Last Updated on May 23, 2026 by stlplace
Difficulty level: 7 out of 10
My kitchen sink has a single handle faucet somewhat like this one. In last year or two I noticed it’s hard to completely close the faucet, or in other words, it’s very easy for the faucet to leak or drip water. It’s wasting water and making noises. The only use case I can think of is during the freezing weather, keep the faucet dripping will help the water inside water pipe not freeze.
I did a bit research and found this YT video explained things well. But please note the video is a bit old and it’s not the exact same faucet I have (again mine is like the one I put at the beginning).
After removing the screws and the handle and I saw the Delta Faucet RP50587 Single Handle Valve Cartridge: both Amazon and Home Depot carry the item. Note I don’t know the English name for that component initially, but I was thinking about finding it at the local Home Depot store.
Keep in mind removing the enclosure takes a bit effort, and for that I watched 2 other YT videos (one and two). Note I have some tools that’s mentioned in the three videos. One difficulty is to pick the exact hex head for the screw. I tried quite a few, lined them up and eventually I was able to pick the right size (right one).
Initially I also did one experiment and I made a dumb mistake: I switched the red tip which is probably to switch hot and cold, and I turned on the water main back (100%). Because I didn’t put the screws and handle back, the water spilled and made a mess in my kitchen. I asked my better half to turn off the “water main” quickly. She was not happy but I told her everyone including I make mistakes – it’s just life. I was more careful when I turn the water main back on the second time – I turned on a little bit instead of all the way.
After that minor scare (the water leak), I headed to Home Depot Overland store for the Delta Faucet RP50587 Single Handle Valve Cartridge, as I speculated that was the main culprit for the leak. It took me sometime to find it, again because I don’t know the English name (refer to the featured picture is this component, I brought it to the store so I know what to get).
I found it mainly via the Home Depot app: it tells me the exact aisle and shelf, just like the Schnucks mobile app for grocery. I bought it and came back home. I put the new Valve Cartridge in, tightened the things on top of it. And turned water main back on a bit (not 100%). It worked. I was happy. Once I am satisfied, I tightened everything, and also turn water main back on to about 95% (you may google this too – how much water main should I turn on)
Previous faucet job
I recall probably in year 2018, I did replace the old kitchen faucet with a Glacier Bay single handle faucet. The old one didn’t turn easily, and my wife didn’t like that. It took some efforts to remove the old faucet, because it was stuck there. If I watched today’s two videos regarding “things stuck”, I think probably the cause is similar. But faucet is such a common used item at home, and I feel it’s okay to splurge a bit too.
Anyway, I believe this is the first faucet job I did in the house we moved in since summer 2019, and now I hope the new valve lasts a while. Knock on the woods and keep finger crossed.
One more thing: user habit. I noticed I tried to close the faucet hard because earlier I had to turn it hard and also to certain angle to avoid large leak. This seems no longer necessary, and I will need to unlearn that habit.
Last but not least, I partially did it myself because I felt I can do it, and I did (technically both my wife and I) did a similar job in year 2018. And we probably saved some labor cost by doing it ourselves. Similar can be said about replacing the component instead of the whole kitchen faucet (which starts at about $150). I googled the cost and I think this is something I can do.
Now I recall I did a small job on new fridge because they need a valve. The fridge delivery guy dropped off the new fridge but they didn’t help connect it to the water pipe. They said a valve needs to be installed and I may need a plumber to do it. I just bought a cutting tool (Husky 5/8 inch Junior Tube Cutter For Tight Spaces 1/8 to 5/8 OD Tubing) and valve from Home Depot, cut the copper pipe, and installed the valve. After that, I just connect the new fridge to the valve (copper pipe) myself.
Update 05-23-2026: I found the product reviews at the Delta website is interesting. The rating is 2.9 out of 5, not that high. One complaint I saw it’s leak and some people say it lasts less than 2 years. From my experience I think it probably lasted more than 5 years – we moved in the house about 7 years ago, and it started leaking probably 2 years ago? I also noticed the product has been in market for a while. Last but not least, the Delta product I purchased at Home Depot was made in the USA, as I saw from product package.
Also this Amazon review has step by step guide of the job.
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The process is simple and the only tool I needed was the proper size hex key.
Here’s the process:
- IMPORTANT – Shut off the water to the faucet (our shut-off was in the cabinet under the sink)
- Remove the Hot/Cold indicator button from the faucet handle (ours is a single handle)
- Use the proper size hex key to remove the grub screw that holds the handle on (the grub screw is hiding under the hot/cold indicator button on the handle) and remove the handle
- Unscrew and take off the metal cap that covers the old cartridge (no tool required for me, I just grabbed the cap and turned). With the cap off and if you can… take a picture with your phone of the old cartridge so you can be sure to install the new one correctly. Otherwise make sure that you note how the old one was oriented in it’s hole
- Using it’s metal stem, pull out the old cartridge (it’s tight and required some gentle wobbling back and forth as I pulled)
- Slide in the new cartridge making sure it is oriented in the hole like the old one was
- Replace the cap that covers the cartridge (make sure you screw it down firmly)
- Put the handle back on
- Turn the water back on. Test it by using the handle to turn the water on, making sure it’s giving you hot and cold water and to make sure there are no leaks
- If everything is okay, put the grub screw back in to hold the handle in place and press the hot/cold indicator back into the handle to cover the grub screw ……. Thats it!