Among the various faucet tap technologies in use, compression-style faucets have been around the longest. They are also the least expensive type.

With a compression faucet tap, you turn the handle to raise or lower a stem. At the stem's base, a seal or washer opens or closes the water's passageway (the valve seat).

The fundamental problem with a compression faucet is that the rubber washer or seal wears out over time. When this happens, the tap drips or drools.

Some newer types of compression faucets lower and raise the washer without grinding it into the valve seat. For example, American Standard's economy NuSeal faucets lower and lift the rubber washer vertically without rotating it. Because it doesn't grind the washer against the seat, the washer lasts longer.

The other three primary faucet types are referred to as "washerless" because they control flow using methods other than a washer and valve seat (though they do have O-rings and seals to prevent leaking).

Moen makes a washerless single-handle faucet with a hollow, plastic-and-brass cartridge insert that seals against the inside of the faucet body with O-rings.

Water flow is controlled by an up-and-down movement of the cartridge; to change water temperature, you rotate the handle.

Though faucets are available from a low of about $30 to high-end models in the $600 range, most of these are medium priced at from $60 to $175. These faucets are very reliable—leaks are generally due to simple O-ring failure.

If cartridges ever require replacement, they cost from about $9 to $20, although new Eljer and Moen faucets carry a limited lifetime warranty against leaks and drips.