A dripping faucet seems like a minor annoyance — until you realize that steady drip can waste thousands of gallons a year and add real money to your water bill. In Las Vegas, where water is precious and bills add up, fixing a drip fast matters more than most people think. Here's what causes it and how to fix it.
How Much Does a Dripping Faucet Actually Cost?
A faucet dripping once per second wastes roughly 3,000 gallons a year — enough to fill dozens of bathtubs. In a desert city where water rates climb with usage, a few dripping fixtures can quietly inflate your bill month after month. It's one of the cheapest plumbing problems to fix and one of the most wasteful to ignore.
What Causes a Faucet to Drip?
- Worn washer — In older compression faucets, the rubber washer wears out from repeated use and stops sealing. This is the classic cause.
- Worn O-ring — A small ring that seals the faucet handle. When it wears, the faucet drips near the base.
- Corroded valve seat — Hard water in Las Vegas corrodes the valve seat over time, breaking the seal. This is a very common local cause.
- Worn cartridge — In modern cartridge faucets, the cartridge itself wears out and needs replacement.
- Hard water mineral buildup — Scale from Las Vegas water collects on internal parts and prevents a clean seal.
How to Fix a Dripping Faucet
Turn off the water
Shut off the supply valves under the sink. Open the faucet to release pressure and plug the drain so small parts don't fall in.
Identify your faucet type
Compression, ball, cartridge, or ceramic disc — each repairs differently. A photo of the brand and model helps you get the right parts.
Disassemble and inspect
Remove the handle and internal parts. Look for worn washers, O-rings, or a corroded valve seat — and mineral scale, which is common here.
Replace the worn parts
Swap the washer, O-ring, or cartridge with an exact match. Clean off any mineral buildup while you're in there.
Reassemble and test
Put it back together, turn the water back on slowly, and check for drips. If it still drips, the valve seat or faucet body may be the issue.
Las Vegas note: If you're constantly fixing dripping faucets, hard water is usually the underlying reason — it corrodes seals and valve seats faster than soft water. A whole-home water softener or filtration system protects every faucet and fixture in the house and makes repairs last far longer.
When to Call a Plumber
Call a pro if the drip continues after replacing the obvious parts, if the valve seat is corroded, if the faucet is old and worth replacing instead, or if you simply don't want to deal with it. Faucet repair and replacement is quick, affordable work, and we'll often spot related issues — like worn supply lines — before they become bigger problems.
Dripping Faucet? Call Smith's.
Smith's Plumbing handles it right — clean, fast, and with upfront pricing. Serving Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and the entire valley.
📞 Call (702) 664-9680Open 7am–7pm · 7 Days a Week · NV License #0093407
Frequently Asked Questions
How much water does a dripping faucet waste?
A faucet dripping once per second wastes roughly 3,000 gallons per year. In Las Vegas, where water rates rise with usage, even a few dripping fixtures can noticeably increase your monthly bill.
Why does my faucet keep dripping even after I fixed it?
If a faucet drips again after a repair, the valve seat is often corroded — common with Las Vegas hard water — or the wrong replacement part was used. Persistent drips usually mean it's time for a professional look or a faucet replacement.
Is a dripping faucet easy to fix myself?
Often yes — a worn washer or O-ring is a straightforward DIY fix if you're handy and get the right parts. But corroded valve seats and worn cartridges can be trickier, and a quick pro repair is inexpensive.
Does hard water cause dripping faucets in Las Vegas?
Yes. Las Vegas hard water corrodes valve seats and seals and leaves mineral scale on internal faucet parts, all of which cause drips faster than in soft-water areas. A water softener helps protect every fixture.