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Did you know that even small leaks can waste up to three gallons of water per day? A leaky Delta faucet is not only annoying to the senses, but can be very costly in terms of wasted water, as well.

Not only are leaky Delta faucets wasteful and potentially annoying as far as sounds go, but faucet leaks can also create stains and water spots in the basin of your sink. In fact, if you don't do anything about a leaky faucet, chances are it will develop some type of wear. It's only a matter of time, and certainly another reason to repair a leaky faucet as soon as you become aware of a leak.

Though there are many different types of faucets, all sink faucets have the same basic components and are put together in very nearly the same configurations. Most bathrooms have 'stem faucets' or 'mixing faucets' which allow users to select temperature settings by controlling the cold and hot handles separately. In either stem faucets or mixing faucets, there are two separate units that may need to be repaired.

Before we move on to the steps involved in fixing a leaky faucet, let's go over the typical causes of water leaks. These generally fall under the main categories of loose nuts or faulty washers. It's worth noting some of the signs of both nut and washer related leaks, as this can help you quickly identify the type of leak you have without having to go through in depth diagnosis procedures.

If the leak in question seems to be isolated to the base of the faucet handle or packing nut area, then the leak is probably due to a loose nut or nuts. Using an adjustable wrench, tighten the nut located just below the faucet handle. If your faucet has a decorative handle covering, you will need to remove the covering to gain access to the nut. This is usually accomplished by simply pulling the covering off of the handle.

If your faucet leak is due to faulty washers, this can mean either old washers that have become brittle, washers that are improperly installed, or washers that are an incorrect size. Most leaky faucets involve bad washers.

Signs of bad washers include leaks that come from the handles, slow leaks and water that pools around the faucet base. Washer leaks can be diagnosed by turning off the water supply in steps. Begin by turning off only the hot or cold sides of the water supply. If the leak stops when the hot water is turned off, then you know it is the hot water side that needs fixing.