What To Do if You Find a Leaky Faucet in the Winter
Non Profits | December 23, 2025
Non Profits | December 23, 2025
Winter brings a cozy atmosphere to our homes. You settle in with a warm blanket, a hot cup of tea, and a good book. Then you hear it. Drip. Drip. Drip. A leaky faucet is annoying at the best of times, but discovering one in the middle of winter adds a layer of anxiety. You might worry about water bills spiking or, worse, the potential for water damage during freezing temperatures.
Ignoring a small leak often leads to bigger headaches down the road. Water waste adds up surprisingly fast, and consistent moisture creates a breeding ground for mold. In colder months, plumbing issues can escalate quickly if temperatures drop significantly. Dealing with a leak promptly protects your home and your wallet. Take a look at what to do if you find a leaky faucet in the winter and why you should act sooner rather than later.
Before you grab any tools, you must identify exactly where the water is coming from. A faucet can leak from the spout, which is the most common issue, but it can also leak from the base where the faucet body meets the sink. The location of the leak tells you which part has failed.
Watch the faucet carefully. If water drips from the spout even when the handles are fully off, you likely have a problem with a washer or an O-ring inside the handle mechanism. If you see water pooling around the base of the faucet, the gaskets sealing the fixture to the sink might have deteriorated. Knowing the specific location helps you buy the right replacement parts and saves you from taking apart the wrong section of the fixture.
Safety comes first in any home repair. You must stop the flow of water before you attempt to disassemble anything. Look underneath your sink for the shut-off valves. You will typically see two valves: one for hot water and one for cold. Turn them clockwise until they stop.
Test the faucet by turning the handles on. If water still flows, the valves might not be closing completely, or you might have turned the wrong ones. If the valves under the sink are stuck or broken, you will need to turn off the water at the main supply line for your house. This is usually located in the basement, garage, or near the street. Once the water stops flowing, open the faucet handles to drain any remaining water from the lines. This relieves pressure and prevents a messy spray when you unscrew the parts.
Having the proper equipment makes the job much smoother. You don’t want to be running back and forth to the garage while your sink is in pieces. Most faucet repairs require only a few basic tools that you likely already have in a kitchen drawer or a basic tool kit.
Prepare a workspace by clearing out the items under the sink. Place a towel or a small bucket under the pipes to catch any drips. Lay out a cloth on the counter to place the small parts you remove. This prevents them from rolling down the drain.
Here is a checklist of the essentials you will need:
Disassembling the faucet reveals the culprit. Most standard faucets use a compression mechanism. You start by removing the decorative cap on the handle. Prying it off gently with a flathead screwdriver usually works. Underneath, you will find a screw. Remove this screw to pull off the handle.
Once the handle is off, use your wrench to loosen the packing nut. You will then see the stem. Remove the stem to inspect the O-ring and the washer at the bottom. These rubber parts degrade over time due to friction and water pressure. If they look flat, cracked, or worn, they are the likely cause of your leak.
While you are working under the sink, take a moment to inspect the area for cold air drafts. Cabinetry against an exterior wall often lets cold air seep in, which chills the pipes. Since you are already addressing plumbing issues, use this opportunity to seal any gaps or cracks you find in the wall or floorboards near the pipes.
Adding insulation to these pipes or simply closing up drafty holes maintains a stable temperature in your plumbing lines. Taking these small steps helps you prevent frozen pipes throughout winter and saves you from a much larger disaster than a simple drip. If the area feels exceptionally cold, leave the cabinet doors open after you finish your repair to let warm house air circulate around the plumbing.
Sometimes a DIY fix does not solve the problem. If you replace the washers and O-rings but the faucet continues to drip, the issue might lie in a corroded valve seat or a crack in the faucet body itself. Modern cartridge or ceramic disc faucets are more complex and might require replacing the entire internal cartridge rather than just a washer.
If you encounter rusted nuts that will not budge, do not force them. You risk breaking the pipe or the sink fixture. If the shut-off valves under the sink leak when you turn them, stop immediately. These are signs that you need a professional plumber. They have the specialized tools and expertise to handle complex repairs without causing further damage. Calling an expert saves you time and frustration when the problem goes beyond a simple worn-out rubber part.
Taking care of small home repairs gives you peace of mind. You no longer have to listen to the nagging sound of water dripping, and you know your plumbing is in better shape for the cold season. Addressing leaks quickly preserves your home’s value and ensures your living space remains a comfortable sanctuary against the winter chill. You can now go back to your warm blanket and tea, confident that your home is secure and dry because you know what to do if you find a leaky faucet in the winter.
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