My kitchen faucet is dripping from the base where it meets the counter. I tried tightening it but the drip keeps coming back. What could be causing this?
When a faucet leaks from the base rather than the spout, the O-rings around the faucet body are almost always the cause. These are rubber seals that sit where the faucet body meets the counter plate. Over time they dry out, crack, and lose their seal. Tightening the faucet compresses them temporarily but does not fix the underlying wear. To fix this properly, you need to turn off the water supply valves under the sink, remove the faucet handle and spout assembly to expose the O-rings, take them to a hardware store to match the exact size, and install new ones with a thin coat of plumber grease. The whole job takes about 20 minutes and the O-rings cost under $5. If your faucet is more than 12-15 years old, replacing the entire faucet may be more cost-effective since newer models are more water-efficient and the internal cartridges on older faucets tend to fail soon after the O-rings go.
How do I know if I should just replace the whole faucet instead of fixing it?
If the faucet is over 10 years old and you are seeing multiple issues like dripping, stiffness when turning, or mineral buildup that will not come off, replacement is usually the better investment. A quality faucet costs $80-150 and a plumber charges about $150-200 to install it. Compared to multiple repair visits at $100+ each, replacement often saves money in the long run.
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