Faucet Leaking From the Handle or Base? Causes and Fixes
Water around the handle or pooling at the base of the spout comes from worn O-rings, packing, a loose retaining nut, or a worn cartridge. Where the water first shows up tells you which.
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Short answer. Where the water first shows up tells you the cause. Around the handle while the faucet runs: worn cartridge O-rings, worn packing on an older stem, or a loose retaining nut. At the base of a swiveling spout: worn spout O-rings, or on some single-handle faucets a clogged aerator pushing water back. Under the sink: a supply line or valve, not the faucet.
Find exactly where the water starts
Dry the faucet, the deck and the cabinet completely. Run the faucet for a minute, then look for the first drop. Water travels, so the puddle is often somewhere other than the leak.
Read the leak
| Where the water shows up | What it usually means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Under the handle, single-handle faucet, while running | Worn cartridge O-rings or a loose cartridge nut | Snug the nut; replace the cartridge if it continues |
| Under a handle, older two-handle faucet | Worn packing or bonnet O-ring on the stem | Replace the packing or O-ring, or the stem if it also drips |
| At the base of a swiveling spout | Worn spout O-rings | Replace the spout O-rings |
| At the base, single-handle, dirty aerator | Back pressure through the spout seals, or a worn cartridge | Clean the aerator, then replace the cartridge |
| Under the sink at a connection | Supply line, shutoff valve or drain | Tighten or replace that connection |
| From the spout with the faucet off | Worn sealing part | See why is my faucet dripping |
Leaks at the handle
On a single-handle faucet the cartridge sits under the handle and seals with O-rings. When those wear, water comes up around the handle every time the faucet runs. Sometimes the nut or clip holding the cartridge has backed off: take the handle off and snug it. If water still appears, replace the cartridge. Kohler’s guidance for a leak under the handle is the same.
On an older two-handle compression faucet, the stem seals against the bonnet with packing or an O-ring. That seal wears separately from the washer at the bottom, so a stem can leak at the handle without dripping from the spout. Replacing the packing or O-ring is often enough.
Leaks at the base
Faucets with a swiveling spout have O-rings around the spout body. When they wear, water escapes at the base while the faucet runs, and new O-rings sized for that spout fix it. On some single-handle faucets, Moen’s first step for a base leak is cleaning the aerator, because a clogged aerator forces water back through the spout seals. If that does not stop it, the cartridge is next.
What to do next
- Shut off the supply valves and open the faucet.
- Take off the handle and check whether the retaining nut or clip is loose.
- For a handle leak, replace the cartridge, or the packing or O-ring on a compression stem.
- For a base leak, lift off the spout and replace its O-rings.
Brand removal steps: Moen, Delta, Kohler, Pfister. Dripping from the spout instead? See why is my faucet dripping.
Cannot find the right O-rings or cartridge
Older and builder-grade faucets often have no readable model number, and O-ring kits and cartridges are not universal. Photograph the cartridge or stem with the handle and spout and a specialist identifies the replacement. If you would rather measure it yourself, the CID Finder takes the length and spline count and shows what matches.
When to call a plumber
Call a pro if the faucet body is cracked, if water is coming from inside the wall or under the floor, if the shutoff valves will not close, or if the leak is in a wall-mounted faucet.
Common questions
Why is water leaking from my faucet handle?
Water seeping out under the handle while the faucet runs means the seal around the stem has worn: the O-rings on a cartridge, or the packing or O-ring on an older compression stem. Sometimes the nut that holds the cartridge has simply loosened. Kohler's fix when snugging the nut does not stop it is a new cartridge.
Why is my faucet leaking at the base of the spout?
On a faucet with a swiveling spout, worn O-rings on the spout body let water out at the base when it runs. On some single-handle faucets, a clogged aerator can push water back through the spout seals. Moen suggests cleaning the aerator first and replacing the cartridge if the leak continues.
Is water under the sink the same problem?
No. Water under the sink usually comes from a supply line connection, the shutoff valve, or the drain. Dry everything and run the faucet to see where the first drop appears.
My old two-handle faucet leaks around one handle. Do I need a whole new stem?
Not always. On a compression stem the leak at the handle is often the packing or the O-ring under the bonnet nut, which can be replaced on its own. If the stem also drips from the spout or the threads are worn, replace the stem.
Do I need a new faucet if it leaks at the base?
Usually not. O-rings, packing and cartridges are replaceable. A new faucet only makes sense if the body is cracked, badly corroded, or no parts are made for it.