Why Your Faucet Leaks Underneath When Turned On (Fixed) -

When a faucet turns on, it’s supposed to work properly without making noises, leaking, or creating any other issues for the user.

Unfortunately, this is not always true and it is common for problems to arise.

One of those problems would involve a situation where the faucet leaks underneath when turned on.

If a faucet leaks underneath when turned on, this means the inner cartridge has worn down or the seal has been damaged. To fix the issue, turn off the water supply, remove the faucet spout, replace the inner cartridge, replace the o-ring, and re-check the seal underneath.

You might have to caulk the faucet from underneath depending on where the leak is. This is why it’s important to find the root cause and then seal the sink to avoid further leaks.

For the most part, it’s likely the inner cartridge that has worn down and that is what you will need to fix.

Once you fix the inner cartridge for your faucet, the leaking will go away.

This article will take a deeper look at why your faucet leaks underneath when turned on and what to do about it.

Table of Contents

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How To Fix A Faucet That Leaks Underneath When Turned On

1. Turn Off The Water Supply

If a faucet is leaking from the base, this means it’s important to turn off the water supply as soon as possible.

Most property owners will attempt a basic fix, which means turning off the water at the faucet. Yes, this is important too, but it is not enough to get rid of the water that is leaking from underneath the faucet.

For this to happen, you will have to turn off the water supply from the main valve.

2. Remove The Faucet Spout

Once the water is off, you will want to see why the faucet is leaking from the bottom. To do this, it is time to remove the faucet spout to see where the water is going and what is causing the issue.

You will want to dig deeper into the faucet, which means taking off the spout.

This should come off easily as you begin to spin the spout along the tip. This can depend on the type of faucet you have, but it will come off easily once you spin it.

Work on this and put the spout to the side as you begin to inspect the inner cartridge.

3. Remove and Replace The Inner Cartridge

With a faucet leaking from the bottom, you will want to consider the damage that has been done to the inner cartridge.

This is a common issue with older faucets.

The inner cartridge is going to get worn down and that is when things spiral out of control. What you should be doing is cleaning the inner cartridge regularly to ensure it never gets to the stage where it either stops working or leaks happen.

If it is already leaking then you are likely well past the point of no return.

At this point, you should be replacing the inner cartridge with a compatible replacement.

4. Check The Seal Underneath

You will now want to check the seal underneath.

This includes both the o-ring and the caulking that runs along the bottom.

The goal is to ensure the water is not leaking to the point it starts pouring everywhere. This is a concern loads of people deal with and it’s not easy to manage at the best of times.

With this regard, look at where the caulking is near the bottom. Is there a gap there? Is the caulking coming off?

If so, you will want to replace the inner cartridge, o-ring, and also re-caulk that part of the sink. It will go a long way in making sure the water doesn’t keep leaking.

What Causes A Faucet To Leak At The Base?

If a faucet leaks at the base, the most common reasons include a damaged inner cartridge, broken seal, or the o-ring needs to be replaced.

Final Thoughts

These are the steps to follow if a faucet leaks underneath when turned on.

If a faucet leaks underneath when turned on, the most common reasons include a worn down inner cartridge, damaged o-ring, or the caulking needs to be re-done. To fix the issue, replace both the o-ring and inner cartridge while checking the seal running along the bottom.

This will ensure you have checked all of the possible causes. Sometimes, two issues can come up at the same time. This is why it’s best to go through each detail one by one and fix everything at once.

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