Drips from the spout when the faucet is off
A steady drip or slow bead forms at the faucet outlet even with the handle fully closed.
Start here: Start with the cartridge branch. This is the most common internal shutoff leak.
Plumbing
Faucet Leaking
Direct answer: A leaking faucet is usually caused by a worn faucet cartridge, a loose or damaged faucet aerator, a leaking faucet sprayer hose, or a seal problem around the handle or base. The fastest way to get the right fix is to find the first wet point, not the place where water finally drips.
Most likely: If water drips from the spout even when the faucet is fully off, the faucet cartridge is the most likely fault.
Most faucet leaks look similar from a distance, but the repair path changes a lot depending on where the water begins. Start with a dry faucet, watch closely while it is off and while it is running, and separate a true faucet leak from water that is splashing, wicking under the base, or coming from below the sink.
Don’t start with: Do not start by replacing the whole faucet or buying parts before you know whether the leak starts at the spout, handle, base, or sprayer hose.
Drip from the spout when off?Check the faucet cartridge path first.
Water around the base or under the sink?Trace the first wet point before touching parts.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-20
Match the leak pattern before you repair it
Leaks around the handle while running or turning
Water appears at the handle area, then runs down the faucet body or onto the sink deck.
Start here: Check for a loose handle first, then suspect the faucet cartridge or handle seal area.
Water shows up around the faucet base
The sink deck gets wet around the bottom of the faucet, especially while the faucet is on.
Start here: Dry everything and confirm whether the leak starts at the base itself or is running there from the handle or spout.
Leak is from the sprayer hose or pull-down head area
Water drips from the hose, spray head connection, or under-sink hose loop when the faucet runs.
Start here: Inspect the faucet sprayer hose path and connections before assuming the faucet body is bad.
Most likely causes
1. Worn faucet cartridge
A cartridge that no longer seals fully will let water pass to the spout even when the faucet is off. It can also leak up into the handle area on some faucets.
Quick check: Dry the faucet completely. If the only water that returns is from the spout with the faucet off, the cartridge is the leading suspect.
2. Loose or clogged faucet aerator causing splash-back
A damaged or partially blocked aerator can send water sideways or back toward the base, making the faucet look like it is leaking when the real problem is spray pattern.
Quick check: Run the faucet and watch the stream. If it sprays unevenly, fans outward, or spits toward the sink deck, inspect the aerator before opening the faucet body.
3. Leaking faucet sprayer hose or connection
On pull-down and side-sprayer faucets, a split hose or loose connection can drip under the sink or around the spray head only while water is running.
Quick check: With a flashlight, watch the hose under the sink while someone runs the faucet and switches spray modes if applicable.
4. Leak at the handle or base seal area
Water around the handle or base often means the leak starts higher up and runs down the faucet body, or that the faucet body seals are no longer holding water where they should.
Quick check: Wrap a dry paper towel around the handle base and then around the faucet base separately while the faucet runs to see which area gets wet first.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Dry the faucet and find the first wet point
A faucet can drip in one place but actually leak from somewhere else higher up. Starting dry helps you avoid the wrong repair.
- Clear items from the sink and cabinet below so you can see the faucet clearly.
- Wipe the spout, handle, base, spray head, and the area under the sink completely dry.
- Place a dry paper towel around the faucet base and another under the sink beneath the faucet connections.
- Leave the faucet off for a few minutes and watch for fresh water at the spout, handle, base, or hose.
- Then run the faucet and watch again, looking for the first place that gets wet.
Next move: You now know whether the leak happens with the faucet off, only while running, or only below the sink. If everything gets wet too quickly to tell, dry it again and test one area at a time: spout first, then handle, then base, then sprayer hose.
What to conclude: A spout drip with the faucet off points toward the faucet cartridge. Water that appears only while running often points to the aerator, handle area, base seals, or sprayer hose.
Stop if:
- Water is spraying hard enough to damage cabinets or flooring.
- The shutoff valves under the sink will not close or start leaking when touched.
- You cannot tell whether the water is coming from the faucet or from supply plumbing below.
Step 2: Rule out splash and aerator problems first
An uneven stream can throw water onto the sink deck and make a faucet look like it is leaking at the base.
- Run the faucet at low and medium flow and watch the stream shape closely.
