A dripping faucet wastes up to 3,000 gallons a year — and the fix is usually a $5 cartridge, not a new faucet. But when replacement time comes, installed costs run $150–$500+ depending on the fixture and what's behind the wall. This section covers faucet types, what plumbers charge to install them, which repairs are genuinely DIY-friendly, and how to match new fixtures to your existing plumbing.
Cartridge first, replacement second
Nearly all modern drips come from a worn cartridge or O-ring. Identify your faucet brand, buy the matching cartridge, and most drips die in 20 minutes. Our guides show how to find the model number when the brand wore off years ago.
Know your valves before you shop
Buying a widespread faucet for a centerset sink (or vice versa) is the classic fixture mistake. Measure hole spacing and count before falling in love at the store.