What is going on
Faucets wear from the inside out. A cartridge or ceramic disc controls the water, and rubber seals keep it where it belongs. Hard water deposits grit on those surfaces every time the handle moves. Eventually the seal cannot close fully and the spout drips. A drip from the handle points to a worn O-ring or stem packing. Water pooling in the cabinet points to a supply connection or a cracked faucet body. Weak flow on one faucet only usually means a clogged aerator or a scaled cartridge, not a house pressure problem.
What we check
- 01
Where the water shows up
Spout, handle base, or cabinet floor. Each one points to a different part.
- 02
Brand and model
We identify the faucet so the replacement cartridge actually fits instead of almost fitting.
- 03
Aerator and screens
Unscrewed and inspected for scale, grit, and debris from recent water main work.
- 04
Valve body condition
Pitting or cracks inside the body mean new parts will not seal for long.
- 05
Supply connections
Lines and stops under the sink, since a drip below can masquerade as a faucet leak.
Your options
Cartridge or seal kit
The body is solid and parts are available. This is the most common fix.
Clean and descale
Low or sputtering flow caused by mineral buildup in the aerator or valve.
Replace the fixture
Corroded body, discontinued parts, or a repair bill that lands close to a new faucet.
Before we get there
Close the two valves under the sink if the drip is bad, and plug the drain so no small parts fall in when the handle comes off. Note whether the drip is hot, cold or both. That one detail tells us which cartridge side to look at first.