How to Repair a Dripping Two-Handled Stem Faucet

Richard finds an identical-size replacement washer in his collection and fastens it on with the new brass screw. "For a short-term fix—in a pinch—you can flip the washer over if it's smooth on the other side," he suggests. Before placing the stem back on the valve seat (the cylindrical piece that butts against the washer and creates a seal with it when the faucet is off), he removes the seat with counterclockwise turns of a special seat wrench and checks it for burrs caused by scraping and corrosion. "If the seat is badly mangled," he says, "you could replace the washer every four days, but it'll just keep leaking." This one is undamaged, so he doesn't replace it; he just seals it with pipe joint compound and reassembles the handle.