When a faucet needs a plumber and not a new washer
Most faucets fail in one of four places, the cartridge, the seats and springs, the O-rings or the supply connections. Each one has its own symptom, and each repair is a different job.
The list below sorts what you see into what is usually wrong.
| What you see | Likely cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Steady drip from the spout | Worn cartridge or seat | Replace cartridge or seats |
| Water leaking at the handle | Worn O-ring or loose packing | Replace seals, tighten the nut |
| Puddle under the sink | Cracked supply line or loose stop valve | Replace the line or valve |
| Weak or uneven flow | Clogged aerator or sediment | Clean or replace the aerator |
| Handle hard to turn | Mineral buildup in the cartridge | Clean, or replace the cartridge |
| Dripping from a tub spout while the shower runs | Failed diverter | Replace the diverter |
Water spraying from a faucet? Do this before we arrive
Every fixture has its own shutoff. Finding it is the quickest fix.
Look under the sink
Two small valves sit on the supply lines, hot on the left and cold on the right. Turn each clockwise until it stops.
If there is no valve
Tubs and showers often have no local stop. Close the main water valve where the line enters the house.
Test the shutoff
Open the faucet after closing the valve. If water still runs, the stop valve itself has failed and the main has to stay closed.
Dry and protect
Mop the cabinet floor, set a bucket under the leak and open the doors so the wood can dry. Do not run the disposal if water is near it.
How a faucet repair is done
- 1
Isolate the fixture
Local valves are closed and the faucet is drained. If the stops are old, we test them before relying on them.
- 2
Take it apart
Handles, escutcheons and the cartridge come out, and we identify the make so we match the parts.
- 3
Replace the worn parts
Cartridges, seats, springs and O-rings are replaced, and corroded stops or supply lines are replaced at the same time.
- 4
Test hot, cold and under pressure
Both handles are cycled, the aerator is flushed and every joint is checked dry with a paper towel.
If the faucet is old and the finish is worn through, parts for it may be hard to find and a new faucet is the better buy. Choose a fixture with a solid brass body and a ceramic cartridge. Those hold up longer than thin zinc bodies.
Water spraying under the sink?
Call (973) 488-5410. Tell us where the water is coming from and which valve you have already tried.
Hard water and your faucets in Ridgewood
Ridgewood Water's published quality report lists hardness between 136 and 470 parts per million as calcium carbonate. That works out to roughly 8 to 27 grains per gallon, which ranges from hard to very hard.
Hard water leaves limescale on aerators, cartridges and spray heads. A faucet that sputters or has a weak stream is often clogged with scale, not broken. Cartridges that drag under mineral buildup wear faster.
The report we are reading was published in 2020 using 2019 data, so check the current report from Ridgewood Water for the latest numbers. What does not change is the habit of unscrewing the aerator every few months and soaking it in vinegar, which prevents many service calls.
Faucet trouble that is really another problem
If water pressure is low at every faucet in the house, the faucet is not at fault. That points toward the water service, so call about service line repair instead of buying a new fixture.
A faucet that spits air and water together usually means the line was recently drained or opened upstream, and it should settle after a minute of running. A leaking faucet connected to a sink that also drains slowly may need drain cleaning, and a wet cabinet under a kitchen sink sometimes involves the disposal and not the faucet at all.
Wyckoff homeowners can find nearby coverage on the Wyckoff page, and the same standard applies there as in Ridgewood.
What sets the price of a faucet repair
A cartridge swap and a full fixture replacement are priced separately. You get a clear price before work starts.
We tell you what is wrong and what each option costs before we start.
Faucet leaking and the valve will not turn?
Call (973) 488-5410. We answer all day and night.
Faucet repair questions
If it is a single worn part, repair. If the body is corroded, the finish is gone or parts are discontinued, replace it.
A steady drip adds up to many gallons a week. It also wears the seat further, so the repair costs more the longer it waits.
Old stops seize with mineral buildup and do not seal. Replacing the stop is the fix, and we do it with the faucet repair.
Yes. Valves behind a wall may need access through the other side or the tile. We explain what is needed before starting.
Worn washers, loose pipes or high pressure can cause it. Hammering can also point to a problem with the supply.
Only if the leak is stopped. A leaking supply line can fail completely, so close the valve and call.
Yes. A hose bib that leaks inside the wall in winter is a freeze risk and counts as an urgent call.