Delta Faucet Repair Parts: Which Part Fixes Which Problem
Most Delta faucet repairs come down to a short list of parts: rubber seats and springs, a stem under each handle of a two-handle faucet, and one cartridge in a single-handle shower. The trick is knowing which part the problem points to, because Delta's own troubleshooting gives an order: try the first fix it names, and move to the next only if the leak continues.
This guide goes symptom by symptom, in Delta's order. If you need help telling the parts apart once the handle is off, our Delta cartridge and stem identification guide covers that, with photos.
Delta warrants the parts (other than electronic parts and batteries) and finishes of Delta faucets bought from authorized Delta sellers against defects in material and workmanship, to the original consumer purchaser, for as long as that person owns the home where the faucet was first installed, and says it will repair or replace defective parts free of charge. Labor is not covered, and Delta asks for proof of purchase unless the product was registered. Among other things, the warranty excludes reasonable wear and tear, outdoor use, misuse, freezing water, abuse, neglect, and improper installation, maintenance or repair. The Delta parts FAQ also says that using any parts other than Delta Genuine Parts will void the warranty. Delta takes warranty calls at 1-800-345-3358.
Find your symptom
| What you see | Faucet | Delta says to try first | If it continues |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drip from the spout | Two-handle sink faucet | Seats and springs (RP4993) | Both stems: RP1740 or RP25513 |
| Leak under a handle | Two-handle sink faucet | Tighten the bonnet | That stem |
| Drip from the spout | Single-handle ball faucet | Flush debris, then seats and springs, and check the ball | The ball, if it is scratched or damaged |
| Leak around the stem, under the handle | Single-handle ball faucet | Tighten the adjusting ring | Cam and packing |
| Drip from the tub spout or shower head | MultiChoice 13/14 tub and shower | Seats and springs (RP4993) and lower O-rings | Cartridge RP46074 |
| Drip from the tub spout or shower head | Monitor 1300/1400 tub and shower | Cartridge RP19804 | |
| Will not hold a steady temperature | MultiChoice 13/14 tub and shower | Cartridge RP46074 | |
| Drip from the spout | Two- or three-handle tub and shower | Seats and springs (RP4993) | Both stems (RP1740) |
From Delta's troubleshooting pages and the MultiChoice 13/14 Series manual. Each row is explained below.
Delta says to shut off the water supplies before you take a faucet apart, and to cover the drain opening so parts will not fall into it. Delta says to hand tighten the bonnet nut when you put a two-handle faucet back together. On a single-handle faucet, Delta says that if you notice the cam turning as you unscrew the cap, quit turning immediately and call a plumber.
Two-handle faucet drips from the spout
Delta says that with normal wear, a two-handle faucet's seats and springs become worn, which may result in a leak from the spout. Each handle has a rubber seat riding on a small spring under its stem. Delta's order is simple:
- Find the side. Delta says to find out whether the hot or the cold valve is causing the leak. If you are not sure, start with the hot side, and if the drip persists, repeat the steps on the cold side.
- Replace the seats and springs. Delta's part is the RP4993, two sets per package. Delta says the small end of the spring goes into the seat and the large end goes into the faucet body.
- If it still drips, replace both stems. Delta says that if the problem continues after you replace the seats and springs, replace both stem assemblies: the RP1740, one per package, or the RP25513 for faucets that need the quarter-turn stop. Delta adds that it is always a good idea to change the seats and springs when you change the stem units.
Which stem? Delta tells them apart by the handle: it says the RP1740 is meant for faucets with knob handles and the RP25513 for faucets with metal lever handles, and that the RP25513 includes the RP24097 quarter-turn stop. If your stem turns only a quarter turn and has a ceramic disc at the bottom, it is neither. Delta says its RP47422 ceramic stem is not interchangeable with the RP1740.
Two-handle faucet leaks under a handle
For water coming out under a handle, Delta says to try tightening the bonnet first, and that if that does not work, you may need to replace the stem. If the handles turn the wrong way after you rebuild the faucet, Delta says to rotate the right stem stop assembly 180 degrees.
Single-handle ball faucet drips or leaks at the handle
Delta single-handle ball faucets, kitchen and bathroom, use a ball over two seats and springs. For a drip from the spout, Delta says to flush debris out through the aerator first. Then, because the seats and springs wear and may need to be replaced occasionally, check the seats, the springs and the ball. Delta uses the same RP4993 seats and springs here, small end of the spring into the seat. If the ball is scratched or damaged, Delta says you may need to replace it too.
For water around the stem or under the handle, Delta says to tighten the adjusting ring until no water leaks around the stem, and to replace the cam and packing if the leak persists. The adjusting ring also sets how stiff the handle feels, and Delta warns that over tightening it wears the seals early. Delta's RP3614 repair kit for these faucets comes with the RP4993 seats and springs.
Single-handle tub and shower drips
First, time it. Delta says a shower head that drips for a minute or so after you turn it off is simply emptying its reservoir of water, and nothing is wrong. A drip that keeps going is a different story, and the fix depends on which valve you have. Delta says its two cartridges are not interchangeable: a white cap is the RP19804, a grey cap is the RP46074.
- MultiChoice 13/14 Series (grey cap, valves made after March 2006): for a leak from the tub spout or shower head, Delta's manual says to replace the seats and springs (RP4993) and check the lower O-rings (RP14414). If the leak persists, replace the RP46074 cartridge. Our Delta shower dripping guide walks through it.
