How to Choose a Faucet Repair Kit
A dripping faucet is not just annoying; it wastes water and shows up on the bill. Choosing the right repair kit comes down to identifying which of the four faucet types you own, and for single-handle faucets, matching the part to the brand.
Quick answer
For a two-handle faucet that turns several full rotations, a Danco universal repair kit of washers, O-rings, seats and springs covers most drips. For single-handle faucets, buy the brand part: a Moen 1225 cartridge for Moen, a Delta ball repair kit for Delta ball models, or the model-matched ceramic valve for Kohler. Check the maker's lifetime warranty first, since the part is often free.
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Research updated August 2026.
Danco Universal Faucet Repair Kit
Washers, O-rings, seats and springs for the two-handle compression faucets that cause most drips.
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danco Universal Repair Kit | Two-handle compression faucets | Washers, O-rings, seats & springs | 4.4/5 | Low |
| Danco Washer & O-Ring Assortment | Cheapest drip fix | Flat and beveled washers | 4.3/5 | Low |
| Moen 1225 Cartridge | Moen single-handle faucets | OEM cartridge, 1225B in brass | 4.6/5 | Mid |
| Delta Ball Faucet Repair Kit | Delta ball faucets | Ball, cam, seats and springs | 4.5/5 | Low |
| Kohler Cartridge / Valve Kit | Kohler faucets | Model-specific ceramic valve | 4.5/5 | Mid |
What is a Faucet Repair Kit?
A faucet repair kit contains the replacement parts needed to stop a drip or free up a stiff handle. Depending on the faucet, that means rubber washers and O-rings, a seats-and-springs set, a ball assembly, or a complete cartridge. Some kits add a small wrench or puller.
Fitting the correct parts avoids scoring the valve body and saves the cost of a whole new faucet. The single thing that decides whether the repair works is matching the kit to the faucet type, and for single-handle faucets, to the brand and model.
The Four Faucet Types
US faucets fall into four groups. Compression faucets have two handles that turn several full rotations and seal with a rubber washer pressed onto a brass seat. Ball faucets are single-handle designs, popularised by Delta, where a slotted ball rotates over rubber seats backed by springs.
Cartridge faucets use a removable sleeve that the handle rotates or lifts, as on most Moen and Pfister models. Ceramic disc faucets use a sealed cylinder holding two polished ceramic plates, and they last the longest of the four. Washer assortments only serve the first group; the other three need a brand-matched part.
What to Check Before Buying
Start with the brand. Look for a name on the handle, the escutcheon plate, or stamped underneath the spout, and dig out the original paperwork if you have it. The model number is what parts listings are organised by, and appearance alone is not enough to identify a valve family.
Then pull the old part and take it with you or photograph it. On a cartridge, the stem length and the number of splines on the broach are the two things that must match. Note the faucet mounting too, since single-hole, centerset (4 in. between the outer holes) and widespread (8 in. or more) models often use different parts. Before you spend anything, check the warranty: Moen, Delta and Kohler all back residential faucets with a limited lifetime warranty and frequently supply replacement cartridges free to the original owner.
Mistakes to Avoid
Buying a universal assortment for a single-handle faucet is the most common error, because those kits contain no cartridges at all. Forcing a seized cartridge out with pliers is the second, and it usually damages the valve body; use a cartridge puller instead. Lubricate new seals with plumber silicone grease, never petroleum jelly, which swells and degrades rubber.
Ignoring the seat is the last one. If a compression faucet still drips with a brand new washer, the brass seat is pitted, and it needs replacing with a seat wrench or resurfacing with a seat dressing tool. Also plug the drain before you start, so a small brass screw does not disappear down it.
Danco Universal Faucet Repair Kit
Best Overall Multi-Brand KitPros
- Covers the common washer and O-ring sizes in one box
- Danco is the widest-stocked repair-parts brand in US hardware stores
- Cheap enough to keep in the toolbox before you need it
Cons
- Assortments do not include brand-specific cartridges
- You still have to identify the right size by eye or by matching the old part
Danco makes the repair parts most US hardware stores stock behind the plumbing aisle, and its universal kits bundle the flat and beveled washers, O-rings, brass bibb screws and seat-and-spring sets that fix the majority of two-handle compression faucets. If your faucet has two handles that turn several full rotations, this is almost certainly the box you need.
What it will not do is replace a cartridge. Single-handle Moen, Delta, Kohler and Pfister faucets use a brand-specific cartridge, ball or ceramic valve, and no assortment kit substitutes for that. Treat this as the general-purpose kit for older washer faucets and hose bibbs, not as a one-size-fits-all answer.
Danco Assorted Faucet Washer and O-Ring Kit
Best Budget Washer KitPros
- Costs a few dollars and fixes the most common drip
- Flat and beveled washers plus matching bibb screws in one tray
- Also covers hose bibbs and outdoor spigots
Cons
- No seats, springs or cartridges included
- Rubber stiffens with age, so a very old kit may not seal well
A dripping spout on a two-handle faucet is usually a worn stem washer, and a washer-and-O-ring assortment is the cheapest way to fix it. The tray carries a spread of flat and beveled sizes plus the brass bibb screws that hold them, so you can match the old part rather than guess.
