Dripping Faucet or Leaking Sink?
A faucet that drips or a cabinet that stays wet wastes water and damages the cabinet floor. Call, and a plumber serving your area will find the failed part and fix or swap it as needed.
- Licensed and insured plumbers
- Same-day service when available
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
Where the Drip Comes From
A faucet leak has a few common sources, and each calls for a different part.
| Where it leaks | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| From the spout when off | Worn cartridge, washer or seat | Replace the part |
| Around the handle | Worn O ring or loose packing | Replace the seal |
| At the base | Failed gasket or loose body | Tighten or replace the gasket |
| Under the sink | Supply line, shutoff or trap | Replace the failed fitting |
| Outdoor spigot | Worn packing or frozen damage | Repair or replace the spigot |
Under the Sink
The cabinet under a sink holds the supply lines, shutoff valves and the trap, and most leaks there come from a few connections. Dry each fitting with a towel, run the water and watch where the first drop forms. A leaking shutoff valve that will not close completely can often be replaced, which also makes the next repair easier. A trap with a failed washer or a cracked section is replaced, and a slow drain with a wet cabinet may be a blockage as well, which the clearing a clogged drain page covers.
Water under the sink right now?
Close the shutoff valves under the sink, or the main if they fail, and call. A plumber can come out as scheduling allows.
Shower and Tub Valves
A shower that drips from the head, shifts between hot and cold or will not shut off usually has a worn cartridge or valve. Some can be repaired from the front after removing the handle and trim. Others sit behind the wall and need access, and a leak from the valve body into the wall is treated as a leak first, which the locating a leak behind a wall page covers. If you are converting a tub to a shower, the valve and drain usually need to change as well.
Installing New Faucets and Sinks
Replacement is routine when the plumber checks the connections first. The old faucet is removed, the mounting surface cleaned, the new faucet seated and the supply lines connected. Check that the number of holes in the sink matches the faucet. A new sink may also need a new trap and a new drain assembly, and a dishwasher or disposal connection changes the layout. The disposal repair and replacement page covers that side.
Outdoor Faucets and Hose Bibs
An outdoor spigot that drips or leaks inside the wall when turned on needs repair. A spigot with a hose left attached through winter can freeze and split inside the wall, and the damage shows only when the water is turned on again in spring. Warrenton winters are cold enough for it, with a January average low near 24 degrees Fahrenheit. Disconnect hoses before the first hard freeze and shut off and drain the line if there is an indoor shutoff for it.
When to Replace Instead of Repair
A faucet with a pitted finish, a loose body or parts that are no longer sold is a candidate for replacement. A repair that has to be repeated each year is not a saving. Ask the plumber to compare the two, and keep the old parts if you want to see what was replaced. For toilets, the fixing a running toilet page covers that fixture.
Faucet still dripping?
Say what kind of faucet and where it leaks. You will learn whether a repair will hold.
Low Flow, Aerators and Sprayers
A faucet that sputters or loses pressure often has a clogged aerator, the small screen at the tip of the spout. Unscrew it, rinse out the grit and put it back. If one faucet is weak and the rest are fine, the cause is local. A kitchen sprayer that dribbles may have a kinked hose or a clogged diverter, and replacing the hose is a simple repair.
If every fixture in the house has weak flow, the cause is upstream and belongs on the water line page.
Choosing a Replacement Faucet
Match the faucet to the sink first. Count the holes, measure the spacing and check whether the sink has a deck plate. Single handle models are simple, and two handle models suit some styles. Look at the valve type, since ceramic disc cartridges tend to last, and ask the plumber which brands have parts that are still easy to find. A pull down sprayer is a good fit for deep kitchen sinks.
Bathtub Faucets and Spouts
A tub spout that drips or sends water to the shower head weakly may have a worn diverter. A spout is replaced by unscrewing it or loosening a set screw, and a handle that spins freely points to the valve behind it. A tub drain that leaks or holds water is a separate repair from the faucet.
Bathroom Sinks and Vanities
A bathroom vanity sink has a pop up drain, a trap and two supply lines in a small cabinet, so leaks are easy to miss. Check the pop up linkage, the trap nut and the shutoff valves. Installing a new vanity means connecting the faucet, the drain and the supplies and checking that the trap lines up. A bidet attachment or a bidet seat adds a water connection at the toilet supply, and a plumber can fit it.
Appliance hookups for a washing machine, a dishwasher or an ice maker also need shutoff valves and connections that do not leak. Replacing a worn rubber hose is an easy way to lower the risk of a flood.
Faucet and Sink Questions
Why does my faucet drip?
Usually a worn washer, seal, cartridge or valve seat. The type of faucet decides the part, and a plumber identifies it before replacing it.
Is it worth repairing an old faucet?
If the body is sound and parts are available, a repair is reasonable. If the finish is worn, parts are discontinued or it keeps leaking, replacement is better.
Why is there water under my sink?
Common causes are a loose supply line, a failed shutoff valve, a leaking trap or a faucet connection. A plumber checks each fitting to find which.
What about a shower that leaks or runs hot and cold?
A worn cartridge or valve is typical. Shower valves sit inside the wall, so access matters.
Can you install a faucet I bought?
Usually yes. Check that it fits your sink and has the right connections, and keep the instructions.
Drip not stopping?
Phone dispatch and say where the water shows up. A plumber serving your area can find the failed part.