Hearing the drip of a leaky faucet is not only an annoying sound to hear, but can also rack up your water bill without you ever knowing it. If you are quite handy when it comes fixing things than you may opt to repair the leaking faucet on your own. There are several ways to fix a leaky faucet that can be completed with ease in just a few minutes time. Determining Your Faucet Type Before you begin the DIY process, you will need to determine what type of sink faucet you have. This may be a compression faucet, ball faucet, cartridge faucet or ceramic-disk faucet. A compression faucet is one of the easiest faucet types to determine by simply looking at it. This type of faucet has two screw handles that are each used for hot and cold water. A ball faucet has ball bearing while a cartridge faucet contains a cartridge, typically with a decorative cap. A ceramic-disk faucet has a ceramic cylinder which may need to be taken apart before determining the exact type of sink faucet that you are going to be working with. Turning Off The Water Not only will you need to have the water turned off from the sink faucet, but it will also need to be turned off from under the sink. The knob to turn in order to shut off the water can be found along the sink pipes. Don’t forget to plug up your sink drain so that you do not lose any parts during the DIY process. Fixing a Compression Faucet If you are fixing one of the most common types of sink faucets known as a compression faucet, you will want to start off by removing each handle simply by unscrewing them. A cap may need to be removed prior to unscrewing. Next, you will need to use a wrench in order to remove the nut that sits on top of the seat washer. In most cases, this is usually what is causing the leaky faucet. After pulling out the stem you will see the seat washer as well as the O-ring. Remove the seat washer and replace it with a new one in the correct size. Reassemble the handles to see if your faucets leak is repaired. Fixing a Ball Faucet The second most common type of faucet that you may be in need of fixing is a ball faucet. To begin fixing the leak, you will need to purchase a replacement kit that includes all of the necessary tools that will be need for this specialty faucet type. First, you will unscrew and remove each handle for hot and cold water. Then use your pliers to remove the cap and collar from the faucet. With a tool that is included in your replacement kit, simply loosen the faucet cam and remove it along with the washer and ball. Next, remove the inlet seals and springs from the faucet and replace the O-rings by cutting off the old ones. Install brand new springs and cam washers that should have been included in your repair kit and continue by reassembling the faucet handle. These steps should have effectively repaired your leaky faucet. If you are not familiar with repairing faucets or are unable to fix your leaky faucet, it could be time to call for professional assistance. Simply contact ABC Plumbing and Rooter Co., Inc for help with all of your plumbing and sink faucet repair needs.