Q. My shower faucet started leaking and I’m not sure how to go about fixing it.

A. Whenever there is dripping from the shower head (or tub spout) and it’s a slow leak then it’s most likely a problem with the seats and springs in a two handle unit. This is  easily replaced in Delta brand and Peerless since both these brands accept parts that are  readily available at any major retail store such as Wal-Wart, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.

Here’s how to take a two handle faucet apart:

In Metal LEVER handles there should be a set screw that you must take out. In Metal or Acrylic GLOBE handles there is a cap that you must take off the top of the faucet and then take out the screw underneath the cap. Make certain the water supply IS TURNED OFF at the meter or at the unit you are working on!!! There you’ll see a long (typically brass) stem that has teeth at the end. There should be a screw on ring at the base of the handle that holds this stem on. When you take that off there you will see a rubber ring that is somewhat in the shape of a cylinder that will either come out by itself or you will be able to easily pop it out. Immediately underneath it there is a spring. These last two parts are, from my experience, the culprits behind 90% of faucet leaks.

Whenever the faucet are single handle you will find, after you take off the handles and the “valve ring”, a stem with a ball on it. This is  oftentimes chrome or brass. Underneath it is a round washer that’s slightly like a pyramid in shape. This is the culprit in most single handle faucets.

Take the stem that you removed (valve stem) and the seat and spring or the cone washer to your hardware store, Wal-Mart, Lowe’s or Home Depot and find the exact same one in the exact same brand.

If it’s leaking out from the handle then you will most likely have no other choice than to replace the faucet.