Compression or stem type faucet – This is a two-handle faucet design. With a single faucet, you can enjoy both hot and cold water as per the requirement. You can tell a stem faucet by the way it feels when you turn it off. You should feel a rubber washer being squeezed inside the faucet.

Compression faucets have been around the longest and are very common in older homes. When a compression type stem springs a leak it is usually because its washer, located at the tip, has worn out, allowing water to seep between it and the faucet’s seat. Usually this leak can be stopped by replacing the old washer.

Fixing the leaky faucet is easy and you can accomplish this task in the following few steps. Shut off the water going to your faucet by turning off the sink’s shut off valve. This should be located underneath the sink. If you can’t find it, you can shut off the main water supply to your house. Also, remove the fancy plastic caps.

Loosen the lock-nut inside with a crescent wrench. Once the nut is loosened and removed, pull out the stem. With some types of faucets, the stem itself may be threaded into the body of the faucet assembly. You’ll have to turn it counter-clockwise to loosen and remove it.

At the end of the stem you’ll find the old washer on the end sitting in a valve seat. It will be held in place with a screw and it will look pretty well beaten up and crushed.

Remove the old washer by removing the brass screw and by taking a screwdriver into the screw hole in the washer, just pop the old washer out. Replace with the correctly sized washer. Taking the old one to the hardware store is the best way to fit a new washer.

If the faucet still leaks after you’ve replaced the washer, you may have to replace the valve seat, which requires a special wrench. The valve seat is located below the stem and can be accessed when the stem is removed.

Reassemble the stem and faucet assembly back to their places. Turn on the water supply and test for drips and leaks. If no leaks are found, no plumber is required. But if case you fail to stop the leaks, call in the plumber to set it right.