Faucet and sink repair
Leaking Faucet or Sink in Elizabethtown, KY? Find the Source, Then Repair or Replace the Fixture
A drip at the spout, a puddle under the sink or a hose bib that leaks: this page shows how to find where the water starts and how to decide between a repair and a new fixture.
A faucet is dripping or a sink is leaking: first checks
Most fixture leaks are small and slow, and a few minutes of looking tells you whether it is a quick fix or a call. Start by finding exactly where the water appears.
- Dry everything with a towel, then watch where the first drop forms.
- Look under the sink. Supply lines, shutoff valves and the drain trap are the usual places.
- Turn the faucet on and off and see whether the leak happens only while it runs.
- Close the shutoff valve under the sink if the leak is active. Turn it clockwise.
- Put a bowl or towel under the leak and take a photo.
If the shutoff will not close or leaks itself, close the main valve and call.
Where the water shows up decides the fix
| Where it leaks | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| From the spout when the faucet is off | Worn cartridge, washer or seat | Replace the internal parts |
| Around the handle | Worn seal or loose parts | Tighten or replace seals |
| At the base of the faucet | Worn gasket or loose mounting | Reseat or replace the gasket |
| From a supply line or shutoff | Worn connector or valve | Replace the line or valve |
| From the drain trap or tailpiece | Loose nut or worn washer | Reseat or replace the washer |
| From the sink edge | Failed seal | Reseal the sink |
A leak under the sink that shows only when the faucet runs points to the supply or faucet. One that shows when the sink drains points to the trap.
Repair the faucet or replace it
Cartridges and seals can be replaced in many faucets, but not in all. Older or lower-grade models may not have parts, and a faucet with a finish that has worn through might as well be replaced.
- Repair when the faucet is sound and the parts are available.
- Replace when the finish has failed or the body is corroded.
- Replace when you want a different style, height or number of handles.
- Check that the new faucet fits the holes in the sink.
Ask the plumber what the repair will cover, whether parts are on hand and whether the job needs a second visit.
Fixture installation: new sinks, new faucets, new drains
A faucet swap is a one-visit job when the shutoffs work and the old fittings come off. A new sink, a different sink shape or a move to an undermount can need the cabinet and countertop adjusted.
- Check that the shutoffs under the sink close fully, and replace them if they do not.
- Replace old supply lines with new ones when the faucet changes.
- Match the faucet to the number of holes in the sink or counter.
- Plan the drain connection and trap for a new sink.
- Test for leaks with the water running and drained before the job ends.
Bring the fixture or its model number. A fixture that arrives at the house without parts is a delay.
Shower valve and bathtub leak repair
A shower or tub that drips after being shut off, or a spout that leaks around the base, points to the valve or the spout. Some repairs are a cartridge and a trim; others need the wall opened.
- A drip from the shower head after shutoff is often the cartridge.
- Water at the spout wall suggests a loose spout or failed seal.
- A stain on the ceiling below a bathroom can come from a valve, a drain or the tub seal.
- A tub that never fully drains may have a drain problem rather than a valve problem.
If the fixture is part of a larger project, planning a bathroom remodel explains the rough-in decisions.
Outdoor faucets and hose bibs
Outdoor faucets leak in two ways: from the spout or handle, and from inside the wall. A faucet that drips from the spout needs new washers or a new valve. One that leaks inside the wall, often after a freeze, can fill the wall cavity without any outward sign.
- Disconnect hoses before cold weather so water does not stay in the faucet.
- A hose bib that drips only when the hose is attached may have a failed vacuum breaker.
- Water appearing inside the wall near the faucet means the pipe behind it may be damaged.
- Shut the indoor supply to an outdoor faucet before a hard freeze if the house has a shutoff for it.
A frozen faucet that has split behind the wall is a pipe problem, and a split pipe behind the wall explains the steps to take.
Before you call: what makes the visit shorter
- A photo of the faucet, the sink and the area under it.
- The brand and model, if you can find it.
- Whether the shutoff valves close completely.
- How long it has been leaking and whether it has stained anything.
- Whether you already tried to fix it.
A faucet leak is rarely an emergency, but water under a cabinet can ruin the floor over time. Dry the area and check it again the next day.
Low pressure, noisy pipes and slow-running fixtures
Not every faucet complaint is a leak. A faucet that runs weak, rattles or sprays unevenly has a different set of causes, and most of them are quick to check.
- Remove the aerator at the tip of the spout and rinse out any grit. Mineral buildup there is the most common cause of a weak stream.
- If only the hot side is weak, the shutoff valve or a connector may be partly closed or clogged.
- Banging when the faucet shuts off can come from loose pipes or high pressure.
- If every fixture in the house runs weak, the problem is not the faucet.
Note whether the weak flow is at one fixture or throughout the house. That one fact decides whether this is a fixture visit or something larger.
Kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks and utility sinks
The same leak looks different depending on the sink. A kitchen sink has a disposal and often a dishwasher connected to the same drain. A bathroom sink has a pop-up drain assembly that leaks at its nuts and gaskets. A utility sink may have only a simple trap.
Tell the plumber which sink and what is connected to it. A kitchen drain that leaks may be the disposal connection rather than the sink trap, and a disposal-related problem is covered on the disposal repair page.