Faucet Repair & Installation

Drips and cartridges

Older two-handle faucets use compression washers that squash against a seat each time you shut them. Washers flatten and seats pit, and the drip starts. Most faucets sold over the last couple of decades use a cartridge or ceramic disc instead. Those last longer, but grit and mineral scale still wear the seals.

The fix depends on the brand and model. Cartridges are rarely interchangeable, so we identify the faucet first, then pull the old part to match it. A drip from the spout points to the cartridge or seat. Water leaking around the handle or base usually means an O-ring has failed.

When the maker no longer supplies parts, or the faucet body itself is corroded, replacement is usually the better spend.

Kitchen faucet swaps

Kitchen faucets work hard. Pull-down sprayers, heavy spouts and daily use loosen mounting nuts and wear hoses. A wobble at the base is often just a loose nut under the sink, and we can snug it from below.

Replacing a kitchen faucet means checking a few things first:

• How many holes the sink or counter has, and whether a deck plate will cover extras.
• Whether a soap dispenser, air gap or filter tap shares the deck.
• Clearance under the sink, especially around a garbage disposer or dishwasher line.
• The condition of the shutoff valves.

For bigger kitchen changes, see kitchen plumbing.

Bathroom faucets

Lavatory faucets come as single-hole, centreset or widespread. Match the new one to the holes in your basin, or plan for a new top. We also look at the pop-up drain. A sticky or leaking pop-up is a common annoyance and is often worth replacing in the same visit, since the faucet and drain are usually sold as a set.

Replacing stop valves

The small shutoffs under a sink, called angle stops, get turned perhaps once a decade. Multi-turn valves with rubber washers often refuse to close fully, or start dripping from the stem the moment you touch them. When we install a faucet, we check them, and if they are the old style, we suggest swapping to quarter-turn valves. It is a small job that earns its keep the next time something leaks and you need to shut the water off quickly.

A failing supply hose under a sink is a quiet flood risk. Our article on basement flood prevention covers other weak points worth checking. If you are also replacing a toilet in the same bathroom, see toilet installation.

Aerators and low flow

A faucet that suddenly runs weak, while the others in the house are fine, usually has a clogged aerator. Unscrew the tip, rinse out the grit and scale, and soak it in vinegar if it is crusted. If flow is still poor afterward, the cartridge or supply line is the next place we look.