- Monitor 1300/1400 Series (white cap, valves made before March 2006): Delta's answer for a leak from the shower head or spout is a new RP19804 cartridge. Our Delta Monitor cartridge guide has the steps.
For an older two- or three-handle Delta tub and shower, Delta's order is the same as for a sink: seats and springs first, then both RP1740 stems. Delta notes that a tub and shower faucet body can itself develop a leak, and recommends a licensed plumber for tub and shower repairs if you do not have plumbing experience.
Shower will not hold a steady temperature
For a MultiChoice 13/14 valve that is unable to maintain a constant water temperature, Delta's manual says to replace the housing assembly with the RP46074. Before you buy, Delta suggests a test: take the cartridge out and shake it. If it rattles, it is working and can go back in. If it does not, replace it. If the shower is warm but never hot, our tip is to check the rotational limit stop before you buy a cartridge. Delta says it may need resetting seasonally as the incoming water temperature changes, and warns that setting it in the hottest position could result in scald injury.
Handle loose, spinning or sitting too deep
Delta says the set screw on a handle may loosen with time and use, and to tighten it with a hex wrench: 1/8 inch fits most single-handle kitchen faucets and 3/32 inch most two-handle kitchen faucets. If a shower handle spins without turning the water on or off, our guide to a shower handle that spins freely goes through the handle, the adapter and the stem in order.
Delta's RP12631 is sold as Screws and Extenders: plastic extenders that sit on top of the plastic stems, for handles such as Delta's H28, H41 and H25. Delta says the RP12631 and RP18627 are the same extenders. Our own note: our replacement extender adds reach for a handle that sits too deep after new tile or a tub surround, and it does not fix a worn or leaking stem.
Part number not on this page? Our sister site keeps a Delta part number index with the length and type of each Delta stem and cartridge.
When to stop and call a plumber
Each of these is our own advice, except where it says Delta.
- The cam turns as you unscrew the cap of a single-handle faucet. Delta says to quit turning immediately and call a plumber.
- Water is coming from the faucet body, not the spout or the handle. Delta notes a tub and shower faucet body can develop a leak and recommends a licensed plumber for tub and shower repairs.
- A bonnet nut or stem will not move, or the shut-off under the sink or for the house will not close fully.
- The leak continues after the seats and springs, the stems or the cartridge have all been replaced.
Frequently asked questions
Will a non-Delta part void my Delta warranty?
Delta says using any parts other than Delta Genuine Parts will void the warranty. Delta also says it will repair or replace defective parts free of charge for the original consumer purchaser of a faucet bought from an authorized Delta seller, for as long as they own the home where it was first installed. If your faucet is still covered, call Delta first.
Should I replace the seats and springs or the stem first?
Delta says to replace the seats and springs first, because normal wear on them is what usually makes a two-handle faucet drip from the spout. If it still drips after that, Delta says to replace both stem assemblies.
Which way does the spring go under a Delta seat?
Delta says the small end of the spring goes into the seat and the large end goes into the faucet body. Seat on top, big end of the spring down.
How do I know if I need the RP1740 or the RP25513?
Delta tells them apart by the handle. It says the RP1740 is meant for faucets with knob handles and the RP25513 for faucets with metal lever handles, and that the RP25513 includes the RP24097 quarter-turn stop. Our Delta identification guide shows both.
My shower head drips for a minute after I turn it off. Is that a leak?
Not on its own. Delta says a shower head that drips for a minute or so after you turn it off is simply emptying its reservoir of water. If it keeps dripping, Delta says to start with the seats and springs on a 13/14 Series valve, or the cartridge on a Monitor 1300/1400 valve.
Sources
The steps above come from these pages, except where a step says the advice is our own. We opened each one on October 12, 2026.
- Delta troubleshooting pages: two-handle lavatory faucet drips from the spout, two-handle kitchen faucet drips from the spout, two-handle faucet leaks under the handle, two- or three-handle tub and shower drips, single-handle kitchen faucet drips, lavatory faucet drips from the aerator, single-lever tub or shower leaks under the handle, Monitor 1300/1400 leaking from the shower head or spout, shower head drips after you turn it off, maintaining a pressure balance valve, kitchen faucet handle keeps coming loose and handles work backward on a two-handle lavatory faucet.
- Delta manuals: MultiChoice 13/14 Series instructions 107528, 1300/1400 and 13/14 cartridge instructions 48027, RP19804 cartridge sheet 34459, two-handle bar faucet instructions 32177 and the Monitor 1300 and 1400 Series parts diagram.
- Delta parts pages: RP4993, RP1740, RP25513, RP24097, RP12631, RP47422, RP3614, RP19804 and RP46074.
- Delta, Warranty, Why should I use Delta Genuine Parts and requesting parts under warranty.
Seats and springs, two-handle stems, stem extenders and single-handle shower cartridges for Delta faucets, plus parts for Moen, Kohler, Pfister, Glacier Bay and more, shipped from Amazon fulfillment centers with Prime delivery.
See the full FourHome assortment on AmazonFourHome is an independent brand and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Delta Faucet Company. Delta, Monitor and MultiChoice are names of Delta Faucet Company, and Delta part numbers are used only to identify compatibility or to cite Delta published instructions. Shut the water off first, do not force a bonnet nut or stem, and call a licensed plumber for anything beyond a parts swap.
FourHome is not affiliated with or endorsed by any faucet manufacturer. Brand names and part numbers are used only to identify compatibility.