Faucet Won't Turn Off? Stop the Water First, Then Fix It
You push the handle to off and the water keeps coming. Kohler describes the faucet version as a constant leak that occurs all day after the faucet is turned off, and says it means the valve or cartridge under the handle that controls the flow of water has worn out. Moen puts it in one line: if a faucet is not shutting off properly, the reason is usually the cartridge.
So there are two jobs, in this order. First stop the water. Then find out which part failed, so you only buy the one you need.
First: stop the water
A sink faucet: the stops underneath
Bob Vila says the valves are usually below the sink basin, close to the wall. Moen says to rotate the shut-offs clockwise until they are tightly closed, and Pfister says to turn the knobs on the angle stops by hand, clockwise, until they will not turn anymore. Then open the faucet handle to make sure the water is completely off, as Moen says. If water still trickles, The Home Depot says the shut-off valve stem may be to blame, so go to the main.
A tub or shower: look behind the wall first
Moen says fixture shut-offs can be in a closet access behind a shower or in an access panel around the tub. Some valves have stops built in. Moen says its Posi-Temp line offers an optional stop check valve, so some Posi-Temp valves have them and some do not. To close them, Moen says to use pliers or a flathead screwdriver and turn them so the slot is vertical. Delta lists screwdriver stops with its MultiChoice R10000-UNWS valve body, and its shower repair guide says you may need to turn off the water supply to the entire house or room.
No stops, or they do not work: the main
Moen notes that in some homes the shutoffs will be the main home shut-off, usually found around where the water meter is. A consortium of Oregon water utilities says the main is typically in the basement, garage, crawl space or under the home. For a gate valve with a round wheel, it says to turn the wheel clockwise until snug. For a ball valve with a lever, turn the handle until it is perpendicular to the pipe. Then open a faucet to drain the water left in the line, as Bob Vila and The Home Depot both say.
Bob Vila warns that if you apply too much pressure to a valve, you can break the handle or the stem, and says a main that stays seized needs a plumber before you go further. The same utility consortium says that if you cannot find your shut-off, or it appears stuck, check with a plumber, and that your water provider can turn the water off at the street. Rules on who may work the street valve vary, so call your provider.
Is it really not shutting off?
A shower that drips for a short while after you shut it is normal. Delta says the shower head is simply emptying its reservoir of water, and Kohler's Rite-Temp valve guide says showerheads can drip for up to 90 seconds after the valve is turned off. What this guide is about is the faucet or shower that keeps running or dripping with the handle off. Moen calls that continuous leaking.
One more check before you buy anything, and this one is our own advice: if the handle turns freely and nothing changes, the grip between the handle and the valve may have failed, not the valve. Our guide to a shower handle that spins freely walks through that.
Then: find the part that failed
| Your faucet | What the makers and guides point to | Where to go next |
|---|---|---|
| Single-handle kitchen or bath faucet | The cartridge under the handle (Moen, Kohler, Pfister). On Delta single-handle ball faucets, Delta says the seats and springs wear. | Moen 1225 or 1200: our Moen 1200 and 1225 guide |
| Two-handle sink faucet | Pfister says one or both cartridges in the handles. Delta says to replace the seats and springs first, then both stems if it still leaks. | Find the side that runs first (below) |
| Older two-handle faucet with washers (compression) | This Old House: most leaky compression faucets need new seat washers, and if it still leaks, the seat may be pitted. | Identify the stem |
| Single-handle tub and shower | Moen Posi-Temp: replace the 1222 cartridge. Delta: the valve cartridge, or only the seats and springs, depending on the model. | Moen 1222, Delta shower dripping |
Which side of a two-handle faucet? Pfister's check: close only the cold stop under the sink. If the leak stops, it is the cold side. If it continues, close the hot stop too; if that stops it, it is the hot side. Our own advice: if water still comes with both stops closed, a stop may be letting water by (see above), so close the main.
For a Delta shower, the cartridge depends on the valve series. Delta lists its RP19804 cartridge for the older Monitor 1300 and 1400 Series tub and showers, and its RP46074 for the later MultiChoice 13 and 14 Series tub and showers. Our Delta Monitor guide covers the older one.
Swapping the cartridge: what the makers stress
Each of our part guides has the full steps for its cartridge. These are the points the makers call out that matter most when a faucet would not shut off.
Step 1: Keep the water off and prove it
Moen says the water supply shut-off valves must be turned off before you start, and to open the handle to make sure the water is completely off. Moen adds that failing to do so could result in flooding or injury.
Step 2: Do not lose the retainer clip
A Moen 1225 sits under a U-shaped copper colored retaining clip. Moen says that if the clip cannot be installed or is damaged, the water cannot be turned back on to the faucet until the clip is replaced, and says the same for the clip on a 1222 shower valve. Moen also says to be careful not to drop the clip behind the wall.
