Szeto HandymanWhy drips matter
- The full spot
- The worn faucet, close and clear
- Your cross street
A slow drip seems minor. The EPA’s WaterSense program notes on its Fix a Leak Week page that “A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.” Drips also leave mineral stains in sinks and wear out the seat further.
- Shut it offTurn the valve under the fixture clockwise, or the main valve.
- Relieve pressureOpen a faucet nearby so the line drains.
- Contain itTowels and a bucket; unplug anything wet.
- Photo and textSnap the leak and valve, then text us.
Find the brand first
Repair starts with knowing what you have. Look for a logo on the handle, the spout or the base, and check under the sink for a tag on the supply lines. Major brands keep cartridges available for many years. Unbranded faucets from big box stores may not have parts at all, which often tips the decision toward replacement.
- Wide shotThe whole fixture and the space around it.
- Close-upLabels, model numbers, the leak or break.
- ConnectionsValves, pipes, wires or brackets.
- Send itText the photos with your cross street.
When repair makes sense
- Drip from the spout: usually a worn cartridge, washer or seat. A new cartridge from the maker often fixes it.
- Stiff or loose handle: a worn cartridge or a loose set screw.
- Low flow: a clogged aerator. Unscrew it, clean it or replace it.
- Leak at the base of the spout: worn O-rings on older swivel spouts.
- Pull-down sprayer that will not retract: a weight that slid on the hose, or a worn hose.
Faucets you like, in good condition, from a brand that sells parts, are worth repairing.
When replacement makes sense
- Parts are not available or cost close to a new faucet.
- The finish is peeling or corroded.
- Leaks inside the body, not at a replaceable seal.
- You want a different style or function, such as a pull-down sprayer or a single handle.
- The faucet has been repaired several times.
What affects the price
We do not list prices; they depend on the job. A repair depends on the part and whether the old cartridge comes out cleanly; corroded cartridges take longer. A replacement depends on the faucet you choose, whether the sink has the right number of holes, whether new supply lines and shutoffs are needed, and access under the sink.
Stuck old nuts in a cramped cabinet add time. Photos of the faucet and the area under the sink let us give a free estimate for both.
- Hot-water shutoff (angle stop)
- Cold-water shutoff (angle stop)
- Supply lines to the faucet
- P-trap, which holds a water seal
- Drain line into the wall
Check the shutoffs too
Shutoff valves under the sink that are stiff or drip when turned are a common failure during faucet work. Replacing them at the same time avoids a second visit. See shutoff valve replacement and faucet and toilet repair.
Choosing a new faucet
Match the number of holes in your sink, or plan for a deck plate. Pick a spout height that clears your pots and a reach that hits the center of the bowl. A WaterSense labeled bathroom faucet uses less water. Ceramic disc cartridges last longer than washers.
Kitchen versus bath
- Photo first
- The worn faucet price, agreed
- Working before we go
Kitchen faucets get heavy use, and pull-down sprayers wear their hoses and spray heads. Many brands sell replacement hoses and heads. Bathroom faucets get lighter use, and a cartridge often lasts many years. Widespread bath faucets have separate valves for hot and cold, and each side can be repaired on its own.
Mineral buildup
Hard water leaves scale on aerators and inside cartridges. Soaking the aerator in white vinegar dissolves scale. If a cartridge is crusted with scale, replacing it is usually easier than cleaning it.
- Age and finish of the faucet
- Drip from the spout or leak at the base
- Parts still sold for the model?
- Corrosion on the supply lines
- Do you want a new style anyway?
- Valves under the sink that still close
Matching finishes
If you replace a faucet, the soap dispenser, the sprayer or nearby towel bars may look different. Many brands offer matching accessories. We can swap those on the same visit.
- Faucets, toilets and valves
- Traps and drain connections
- Water heaters on existing lines
- Disposals and supply lines
- Moving or adding pipe runs
- Sewer and main drain work
- Repiping and new gas lines
- Slab leaks
Leaks under the sink
Water under the sink is not always the faucet. Supply lines, shutoffs, the drain and the dishwasher hose can all leak. We find the source before replacing anything.
Outdoor faucets
Hose bibs drip for the same reasons indoor faucets do: worn washers and seats. Frost is rarely the cause here; wear and hard water are. See our hose bib page for repair and replacement, and check the vacuum breaker on top for drips too.
Touchless and smart faucets
Touch and motion faucets have a battery pack or a plug-in power supply and a solenoid valve under the sink. When they stop responding, try fresh batteries first. Solenoids and sensors are usually sold as parts by the maker.
Single-handle versus two-handle
Single-handle faucets use one cartridge for hot and cold. When it wears, both temperatures are affected. Two-handle faucets have a cartridge or stem on each side; a drip from the spout that stops when you close the hot side tighter points to the hot side. Knowing which side leaks lets us bring one part instead of two.
Old compression faucets
- Only a worn faucet
- Or several things
Older faucets with rubber washers drip when the washer wears. Washers are cheap, but the seat they press on can be pitted. A seat wrench replaces the seat. If the body is corroded, a new faucet is the better repair.
What to send
A photo of the faucet, the brand logo if any, and the cabinet under the sink.
Related guide: What shapes the price of a handyman visit.
Photo checklist
- The faucet from the front and side
- The handle, including any logo or cap
- Under the sink: supply lines, shutoffs and any water
- The number of holes in the sink deck if you plan to replace
Questions we get
Can a dripping faucet be fixed?
Usually, with a new cartridge or washer if parts exist.
How do I find my faucet brand?
Look for a logo on the handle or base, or a tag under the sink.
Is it worth repairing a cheap faucet?
Often not, if parts are hard to find.
- A heads-up text before the worn faucet
- Area protected and swept
Do you install faucets I buy?
Yes.
Do you replace shutoff valves too?
Yes, on the same visit.
Why does my faucet drip only from one side?
On a two-handle faucet each side has its own cartridge or stem. Only the dripping side needs work.
- Mon–Sat 8:30 AM–7 PM
- Closed Sunday
- Texts usually answered within the hour.
What is an aerator and why does it matter?
It is the screen at the spout tip. A clogged aerator lowers flow and is easy to clean or replace.
Can a pull-down faucet hose be replaced?
Yes, usually with a model-specific hose.
Will a new faucet fit my old sink?
Usually, if the hole count matches or a deck plate covers the extra holes.
- Someone home works
- Gate code for the worn faucet job
Get a free estimate
Text a photo and your cross street. Free estimates, and most texts are answered within the hour.
Good to fix along with the worn faucet
Customers who book worn faucet work often add faucet and toilet repair or swapping stuck angle stops. Other pages that help: under-sink water filters, Toilet keeps running: causes and fixes, clogged sinks, drains and P-traps.
Repairs related to the worn faucet
Also done in West Covina, Covina, Baldwin Park, Azusa, Temple City, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Glendora.
Have a Pfister or Glacier Bay faucet? Read repairing Pfister and Glacier Bay faucets before replacing it.Moen single-handle faucets usually just need a cartridge; see Moen faucet and shower repair.For Delta faucets, seats and springs are common fixes, explained on Delta faucet and shower repair.Glacier Bay owners can check cartridge tips for Pfister and Glacier Bay first.