- If the stream sprays sideways, sputters, or hits the sink deck, unscrew the faucet aerator if accessible.
- Rinse the faucet aerator with warm water and gently remove visible mineral buildup by hand.
- Reinstall the aerator and test the faucet again.
- If the aerator is cracked, cross-threaded, or will not seat squarely, note that for replacement.
Repair guide: How to Replace a Faucet Aerator
What to conclude: A bad spray pattern points to the faucet aerator. A normal stream with continued leaking points elsewhere.
Step 3: If the spout drips when the faucet is off, focus on the cartridge
A faucet that will not shut water off cleanly usually has an internal sealing problem in the cartridge.
- Confirm the faucet drips from the spout even after the handle is fully closed.
- Turn the faucet on and off several times to make sure the handle is actually reaching its stop.
- Check whether tightening a loose handle changes anything. If the handle is loose, snug it carefully and retest.
- If the drip remains unchanged, plan on replacing the faucet cartridge rather than the whole faucet.
- Use your faucet's handle style and cartridge shape to match the replacement part carefully before buying.
Repair guide: How to Replace a Faucet Cartridge
Step 4: If water appears at the handle, base, or sprayer hose, isolate that branch
These leaks often happen only while the faucet is running, and each location points to a different repair.
- For a handle-area leak, dry the handle area and run the faucet while turning it on and off. If water starts at the handle, the faucet cartridge or handle sealing area is likely leaking.
- For a base-area leak, dry the faucet body and base ring, then run water while watching where the wetness begins. If water starts above and runs down, the base is not the root cause.
- For a pull-down or side-sprayer leak, inspect the faucet sprayer hose, spray head connection, and under-sink hose loop while the faucet runs.
- If the hose drips only when flexed or when spray mode is used, the faucet sprayer hose is the likely failed part.
- If the handle is cracked or will not tighten securely onto the stem, note that the faucet handle itself may need replacement.
Next move: You should now have one main repair path instead of guessing between several parts. If the leak still seems to come from below the sink or from supply tubing, stop this page and inspect the shutoff valves and supply connections instead of buying faucet parts.
Step 5: Take the confirmed repair path and verify the leak is gone
Once the leak location is clear, the best next move is a targeted repair and a careful retest.
- If the faucet drips from the spout when off, replace the faucet cartridge.
- If the faucet only splashes or sprays oddly, replace the faucet aerator if cleaning and reseating did not fix it.
- If the pull-down or side-sprayer hose leaks, replace the faucet sprayer hose.
- If the faucet handle is cracked, stripped, or will not stay tight on the stem, replace the faucet handle.
- After the repair, dry the faucet and cabinet again, run hot and cold water, switch spray modes if applicable, and leave the faucet off for several minutes to confirm there is no return drip.
A good result: No fresh water should appear at the spout, handle, base, or hose during use or after shutoff.
If not: If the leak remains after the matching repair, the faucet body may be damaged or the leak may actually be from nearby supply plumbing. At that point, move to a closer under-sink diagnosis or call a plumber.
What to conclude: A successful retest confirms you fixed the actual source, not just the place where water was collecting.
Replacement Parts
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FAQ
Why does my faucet drip even when it is turned off?
The most common reason is a worn faucet cartridge that no longer seals fully. A loose handle can sometimes mimic this, but if the handle is secure and the spout still drips, the cartridge is the likely fix.
Can a clogged aerator make a faucet seem like it is leaking?
Yes. A partially blocked or damaged faucet aerator can spray water sideways or back toward the base, making the sink deck look like it has a leak. Clean and reseat the aerator before opening the faucet body.
Why is my faucet leaking only when I turn it on?
That usually points away from a simple shutoff drip and toward a handle-area leak, a base leak, or a leaking faucet sprayer hose. Dry the faucet first and watch for the first place that gets wet while water is running.
Should I replace the whole faucet if it is leaking?
Not first. Many faucet leaks are fixed with a cartridge, aerator, sprayer hose, or handle. Replace the whole faucet only after you confirm the body is cracked, badly corroded, or not worth repairing.
What if the water under my sink is not coming from the faucet itself?
Then the problem may be at the shutoff valves, supply lines, or another sink connection. This page keeps the parts box faucet-specific, so stop and trace the under-sink leak before buying faucet parts.