It is deliberately basic. If the drip continues after a new washer, the brass seat under the stem is pitted and needs a seat wrench or a seat dressing tool. Buy this for the first attempt and keep the leftovers for hose bibbs and outdoor spigots.
Moen 1225 Single-Handle Cartridge
Best for Moen Single-Handle FaucetsPros
- Direct OEM part, no measuring or guessing
- Restores both the drip and a stiff, gritty handle
- Moen covers residential faucets under a limited lifetime warranty and will often send the part free
Cons
- Old cartridges seize in the housing and may need a puller tool
- The puller is sold separately
The 1225 is the cartridge behind a large share of Moen single-handle kitchen and lavatory faucets, and swapping it fixes both dripping and a handle that has gone stiff or notchy. The 1225B is the brass-body version of the same part. Because it is the factory component, there is no cartridge-size guesswork involved.
The one real difficulty is extraction: mineral scale locks an old cartridge into the valve body, and levering it out with pliers can damage the housing. A Moen cartridge puller solves this and is worth buying alongside the part. Before you buy either, check the warranty. Moen offers a limited lifetime warranty on residential faucets and commonly ships replacement cartridges to the original owner at no charge.
Delta Single-Handle Ball Faucet Repair Kit
Best for Delta Ball FaucetsPros
- Replaces every wear part in a ball valve at once
- Seats-and-springs sets alone are very cheap
- Delta backs residential faucets with a limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Only for ball-type faucets, not Delta cartridge models
- Reassembly order matters and is easy to get wrong
Delta popularised the single-handle ball faucet, and it does not use a cartridge at all. A rotating ball sits on two rubber seats backed by small springs, and those seats are what wear out and drip. A full repair kit supplies the ball, the cam and packing, and the seats and springs together.
If money is tight, a seats-and-springs pack on its own fixes most drips for a couple of dollars. Note that Delta also sells cartridge-based single-handle faucets, so confirm you actually have a ball model before ordering, and check Delta warranty support since the company covers residential faucets for the life of the original owner.
Kohler Faucet Cartridge and Valve Repair Kit
Best Premium Brand-SpecificPros
- Factory part machined to the exact valve body
- Ceramic discs are the longest-lasting valve design
- Kohler backs most residential faucets with a limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Costs more than a generic assortment
- You must match the faucet model number, as Kohler uses several valve families
Kohler uses ceramic disc valves across most of its faucet range, and those valves are model-specific. There is no universal substitute, because the broach that engages the handle and the height of the valve body differ between families. Ordering by faucet model number, not by appearance, is the whole job here.
Find the model number on the box, the original paperwork, or stamped underneath the spout or on the escutcheon, then look it up on Kohler parts listings before buying. As with Moen and Delta, contact Kohler first: the residential limited lifetime warranty often covers the replacement part for the original purchaser.
FAQs
How do I know which type of faucet I have?
Count the handles and feel the action. Two handles that turn several full rotations means a compression faucet with rubber washers. A single handle that swivels means a ball, cartridge or ceramic disc valve, and the brand determines which part you need.
Can I use a universal kit on any faucet?
No. Universal assortments cover washers, O-rings and seats on compression faucets. Ball, cartridge and ceramic disc faucets from Moen, Delta, Kohler or Pfister need the matching brand part.
What tools do I need to replace a faucet cartridge?
An adjustable wrench, Phillips and flat screwdrivers, a set of hex keys for the handle set screw, and needle-nose pliers. A cartridge puller helps on seized Moen cartridges, and a seat wrench is needed if you are replacing a faucet seat.
Why does my faucet still drip after replacing the washer?
The brass seat the washer presses against is probably pitted. Replace it with a seat wrench if it is a removable seat, or smooth it with a seat dressing tool if it is not.
How long does a ceramic disc cartridge last?
Ceramic disc valves usually outlast washer faucets by a wide margin and often run a decade or more. Hard water scale and grit from pipework are what shorten their life, not normal use.
Is it worth buying a branded repair part over a generic one?
For Moen, Delta, Kohler and Pfister, yes. The broach pattern and valve height are brand-specific, and most of these makers offer a limited lifetime residential warranty that may supply the part free to the original owner.
Can I repair a leaking single-handle mixer faucet with a kit?
Yes. Identify the brand first, then order the matching cartridge, ball kit or ceramic valve. Single-handle faucets almost never take a generic part.
What size cartridge do I need?
Do not order by a measurement alone. Match the faucet brand and model number, or pull the old cartridge and compare stem length and the number of splines on the broach before buying.
Do I need to turn off the water supply before repairing a faucet?
Yes. Close the angle stops under the sink, or the main shutoff if there are none, then open the faucet to release the pressure and plug the drain so small parts cannot fall in.
Can a faucet repair kit fix a stiff handle?
Usually. A new cartridge plus fresh plumber silicone grease on the seals restores smooth action. Use silicone grease, not petroleum jelly, which degrades rubber seals.
Our verdict
If your faucet has two handles and multi-turn action, a Danco universal repair kit is the cheapest and most likely fix. Single-handle owners should skip universal parts entirely and order by brand: the Moen 1225 for Moen, a Delta ball repair kit for Delta ball faucets, and the model-matched valve for Kohler. Contact the manufacturer before buying, because a limited lifetime residential warranty often covers the part.