Repairing a leaking sink shut-off valve

Tighten the nut and check

Wrap masking tape around the jaw of your pipe wrench to avoid scratching and damaging the soft metal parts of the leaking shutoff valve. Then, using the pliers, grasp the nut located behind the valve handle and turn it slightly clockwise. Watch closely to see if the dripping has stopped or decreased; this is an indication that tightening this nut is sufficient to stop the leak. If the leak does not stop, proceed to the next step.

Turn off the water supply

Turn off the main water supply to the sink you are working on and drain the lines completely. Place a small container under the valve to catch any water that may leak from the pipes as you work.

Disassemble the shut-off valve

Loosen the screw on the shut-off valve handle with a screwdriver to disassemble it from the sink; it is not necessary to remove it from the supply line. After loosening the nut, pull out the threaded stem of the valve. Carefully note the position and size of the washers.

Clean or replace washers

If the valve is not broken or cracked, the cause of the leak is almost always the washers. Mineral deposits on them can compromise their tightness, and over time they can become so worn that they become ineffective. So you can either replace these washers with new ones of the same size or simply clean them, depending on the situation. Use a fresh rag to remove all unwanted and stained mineral deposits, and clean them carefully without scratching or tearing them. After that, they will become more flexible again and can better serve their purpose.

Reassembly

Reassemble the faucet and place it on the sink without using any lubricants. These lubricants can gum up the faucet components and make it difficult to perform future repairs.

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