Step 4 · Replace Valve Seats and Springs

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

Look inside the now-empty faucet body. You will see two small circular rubber seats, each with a small conical spring underneath it, recessed into ports. These are the primary cause of most leaks. Use a small flathead screwdriver or a pick tool to reach into the faucet body and carefully pry out each of the old rubber seats and the springs beneath them. Take the new seats and springs from your faucet repair kit. Place a new spring (narrow end down) into each port, and then place a new rubber seat over each spring, pressing it down gently into place with your fingertip or the eraser end of a pencil. The cupped side of the seat should face up.