Faucet & Sink Repair · Monroe, NC
Faucet and Sink Repair in Monroe, NC: Fix the Drip, Restore the Flow or Stop the Leak Under the Cabinet
A faucet drip, a weak stream and a puddle under the cabinet are three different problems with three different fixes. Most are small. The one that is not small is the leak you cannot see, because water under a cabinet can soften the floor of it long before it shows anywhere else.
Faucet symptoms matched to usual cause and size of fix
| What you notice | Usual cause | Size of the fix |
|---|---|---|
| A steady drip from the spout | A worn cartridge, washer or seal inside the faucet | A small part |
| Water at the base of the faucet or under the handle | A worn O-ring or seal | A small part |
| Low flow or an uneven stream | A clogged aerator or buildup in the supply | A cleaning, usually |
| Low flow on hot only | A problem in the hot supply or the water heater | Depends on the source |
| Water pooling under the sink | A supply line, the shutoff valve, a loose trap or a leaking drain joint | Often small, but find the source first |
| A sink that drains slowly | A clog in the trap or the line beyond it | A cleaning, or a drain job |
| A faucet handle that is stiff, loose or will not shut off | Wear inside the faucet or a failed cartridge | A repair or a replacement |
Fixing a dripping faucet: worn cartridge or washer
A drip wastes water continuously, and the sound wears on anyone nearby. Most drips come from a worn part inside the faucet, which is replaceable.
- Shut off the water under the sink.Turn the small valves clockwise. If they do not turn or they leak when moved, stop and call a plumber, because forcing an old valve can break it.
- Plug the drain.A dropped screw or washer is easy to lose down the drain.
- Identify the faucet type.Faucets with a single handle usually have a cartridge. Two-handle faucets often use washers or cartridges. The brand and model are often stamped under the sink or on the handle.
- Replace the worn part.Match the replacement to the model. A part that nearly fits will leak.
- Turn the water on slowly and check.Watch the base, the spout and the supply connections.
If the faucet is old, the finish is worn or parts for it are no longer made, replacing the faucet is often easier than repairing it. The decision is covered under repair or replace below.
Water under the sink: find the source
Empty the cabinet, dry everything, and run the water while you watch with a flashlight and a dry paper towel. The location tells you the cause.
Drips from the supply lines or the shutoff valves
A braided supply line can fail at the fitting or in the line. A shutoff valve can weep from the stem. These are quick fixes, and a worn valve can be replaced.
Leaks from the trap and drain joints
The curved trap under the sink is held with slip nuts that can loosen over time. A joint that drips only when the sink drains is usually here. A cracked trap or a worn washer is replaced, and a loose nut may only need tightening.
A leak that only appears with the disposal running
The disposal's connection to the sink or to the drain is a separate set of seals. See a disposal that leaks underneath for how to tell where it is coming from.
Condensation on cold pipes
In humid weather a cold supply line can sweat. It looks like a leak but dries up. If a pipe is wet all the time, treat it as a leak.
Water under the cabinet or a faucet that will not stop? Tell us where it shows up and whether the shutoff valves still turn.
Call (833) 571-0120Low flow and a clogged aerator
If the stream is weak or sprays sideways, unscrew the aerator at the tip of the spout. It is a small screen that catches grit, and it clogs. Rinse it, soak it if it is crusty, and screw it back on. If the flow is still weak after cleaning, check whether it is weak at every faucet or only one.
A problem at one faucet is local. A problem at every faucet points to the supply, the shutoff valve at the house, or the pressure. A drop in pressure through the whole house is worth checking against the meter, as described under water escaping before it reaches the faucets.
We do not claim a hardness figure for Monroe's water, since the City's water report does not give one that we could find. Scale on an aerator is a sign of mineral buildup at your tap, whatever the cause.
A sink that drains slowly
If the faucet is fine but the water sits in the basin, the problem is downstream. A trap clogged with hair, soap and food scraps is the usual cause, and it can often be cleaned by removing the trap. A kitchen sink with a disposal adds one more place for food to settle.
If more than one fixture is slow, the clog is beyond the sink, and a stubborn drain clog describes how to tell. A kitchen line that clogs repeatedly with grease may call for the pressure cleaning described on jetting the kitchen line. The City of Monroe asks residents never to pour grease down the sink, to scrape it into the trash once cooled, and to use a sink strainer.
Repair or replace the faucet?
- A new part is available and the faucet is sound.Repair it. A cartridge or a seal is a modest part for a faucet that is otherwise fine.
- Parts are discontinued or the body is corroded.Replacing the faucet is the sensible choice.
- The finish is worn or pitting.That is cosmetic, but a faucet with a failing finish is often nearing the end of its useful life.
- You want a different style or function.A pull-down sprayer or a touchless faucet is a replacement, not a repair. Check that the sink has the right number of holes.
- The shutoff valves are old.Replace them when the faucet is replaced. It is easier at that point than later.
A replacement should include new supply lines, and the plumber should confirm the shutoffs work before leaving, since an old valve that cannot be closed is a problem for the next repair.
Shower valves, tub spouts and outdoor faucets
A shower that drips or will not shut off
A shower valve works like a faucet cartridge, hidden behind the handle. A drip from the showerhead after the water is off, a handle that is hard to turn, or water that never gets fully hot or cold usually points to a worn cartridge or seal. The handle comes off, the cartridge comes out and a matching one goes in. Where there is no access panel behind the wall, ask the plumber how they will reach it.
Water from the tub spout when the shower runs
A diverter in the spout or the valve sends water up to the showerhead. If water keeps coming out of the spout, the diverter is worn. A leak around the spout where it meets the wall can let water into the wall, so reseal or replace it promptly.
An outdoor faucet that drips or leaks inside the wall
A hose bib that leaks at the handle often needs a new washer or packing. One that leaks inside the wall, or that was left with a hose attached in cold weather, can split behind the siding. If water shows up in the wall or ceiling near an outdoor faucet after a cold night, see a frozen outdoor line for the shutoff steps.
When a small leak is not small
A slow leak under a sink can soften the cabinet floor, stain the wall behind it and feed mold before it shows outside the cabinet. If the cabinet bottom is soft, discolored or smells musty, tell the plumber, who can check the cabinet and the pipes behind the wall.
If the water has spread beyond the cabinet, drying a wet cabinet and floor is handled separately, on its own number, once the source is stopped. If you cannot find where the water is coming from, the hidden line may be the problem, not the fixture.
Faucet and sink questions from Monroe homeowners
Why does my faucet drip even when it is fully closed?
Usually a worn cartridge, washer or seal inside the faucet. These parts wear from use and from minerals in the water, and they are replaceable.
How do I find a leak under my sink?
Empty the cabinet, dry everything and run the water while holding a dry paper towel along each pipe and fitting. The first place it gets wet is the source.
Can I replace a faucet myself?
Many people do. The risk is an old shutoff valve that will not close or breaks, which turns a small job into a flood. If the valves do not turn easily, stop and call.
When is a leak under the sink an emergency?
When the water will not stop and the shutoff valves do not work, close the main shutoff at the house and call. A slow drip is not an emergency, but it should not be left for weeks.
A faucet or sink problem in Monroe?
Tell us what the faucet or the cabinet is doing and whether the shutoff valves still turn.