How to Fix a Stripped Faucet Handle in 10 Minutes or Less?

Having the handle of your faucet spin may be annoying, especially considering how frequent it is and how easily it can develop over time. Thankfully, the issue can be remedied for a cost of approximately $20, along with a few screwdrivers, a wrench, and some other basic hand tools.

Fixing a Stripped Faucet Handle in Under ten Minutes with This Easy Guide

Wear and tear on the faucet cartridge is typically the culprit behind a handle that spins freely on the faucet. The water pressure can be adjusted by manipulating both the cartridge and the handle, which are both attached to the faucet. After the cartridge has been emptied, the handle will get slack and eventually merely spin.

The solution to the issue may be broken down into the following five simple stages.

1. Turn the Water Off

The shutoff valves for your sink should be located directly below the faucet in the sink’s base cabinet. To stop the flow of water via the faucet, you need to turn the handle counterclockwise. You may need to switch off the water supply to your house if you’re going to be working on the bathtub. You need to cover the drain as well, simply to make certain that nothing essential, like screws, falls in and gets lost down there.

2. Remove Faucet Handles or Cover Plates

It will depend on the location of your handles about the faucet cartridge as to whether or not the cover plates or the handles themselves need to be removed. Although the handles may typically be unscrewed by hand, the cover plates will require the use of a flathead screwdriver to be removed. To remove the connection screw, you might need either a screwdriver with a Phillips head or an Allen wrench.

3. Remove Locking Nut

When the handle is removed, you should be able to see a locking nut that is used to secure the faucet cartridge. You’ll need a pipe wrench to remove this nut. On the very top of the cartridge, there can be a tiny screw made of brass. It is strongly suggested that you save this, as there is no guarantee that the replacement cartridge will come with a screw.

4. Remove the Faucet Cartridge

It should not be difficult to remove the faucet cartridge after the locking screw has been removed. Use pliers if it’s too difficult to do it by hand. If you haven’t already bought the replacement cartridge, you should bring the old one with you to the hardware store so that you may compare the sizes of the two.

5. Replace the Faucet Cartridge

After you have located the appropriate replacement cartridge for the faucet, you should install it and then go back through the procedures you just completed in reverse order to reassemble the handle. After that, you should start the water back up, and see how well you performed.