If your kitchen faucet is starting to show its age, you may be wondering if you can replace just the head, rather than the entire fixture. The answer depends on the type of faucet you have.
Compression Faucets
Compression faucets are the most common type of faucet, and they're also the easiest to repair. If your compression faucet is leaking, chances are that you only need to replace the O-rings (the rubber washers that seal the connection between the moving parts). You can find replacement O-rings at any hardware store.
If your compression faucet is dripping from the spout, it's probably because one of the seats (the metal discs that seal against the valve seats) is worn out. You can usually find replacement seats at a hardware store as well. To install them, simply unscrew the old seats with a seat wrench and screw in the new ones.
Ball Faucets
Ball faucets have a single handle that controls both hot and cold water flow, as well as volume. They're relatively easy to repair, but they do require disassembly of some internal parts. If your ball faucet is leaking around the base of the handle, chances are that one of the seals needs to be replaced. This isn't a difficult repair, but it does require some disassembly of the internals. You'll need to locate and remove the retaining nut under