Water under the sink: close the little valves first
Look under the sink for the two small oval or round handles on the supply lines. Turn them clockwise until they stop. If the valves do not close or are stuck, shut off the main water supply to the house and call us.
A supply line that fails can spray hot or cold water, and a faucet body that leaks inside the cabinet can ruin a base cabinet quickly. Do not wait for it to dry out.
What causes faucet problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Steady drip from the spout | Worn cartridge or washer | Replace the cartridge or seat |
| Leak at the base of the handle | Worn O-rings | Replace the O-rings |
| Low flow | Clogged aerator or cartridge | Clean or replace parts |
| Water under the sink | Failed supply line or valve | Replace the line or valve |
| Handle will not turn | Mineral buildup or a seized cartridge | Service or replace the cartridge |
What we do
- 1
Stop the leak
We close the supply or replace the failed valve.
- 2
Identify the fault
We take the faucet apart and look at the cartridge, seals and supply.
- 3
Fix or replace
If a repair is sensible we do it. If the faucet is worn out, we explain replacement.
- 4
Test
We check for leaks at every connection.
Leak under the sink?
Call and tell us what you see. We will help you decide what to shut off.
Repair the faucet or replace it
Repair
- A single worn part is causing the problem
- The finish is in good shape
- Parts are available
- You like the faucet
Replace
- Corroded body or many failing parts
- Parts are no longer made
- You want a different style or feature
- Repair would cost as much as a new faucet
What affects the price of faucet repair
When a drip is worth fixing today
A slow drip wastes little water in a day, but over a month it adds up and it stains the sink. A leak under the sink is more urgent. It can soak the cabinet floor and, over weeks, rot it. If you find a damp cabinet, check the valves and the supply lines first.
Hot water leaks matter a little more because you pay to heat what drips away. A faucet that drips only when the hot side is on usually has a worn hot-side cartridge or seat.
What to tell us when you call
- Kitchen or bathroom faucet, and the brand if you know it
- Whether the leak is at the spout, the handle or below the sink
- Whether the shutoff valves under the sink still close
- How old the faucet is
- Whether the drip is hot, cold or both
Faucets and water in Bothell
The City of Bothell describes its drinking water as soft, which is easier on faucets than hard water. Faucets still wear out, and old shutoff valves under the sink are a common point of failure in older homes.
If your sink is slow rather than leaking, a clog in the drain could be the issue, so see our drain cleaning page. If your garbage disposal sits under the same sink and is leaking, see garbage disposal repair.
Faucet and supply work follows the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted in Washington under WAC 51-56.
Faucet repair questions
Yes. Our emergency line is open 24 hours a day, every day. Call (425) 845-0257. If water is spraying, close the shutoff valves under the sink first.
A worn cartridge, washer or O-ring. It is one of the most common faucet repairs.
Yes. A steady drip wastes water and can stain the sink. The fix is usually modest.
Shut off the main water supply to the house and call us. We can replace the valve.
Yes. We remove the old faucet, install the new one and connect the supply lines. Bring or choose the faucet ahead of time.
It can be a clogged aerator or cartridge. If every fixture is low, the problem is elsewhere, such as the main line or the pressure regulator.