Faucet and sink repair · Greenville, TX
Faucet and Sink Repair in Greenville, TX: A Slow Drip, a Sideways Spray or a Shower Valve That Will Not Shut Off
A faucet that drips all night, a handle that leaks at the base, or a shower that never quite shuts off wastes water and wears the part that is failing. Most are small repairs once the cause is found. This page shows where the water is really coming from, what you can do safely and when a plumber should take over.
Where is the water really coming from?
A leak at a faucet can come from the part you see or from a connection you do not. Matching what you see to the likely part saves you from replacing a faucet that only needed a cartridge.
| What you see | Likely cause | First move |
|---|---|---|
| Drip from the spout when the handle is off | A worn cartridge, washer or valve seat | Replace the part; a plumber can tell which |
| Water at the base of the handle | A worn O-ring or a loose packing nut | A small repair if the faucet body is sound |
| Water at the base of the faucet or under the sink | A supply line, a shutoff valve or a mounting problem | Turn off the valves under the sink and dry the area |
| Weak or splitting flow at one tap | A clogged aerator or a worn cartridge | Unscrew the aerator and rinse the grit out |
| A shower that drips after you shut it off | A worn shower cartridge or valve | Ask a plumber; the valve is inside the wall |
| A tub spout that sprays from the shower head, or the reverse | A worn diverter | A repair; the diverter is part of the spout or valve |
| A damp ceiling or wall below a bathroom | A leak behind the shower wall | Stop using the shower and call |
Shut off the fixture and keep the cabinet dry
A leak under the sink can soak a cabinet quickly. These steps limit the damage while you wait for a repair.
- Find the small oval shutoff valves under the sink, one for hot and one for cold, and turn each clockwise until it stops.
- Open the faucet to relieve any pressure and confirm the water has stopped.
- Wipe the base and the supply lines dry, then watch for a few minutes to see which joint wets first.
- If a valve does not close fully, leave it, close the main on the house and call.
- Take a photo of the faucet and any model name on it, which helps the plumber bring the right part.
If water has spread into the cabinet floor or the wall behind it, drying out a wet cabinet or wall explains how to stop it from spreading. If the meter keeps turning even after the fixture is shut off, testing for a hidden leak is the next step.
Cartridge, ball, disc or washer: which type you have
Faucets come in a few designs, and the design decides the part that wears. A plumber who knows which kind you have can fix it in one visit.
Faucets with one handle
- Cartridge faucets use a cartridge that wears, and replacing it is often the whole repair.
- Ball faucets use a rotating ball with seats and springs.
- Ceramic disc faucets are durable but can crack or collect grit.
Faucets with two handles
- Compression faucets use rubber washers that harden and drip.
- Cartridge versions of two-handle faucets act like the single-handle ones.
- Old handles can corrode onto the stem, so ask before removing them.
Ask the plumber to show you the failed part and name the kit. If the faucet is old and parts are hard to find, replacement is the sensible choice and the quote should say so.
Repair or replace: five lines for the quote
Ask each plumber for the same list, so that the quotes can be compared.
- Fix or replace. A repair costs less when the faucet is sound. Replacement makes sense when parts are corroded or discontinued.
- The new faucet, by make, finish and number of holes in the sink. The holes must match.
- New supply lines and shutoff valves, since old ones often leak after being disturbed.
- Sink repairs, including a loose basin, a cracked basin or a failed drain seal, listed separately.
- Removal of the old fixture and a check for leaks before the plumber leaves.
Sinks have problems of their own. A slow sink drain is usually a clog in the trap, and clearing a slow sink drain covers it. A sprayer hose that has gone soft or a kitchen faucet pull-down that will not retract is a fixture repair, and you can mention both on one call.
Behind the tile: shower valve and tub spout leaks
A leak inside a shower wall is hard to see and can run for a long time. Signs include a stain on the ceiling below, a soft spot in the floor, a musty smell, or tile that has loosened. Stop using the shower and call.
The valve itself is inside the wall, so reaching it means opening the wall from the back or removing the tile. Ask for the plan and who patches the wall afterward. Tub spout leaks and diverter problems are often easier, because the part is outside the wall.
Hose bibs: drips, freezing and the shutoff inside
An outdoor faucet, or hose bib, drips for two reasons: a worn washer at the handle, or a failure inside the wall. A drip at the handle is a quick repair. Water running inside the wall after a freeze is not.
Before cold weather, disconnect the hose, because a hose left on can trap water in the faucet. If your house has an indoor shutoff for the outdoor line, close it and open the outdoor faucet to drain it. After a freeze, check the faucet and the wall behind it for dampness, and see what to do after a pipe freezes.
Faucet and sink questions Greenville homeowners ask
Is a dripping faucet worth fixing?
Yes. A faucet that drips steadily wastes water every day and the worn part keeps wearing. The repair is usually a cartridge, a washer or a seat, and it is a small part next to a whole new faucet. Ask the plumber to show you the part that failed.
Why is the water pressure low at just one faucet?
A clogged aerator or a worn cartridge is the common cause when only one tap is weak. Unscrew the aerator and rinse out the grit. If every tap is weak, the problem is in the house supply or the water heater, not the faucet.
Do I need to turn off the main to replace a faucet?
Usually not. Most sinks have small shutoff valves under the basin, and turning those off isolates the faucet. If the valves will not close or leak when turned, a plumber should replace them as part of the job.
Dripping, spraying or stuck? Tell a plumber where
Call, say which fixture it is and where the water shows, and the person who answers will arrange a plumber for your area.
