First, which kind of faucet do you have?
Repairs differ by design, so identify yours before you buy parts. Pull off the handle cap and look at what sits underneath. A single lever that swings left and right for temperature almost always hides a cartridge or a ceramic disc unit. Two separate knobs usually mean compression washers or ceramic discs.
Ball faucets are rare in bathrooms and far more common at kitchen sinks. If your bathroom faucet has a rounded cap under the handle and a slotted metal ball inside, you have one. The table below matches each type to its usual drip.
| Faucet type | How to recognise it | Where it usually drips | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Single lever or two handles, a brass or plastic cylinder under a retaining clip or nut | Spout drips, or water seeps around the handle base | Replace the cartridge and its O-rings |
| Ball | Single lever on a rounded cap, slotted ball inside | Spout drips, or leaks at the base of the swivel | Replace the seats, springs and ball seals as a kit |
| Ceramic disc | Two heavy-feeling handles that turn a quarter or half turn | Spout drips even when handles are fully closed | Replace the disc cylinder or its rubber seals |
| Compression | Older two-handle design with a rubber washer that squeezes onto a seat | Spout drips, handle needs a hard twist to stop it | Replace the washer and often the brass seat |
Why a faucet keeps dripping after you tighten it
Cranking a handle harder rarely cures a drip. It squeezes a worn washer or cracked O-ring against a seat that is already scratched, and that damage gets worse. The rubber parts harden with age, and tiny mineral flakes can score a brass seat.
A drip is also not harmless. The EPA WaterSense program says a faucet dripping once per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons a year, which equals over 180 showers. That adds up quickly on a household bill.
What Dania Beach Homeowners Should Know About Faucet Wear
Dania Beach runs its own public water system. The city's 2024 water quality report says it blends water from its two wells and the Broward County Regional Wellfield, and treats it with lime softening plus nanofiltration. The report does not publish a hardness figure, so test your own tap with a strip before blaming minerals for a worn seat.
The same report lists a chlorine disinfectant averaging 2.91 ppm in 2024. Chlorinated water, heat and daily use all age rubber over time, so O-rings and washers harden. On an older faucet, plan to replace the seals.
Census figures put the median Dania home at a 1977 build. A faucet or stop valve from that era may be original, and brass stops that have not moved in decades often fail when turned. Ask a plumber before you force one. We also work in Davie and Pembroke Park if your home sits just outside the city line.
- City of Dania Beach 2024 water quality report (consumer confidence report) + US Census ACS housing data + EPA WaterSense
Cartridge repair, step by step
Cartridge faucets are the most common bathroom type, so this is the repair most people need. You need an adjustable wrench, a small flat screwdriver, a hex key set, a rag and the exact replacement cartridge. Bring the old cartridge to the store, because lookalikes with the wrong spline count will not seat properly.
- Close both stop valves under the sink by turning them clockwise. If they will not budge or they drip when turned, stop and close the home's main shutoff instead.
- Open the faucet to drain the lines and plug the drain with a rag so no screw falls in.
- Pry off the handle cap, remove the handle screw, and lift the handle away.
- Remove the retaining clip or nut with pliers, then pull the cartridge straight up, rocking it gently. Note how the stem faces before it comes out.
- Wipe the cartridge cavity clean, push the new cartridge in with the same orientation, and replace the clip.
- Rebuild the handle, open the stop valves slowly, and run both hot and cold for a minute to flush debris.
Ball and ceramic disc repairs
On a ball faucet, the fix is usually a replacement kit with new seats, springs and a cam washer. Take photos as you disassemble, because the parts nest in a set order and the ball has a small notch that must line up with a pin in the body.
Ceramic disc faucets are tougher and often last longer. When one drips, the disc cylinder or its rubber seals have usually worn, and a new cylinder costs little. Tighten the retaining screws only until snug, since the polished discs can crack.
Water under the sink or at the wall is a different problem
If the drip is from the supply lines, the stop valves or the drain tailpiece, a new cartridge will not help. Dry each connection with a paper towel and watch which one beads up first. A damp cabinet floor, a swollen particleboard base or a musty smell points to a slow leak that has been running for a while.
Some jobs should go to a plumber. Corroded stop valves that crumble or will not turn, a stripped faucet body, or a leak that continues after a new cartridge all fall in that group. Our faucet repair service handles those, and leak detection helps when you cannot find where the moisture starts.
- Stop valve will not close fully or leaks at its stem
- Handle spins freely and the faucet body is cracked or pitted
- Water appears under the cabinet but not at the faucet
- The drip returns within days of a new cartridge
- Water drips from a ceiling light or outlet below the bathroom (kill that breaker and call right away)
Repair or replace the whole faucet?
Repairing is the better choice when the finish is sound and parts are available. Replace the faucet when the body is pitted, the manufacturer no longer sells cartridges, or you want a different style anyway.
For budgeting, HomeAdvisor lists faucet replacement at about $162 to $364, and labor alone at $260 to $480 for a basic job, up to $1,600 for complex ones. Florida prices vary, and a cartridge swap by itself costs far less than either number. Call Call (954) 697-4920 if you want a plumber to look at the sink before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix a leaky bathroom faucet without turning off the main water?
Yes, if the two stop valves under the sink close fully. Open the faucet after closing them to confirm the flow stops. If a stop valve will not turn or keeps dripping, close the main shutoff to the house instead.
How do I know whether to replace the cartridge or the whole faucet?
Replace the cartridge if the faucet body and finish look sound and the part number is still sold. Replace the whole faucet if the body is pitted, the handle is loose on a cracked base, or no cartridge is available.
Why does my faucet still drip after I changed the cartridge?
The most common causes are a scratched valve seat, a cartridge with the wrong orientation, or a missed O-ring. A leak at the supply line or drain can also look like a faucet drip. Dry each part and watch where water appears first.
Does the city's softened water mean my faucet seals last longer in Dania Beach?
We cannot promise that. The city softens its water, but its report does not publish a hardness number, and seals also age from chlorine and heat. Judge by what you find inside the faucet when you open it.
When should I call a plumber for a bathroom faucet?
Call when a stop valve will not close, when water shows under the cabinet, or when a repair fails twice. A plumber can also check for a hidden supply leak. Reach us any hour at Call (954) 697-4920.
Code reference: plumbing work in Florida falls under the Florida Building Code, Plumbing (8th Edition, 2023), which is based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC). Ask the Dania Beach Building Division whether your job needs a permit.