Palo Alto, CA · Faucets, Sinks and Shower Valves
Faucet and Sink Repair in Palo Alto, CA: A Dripping Tap or a Valve That Will Not Shut Off?
A tap that will not stop dripping, water collecting in the cabinet under the sink, or a shower that keeps running after it is turned off. Where the water shows up tells you which part has failed, and most of these are short repairs once the right part is in hand.
Dripping spout, leaking base, or water under the sink?
Before anything is taken apart, look at exactly where the water is. Each spot points to a different part.
| Where the water is | Usual cause | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|
| Dripping from the spout with the handle off | A worn washer, seat, cartridge or ceramic disc inside the valve | Replace the worn part, matched to the faucet model |
| Pooling around the base of the faucet | Failed o-ring seals around the spout or body | New seals, or a new faucet if parts are no longer made |
| Under the sink, near the wall | A supply line or the shut-off valve | New braided supply line or valve |
| Under the sink, at the drain | A loose slip nut, a cracked trap or a failed basket strainer seal | Retighten, reseal or replace the drain part |
| Inside the cabinet floor, slowly | Any of the above, dripping for a long time | Find the source, then dry and check the cabinet base |
Why the type of faucet decides the repair
A drip from the spout is a worn part inside the valve, and which part depends on how the faucet is built. Knowing the brand and model saves a trip to find the match.
- Compression faucets. Older two-handle taps that tighten down onto a rubber washer. The washer and seat wear out, and both are inexpensive to replace.
- Cartridge faucets. One or two handles over a removable cartridge. The cartridge is replaced as a unit, and it has to match the faucet exactly.
- Ceramic disc faucets. Two hard discs slide over each other to control flow. They last a long time; when they drip, the seals or the disc cartridge are replaced.
- Ball faucets. A single lever over a rotating ball with springs and seals, common in older kitchens. A repair kit usually fixes them.
If you can, photograph the faucet and the underside of the handle before the visit. A model number is often printed or stamped there.
Drip that keeps coming back? Call with the brand and we can bring the right part.
Call (833) 840-2034Shut-off valves that no longer shut off
The small valves under a sink, called angle stops, often go untouched for years. When someone finally needs them, the handle will not turn, or it turns and the water keeps coming. Older multi-turn valves are the most likely to seize.
Replacing them with quarter-turn valves at the same time as faucet work makes sense, because the water to the house has to be off for both and the next repair becomes much simpler.
Shower valves and tub spouts that drip
A shower head that drips after it is switched off, or a tub spout that keeps trickling, is the valve behind the wall rather than the head or the spout itself.
- Single-handle shower valves. Usually a worn cartridge. It is replaced from the front, after the handle and trim plate come off, without opening the wall.
- Water from the tub spout during a shower. The diverter, which sends water up to the shower head, has worn and is letting some through.
- A shower that runs too hot or cold suddenly. Many valves include a pressure-balancing part that limits sudden temperature swings. When it sticks, the cartridge is usually replaced.
- Water behind the wall. A leak at the valve body or the pipes feeding it. An access panel behind the shower, if there is one, makes this a much simpler job.
Outdoor faucets and hose bibs
Outdoor taps get the hardest use and the least attention. Three faults come up again and again.
- Water leaking around the handle. The packing nut behind the handle has loosened or its packing has worn. Tightening or repacking it often stops the leak.
- A drip from the spout. The washer or seat inside has worn, just as on an indoor compression tap.
- Water inside the wall after using the hose. On frost-proof taps with a long valve stem, a hose left attached can stop the stem draining, and the trapped water can split it. That needs prompt attention, because the leak is inside the wall.
Freezing is uncommon in Palo Alto but in an average year the city still sees around 14 nights at or below freezing. Our burst pipe page covers protecting outdoor taps from it.
Installing a new faucet or sink
Before buying a new faucet, check how many holes the sink or countertop has, and whether the new model needs a trim plate to cover the ones it will not use. Kitchen sinks also differ in how they mount, either dropped into the countertop from above or fixed underneath it.
- The water is shut off at the angle stops and the old faucet and supply lines are removed.
- The sink surface is cleaned and the new faucet is set and sealed to the manufacturer's instructions.
- New braided supply lines are fitted rather than reusing the old ones.
- The drain assembly is reconnected and every joint is checked under running water.
- The aerator is removed and the line flushed, so debris from the work does not lodge in the new faucet.
California law, in force from 2010, limits the lead in pipe, fittings and fixtures that carry drinking water to a weighted average under 0.25%. Faucets sold for California use are made to that limit, which is a reason to buy from a supplier selling for the California market. Older homes carry one more rule: where a house was built on or before January 1, 1994, a permitted alteration can require water-saving faucets, 1.5 gallons per minute in bathrooms and 1.8 in kitchens.
Have a new faucet ready to go in? Call to book the installation.
Call (833) 840-2034Low flow at one faucet
When one faucet runs weakly and the others are fine, the problem is almost always at that fixture. The aerator, the small screen at the tip of the spout, catches grit and sediment, particularly after a water main or plumbing repair stirs it loose.
Unscrewing it and rinsing the screen is often the whole fix. If flow is still weak, a partly closed angle stop or a kinked supply line under the sink is next to check. Weak flow at every tap points elsewhere, to the main shut-off or the supply into the house.
Faucet and sink questions
How much does faucet or sink repair cost in Palo Alto?
It depends on the part and the access. A washer or cartridge on a common faucet is a short repair; a seized shut-off valve, a shower valve behind tile or a sink replacement takes longer. You get a written range once the fixture has been looked at, before work starts.
Who should repair or install faucets and sinks?
A plumber holding a California C-36 license. You can look up any contractor's license on the Contractors State License Board website, and it is reasonable to ask for the license number when you book.
Why does my faucet still drip after I replaced the washer?
The seat the washer presses against may be worn or pitted, so a new washer cannot seal against it. On cartridge or disc faucets, the cartridge itself, or the seals around it, may be the worn part. Matching the exact replacement part usually solves it.
My outdoor faucet leaks inside the wall after I use the hose. Why?
On a frost-proof tap with a long stem, leaving a hose connected can stop the stem draining, and water trapped in it can split the pipe. Turn the water off to that tap if you can and have it checked soon, because the leak is out of sight.
Do new faucets in California have to meet a lead standard?
Yes. Since January 1, 2010, California has limited lead in pipe, fittings and fixtures that carry drinking water to a weighted average below 0.25 percent. Faucets sold for the California market are built to that limit.
Faucet dripping or sink leaking?
Call and describe where the water is coming from. We will tell you what part is likely involved, and give you a written range before any part is changed.