What are the main parts of a compression style faucet?

• A. Valve Cartridge and Handle
• B. Seat, Washer, Stem and Packing
• C. Gasket and Washer and Stem
• D. Seat and Bonnet

Answer: (B)

Compression style faucets seal by driving a washer against a valve seat as the handle is turned. The essential parts that make this mechanism work are the seat, the washer, the stem, and the packing. The seat is the fixed surface inside the faucet that the washer presses against to stop flow. The washer, a rubber disk on the end of the stem, creates the seal when pressed onto that seat. The stem connects the handle to the washer and moves it up and down to open or close the faucet. The packing, along with the packing nut, seals around the stem to prevent leaks as the stem moves through the faucet body. Together, these pieces allow the faucet to shut off water by compressing the washer against the seat and to open when the stem is raised.

Other options describe parts more typical of different faucet designs or omit key components. A cartridge-and-handle setup belongs to cartridge faucets, not a compression style. A combination that lacks the seat or packing misses the core sealing elements, and a design focused on a bonnet emphasizes a different construction than the four core pieces listed.