Your faucet springs a leak. Is it from the spout or the handle? Does it matter? Today you'll learn that it does. And, you'll learn how to determine if you need packing or a washer to fix it. If you've got a leaky faucet, it might not need a new washer; it could be the packing wrapped around the stem of the handle that needs replacing. Packing is a Teflon- or graphite-impregnated string wrapped around the valve stem to prevent leaks. Conversely, a washer is a rubber ring that is compressed against the valve's seat to form a tight seal and prevent leaking. Now back to our original question: Is it leaking from the spout or the handle? If it's from the handle, you'll need to replace the packing. Just remove the handle and bonnet, and wrap fresh packing counterclockwise two or three times around the valve stem. Put it back together and you're back in business.