Szeto Plumbing · San Gabriel Valley
A kitchen faucet leaking at the base
Water pooling around a kitchen faucet base usually means worn O-rings on the spout or a failing cartridge.
Mon–Sat, 8:30 AM–7 PM
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Kitchens, baths, heaters, main lines
Updated · 3 min read
Short answer
Water at the base of a single-handle kitchen faucet usually comes from worn O-rings on the swivel spout or from a cartridge leaking up past the handle. Identify the brand, shut the stops, and replace the O-rings or cartridge with the matching part.
On this page
Where the water appears
Watch the faucet as it runs. Water seeping from under a swivel spout as you move it points to spout O-rings.
Water coming up around the handle and running down to the base points to the cartridge.
Hard water and seals
Across the SGV, hardness runs from about 97 ppm in San Gabriel County Water District to about 240 in Alhambra. Scale roughens moving parts and wears seals faster.
The repair
Silicone grease on new O-rings helps them seat and slide. Old scale is cleaned off the body before reassembly.
When to replace the faucet
- No replacement parts for the model
- The body is cracked or corroded
- The sprayer hose and diverter also fail
- You want a pull-down or different style anyway
Common questions
Can a faucet leak damage the cabinet?
Water running down the faucet often seeps under the deck and into the cabinet. Fix it before the cabinet floor swells.
Is the leak under the sink from the faucet?
It can be the supply lines or sprayer hose instead. Dry everything and check each connection.
Do I need to turn off the main?
Usually not if the under-sink stops work. If they do not close, the main has to be shut.