faucet

Introduction, Difficulty Level and Needed Tools
Repairing a leaky faucet is one of the most common repairs in the home. Compression faucets have been around the longest and are very common in older homes. However due to the various types of faucets available many home owners don't know what type of faucet they have in their home.

Compression faucets are the type that use a washer that when compressed (by tightening the faucet handle) shuts off the flow of water.

These washers take a beating and wear out pretty frequently. They are kind of "old school" in that they tend to have a few parts you have to take apart in order to replace the washer, but it's really not hard.

I'll show you how easy it can be to repair a compression faucet and you'll save yourself a chunk of change in plumbing bills in the process.

As I mentioned, there are several styles of faucets with compression faucets commonly found in older homes and cartridge faucets in newer homes. This tutorial is on replacing a compression (washer) type faucet.

• Difficulty Level
• Easy

• Needed Tools and Materials
• Pipe Wrench or Channel-Lock Pliers
• Phillips Head Screwdriver
   
  

Turn Off Water Supply at Sink

The first step in the faucet repair is to locate the water shutoff to your faucet and turn off the water to the leaking faucet. The water shutoff is usually found directly under the sink and consists of a small valve and a small handle. If the valve is similar to the style shown here, turn the handle clockwise to tighten and shut it off. More modern valves may have a toggle style lever that needs to be turned so it is opposite how you find it when the valve is open and the water is running.
If your house does not have local shutoff valves, then you'll need to go to the water main and shut off the water supply there (see How to Shut Off a Water Supply)

Once the water is shut off, then open the faucet fully releasing any pressure and letting the water drain out.

Remove Faucet Handle

The handle body will be attached to the faucet valve stem by a screw concealed under a cover cap. The cap on older faucets is often metal and screws into the handle. So to gain access to the screw holding the handle on, you must take a pliers and grip the cap and unscrew it to reveal the screw. Other faucets may just have a metal cap that pops on and off. The best way to tell is if the metal cap has serrations around the perimeter, then that's for grip and is probably a cap that screws off.

If the cap is thin, then it probably prys off.
Once the cap is removed, it will reveal a screw that holds the handle onto the valve stem. Remove the screw and firmly pull off the handle.

Remove Valve Stem Assembly Cover

Once the handle is removed, you'll typically find a cover over the valve stem assembly if the faucet is single faucet such as with a tub or some sinks. To remove the valve stem assembly cover, unscrew the knurled knob that holds it on and remove the cover.

Remove Valve Stem and Assembly

At the base of the exposed stem, you'll see that the top of the valve stem assembly has a hex shape nut so it can be removed with a wrench. Unscrew the valve stem assembly from the housing. You can use an adjustable wrench, pipe wrench or channel-lock pliers.

Once the valve stem assembly is removed, you'll find the old washer on the end sitting in a valve seat. It will be held in place with a screw and it will look pretty well beaten up and crushed.
Remove the old washer by removing the brass screw and by taking a screwdriver into the screw hole in the washer, just pop the old washer out.

Clean the end of the washer holder of any deposits or left over rubber so that the new washer sets cleanly into the valve seat.

Replace with the correctly sized washer. Taking the old one to the hardware store is the best way to fit a new washer.

Reassemble the faucet by replacing the valve stem and body, cover, handle and cap. Make sure to tighten the valve body into its seat securely.
Restore the water supply and check for leaks.