Step 3: If the stem breaks off, stop
Moen explains that a shower handle that is hard to rotate can put extra stress on the brass stem of a 1222 cartridge, which occasionally breaks off and leaves the body of the cartridge in the valve. Moen's article uses a 7/16 inch tap wrench to pull the shell, and says to contact Moen at 1-800-289-6636 if that does not work, before trying anything else.
Step 4: Clean and flush the valve body
For its 1225 kitchen cartridge, Moen says it is highly recommended to clean and flush the valve body before installing the new cartridge. Moen points to its Valve Body Cleaning and Flushing article for the details.
Step 5: Silicone grease only, then test
Moen says to use a silicone-based grease and not plumber's grade faucet grease, silicone sprays or any lubricant that may contain petroleum. Our own advice: with the new part in and the clip or nut back on, open the stops slowly and run the handle from off to full on and back. It should shut off cleanly.
When to call a plumber
The first two come from the sources above. The rest are our own advice.
- The main shut-off will not close or you cannot find it (Bob Vila and the water utility consortium).
- A broken cartridge will not come out of the valve body (Moen says to call Moen first).
- The faucet still runs with a new cartridge or stem in it.
- Water is leaking inside the wall or under the cabinet, not only from the spout.
Frequently asked questions
Which way do I turn the shut-off valve?
Clockwise. Moen says to rotate the shut-offs clockwise until they are tightly closed, and Pfister says to turn the knobs on the angle stops by hand clockwise until they will not turn anymore. For a main valve with a lever, a water utility consortium says to turn the handle until it is perpendicular to the pipe it is on. Screwdriver stops on a Moen Posi-Temp valve are different: Moen says to turn them until the slot is vertical.
The stop under my sink is closed and water still trickles. Now what?
The Home Depot says that if water still trickles after you have turned off the supply, the shut-off valve stem may be to blame. Close the main instead. Do not force the stop: Bob Vila warns that too much pressure on a valve can break the handle or the stem.
My shower drips for a minute after I turn it off. Is that the same problem?
Probably not. Delta says the shower head is simply emptying its reservoir of water, and Kohler's Rite-Temp valve guide says showerheads can drip for up to 90 seconds after the valve is turned off. A shower that keeps running or dripping with the handle off is the one Moen calls continuous leaking.
Can I turn the water back on before the new cartridge comes?
Not to that faucet. Our own advice: keep that faucet's water off until the new part is in and the clip or nut is back on. If you shut it off at the stops under a sink, the rest of the house still has water. If you had to close the main, open it only once the faucet is back together. Moen adds that if the retainer clip cannot be installed or is damaged, the water cannot be turned back on to the faucet until the clip is replaced.
Is a hard-to-turn handle a sign of trouble?
Moen says a handle that is difficult to operate is usually caused by sediment or debris in the cartridge, mineral buildup or a damaged seal. Moen also says a shower handle that is hard to rotate can put extra stress on the brass stem of its 1222 cartridge, which occasionally breaks off. Our own advice: deal with a stiff handle before you have to force it.
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.
- Moen, How To Turn Off The Water Supply To The Faucet, Kitchen Faucet: Leaking From The Spout and Handle is difficult to operate.
- Moen, How to Operate PosiTemp Stop Check Valves, Shower Faucet: Leaking, PosiTemp Valve and How to remove a broken 1222 PosiTemp cartridge.
- Moen, 1222 Cartridge: Single Handle Shower, 1225 Cartridge: Single Handle Shower and 1225 Cartridge: Kitchen Faucet.
- Delta Faucet, single-handle kitchen faucet drips from the aerator, water dripping from the spout of a two-handle lavatory faucet, shower FAQ and How to Fix a Leaky Shower Head.
- Delta Faucet parts pages: RP19804, RP46074 and R10000-UNWS.
- Kohler, Leaking from End of Spout and Rite-Temp Valve Dripping from Showerhead or Spout.
- Pfister, bathroom faucet leaking and single handle bath faucet leaking dripping.
- Regional Water Providers Consortium, Emergency Water Shut-Off.
- Bob Vila, How to Turn Off Water and How to Fix a Leaky Faucet.
- This Old House, How to Stop Kitchen Faucet Leaks.
- The Home Depot, How to Fix a Leaky Faucet and How to Rebuild a Shut-off Valve.
Replacements for Moen 1225, 1200 and 1222 cartridges, Delta two-handle stems, seats and springs and Delta shower cartridges, plus parts for Kohler, Pfister 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 Moen Incorporated, Delta Faucet Company, Kohler Co., Pfister, The Home Depot, This Old House, Bob Vila, the Regional Water Providers Consortium or the other publishers cited. Brand names and part numbers are used only to identify fit or to cite their published instructions. Shut the water off first, do not force a valve, a handle or a cartridge, and call a licensed plumber or your water provider if a shut-off will not close.
FourHome is not affiliated with or endorsed by any faucet manufacturer. Brand names and part numbers are used only to identify compatibility.