Drip. Drip. Drip. For three months I listened to my bathroom faucet leak and did nothing. Every time I washed my hands I told myself “I will deal with it this weekend.” Thirty-two weekends came and went.

Then my water bill arrived. Twenty-three dollars higher than the previous month. A dripping faucet at one drip per second wastes about three thousand gallons per year. That is roughly two hundred dollars down the drain, literally. I fixed it the next day.

Figure out what kind of faucet you have

This matters because different types need different fixes. Compression faucets have separate hot and cold handles you twist. Cartridge faucets have a single handle that moves up and down. Ball faucets have a single handle that swivels on a ball joint. Ceramic disc faucets look like cartridge but the handle only moves side to side, not up and down.

Compression faucets leak because a rubber washer at the base of the stem wears out. Everything else typically leaks because of a worn O-ring or cartridge. All of these are under ten dollars at any hardware store.

The universal first step

Turn off the water under the sink. There are two valves — hot and cold. Turn both clockwise until they stop. Then open the faucet to release pressure and drain remaining water. Cover the drain with a rag. You are about to handle small parts and nothing ruins a Saturday faster than watching a screw disappear down the drain.

Compression faucet fix (most common)

Pop off the decorative cap on the handle — it usually has a “Hot” or “Cold” indicator. Remove the screw underneath. Pull the handle off. Use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the packing nut. Pull out the stem. At the bottom of the stem is a rubber washer held by a brass screw. That washer is why your faucet drips. Pry it off, take it to the hardware store, buy an exact match. Put the new one on, reassemble in reverse order.

While you are in there, check the O-ring around the stem — if it looks flattened or cracked, replace it too. Hardware stores sell variety packs of O-rings for a few dollars.

Cartridge faucet fix

Remove the handle (usually a set screw on the side or under a cap). Unscrew the retaining nut. Pull the cartridge straight up — some need a cartridge puller tool, which Hardware stores loan for free. Take the old cartridge with you to match it. Brands use subtly different cartridges that look the same. Drop in the new one, align the tabs, tighten the nut, replace the handle.

I made the mistake of buying a cartridge that looked right but was off by two millimeters. The handle sat crooked and the leak was worse. Take the old part with you. Every time.