There are few things more annoying than that steady drip, drip, drip coming from your kitchen faucet. It keeps you up at night, wastes water, and can even stain your sink or countertop if you let it go too long. But before you call a plumber and spend a small fortune, know this: fixing a leaky kitchen faucet is one of the most satisfying DIY projects you can tackle. With a few basic tools and a little patience, you can stop that drip yourself and feel like a hero.

First, you need to figure out what kind of faucet you have. Most kitchen faucets fall into one of four types: compression, cartridge, ball, or disc. Your faucet might look different, but the leak almost always comes from the same places: the handle, the spout, or where the spout connects to the base. The most common culprit is a worn-out rubber O-ring or a damaged cartridge. Don’t worry—you don’t need to know the exact model number to get started. Just look under your sink for the manufacturer’s name, and if you can snap a photo of the faucet from a few angles, that will help when you buy replacement parts.

The first step is to shut off the water supply. Look under the sink. You’ll see two small valves—one for hot water, one for cold. Turn both clockwise until they stop. Then open the faucet to release any pressure and let a little water drain out. If you don’t have shut-off valves under the sink, you may need to shut off the main water valve to your house. That’s a bigger job, but it’s still doable.

Now, you need to get the handle off. Most handles have a small screw hidden under a decorative cap. That cap might be a little metal or plastic button on top of the handle, or it could be a set screw on the side. Gently pry it off with a flathead screwdriver. Be careful not to scratch anything—wrap the tip of the screwdriver in tape or a cloth if you can. Once the screw is exposed, use a Phillips or Allen wrench to remove it. The handle should lift off. If it’s stubborn, wiggle it gently.

Next, you’ll see the cartridge or valve assembly. This is the part that actually controls the flow of water. If your faucet is leaking from the spout when the handle is off, the cartridge is likely bad. If it’s leaking from around the handle, it’s probably a worn O-ring. Either way, you need to remove the retaining nut that holds the cartridge in place. This is usually a large hex nut, and you might need a special tool called a faucet cartridge puller, or just a pair of pliers. Wrap the pliers in tape to avoid scratching the nut.

Once the nut is off, pull out the cartridge. Take a good look at it. If it’s covered in grit or mineral deposits, that could be the problem. In many cases, you can simply clean the cartridge with a bit of vinegar and a toothbrush, then put it back. But if it’s cracked or worn, you’ll need a new one. That’s why you want to bring the old cartridge to the hardware store to match it exactly. Don’t guess—cartridges look similar but tiny differences matter.

While you have things apart, check the O-rings and rubber washers. These are cheap and easy to replace. A little silicone-based plumber’s grease on the new O-rings will help them slide into place and last longer. Do not use petroleum jelly or oil—it can damage the rubber over time.

Reassemble everything in reverse order. Put the cartridge back in, tighten the nut (hand-tight plus a quarter turn with a wrench is usually enough—don’t overtighten), then put the handle back on. Turn the water back on slowly, and check for leaks before you put the decorative cap back on. If it still drips, you might have the wrong cartridge or you didn’t seat it properly. Take it apart and try again.

A leaky faucet sounds scary, but it’s really just a puzzle with a few pieces. Most repairs take less than an hour and cost under twenty bucks. Plus, you’ll save water and your own sanity. So grab a towel, some basic tools, and give it a shot. Your kitchen—and your water bill—will thank you.