Faucet and sink repair in Union City, Fulton County
Union City, GA Faucet and Sink Repair for Dripping Spouts, Leaking Shower Valves and Weak Pressure
A faucet drips all night, the cabinet under the sink is wet or the shower will not shut off all the way. Small fixture leaks waste water every day, and the ones under a sink can quietly damage the cabinet floor.
Call Union City GA Plumbing Pros, describe where the water appears and when it started, and you will hear what to check first and what a visit would involve.
Where is the water coming from?
Before you decide what to fix, find the actual source. Dry the area, put a paper towel under each connection and look again in an hour. The towel shows where the water starts.
| Where it appears | Likely source | Safe first step |
|---|---|---|
| Dripping from the spout | A worn cartridge, washer or seat inside the faucet | Close the handle fully and note whether the drip is steady |
| Wet around the handle or base | A worn O-ring or seal in the faucet body | Dry it and watch whether it returns |
| Wet cabinet floor under the sink | A supply line, a trap connection or the drain | Run water, check each joint with a dry towel, and close the stop valves if you find one |
| Dripping under the sink only when water runs | A drain or trap connection | Tighten by hand. Do not over-tighten plastic fittings |
| Water from the wall beside a tub or shower | A shower valve, a spout or a pipe behind the wall | Stop using it and call. See tracing leaks behind walls |
Close the small stop valve under the sink, turning it clockwise, if you cannot find the leak. It shuts off just that fixture and gives you time.
Faucet repair or faucet replacement?
A faucet that drips is often a part. A faucet that is corroded, discontinued or one you dislike is a candidate for replacement. The deciding facts are the age, the finish and whether parts are still made.
- Is it one fixed part? A single worn cartridge is usually cheaper to repair than to replace.
- Is the fixture corroded or pitted? Heavy buildup can mean the faucet is near the end of its life.
- Are parts available? Older and discontinued faucets can be hard to repair.
- Do you want a different style? A replacement means a new fixture, and sometimes new supply lines and stop valves.
Shower valve and bathtub leaks
A shower that drips after you shut it off, a tub spout that runs, or a handle that is hard to turn usually points to the valve cartridge inside the wall. It is a repair that does not always need the wall opened.
Water that appears on the other side of the wall, a stained ceiling below or a soft spot in the floor beside the tub is different. It suggests a leak inside the wall, and it deserves a plumber before more damage is done.
Outdoor faucets and hose bibs
A spigot that drips at the handle or leaks at the wall where it enters the house is wasting water and can soak the siding or sill behind it. Water inside the wall is the larger worry.
- Disconnect hoses when you are done, so water is not left standing in the faucet.
- Look for a wet stain on the wall inside the house behind the spigot.
- If water drips from the spout only when the hose is on, the handle packing may be worn.
- If water comes from the wall around the pipe, call before it spreads.
Why is the water pressure low at one faucet, or at all of them?
One faucet with weak flow usually has a clogged aerator or a worn cartridge. Remove the aerator at the tip of the spout and rinse out the grit. If the flow returns, that was it.
Low pressure at every fixture is different. The city's utility FAQ gives an order: ask whether the city is working on its system, then check the service line for leaks, then a clogged pressure regulator inside the house, and call a plumber if the cause is on your side. If you also see a higher bill, read about replacing worn supply pipes.
Stiff faucet handle or sputtering spout: aerator and cartridge
A handle that has become hard to turn usually has mineral buildup or a worn cartridge. A spout that sputters or sprays sideways often has a clogged aerator. If air sputters out after water service was interrupted, run the cold tap for a few minutes to push the air out.
If the problem is at one fixture only, it is a fixture repair. If every faucet sputters, or if the sputtering follows work on the street, tell the plumber when it started so they can separate a house problem from a supply problem.
Installing a new sink or faucet
A new faucet in an existing hole is a short job. A new sink changes the cutout, the drain and the supply lines. Ask what is replaced with it, not just what is added.
- Ask whether new stop valves and supply lines are included.
- Ask whether the drain and trap are replaced or reused.
- Check the countertop hole count against the faucet you choose.
- Ask who disposes of the old fixture.
Faucet and sink repair: what to tell the plumber and ask
Tell the plumber what you already tried, which fixtures leak and how long the leak has been going. If you rent, report it to the owner or property manager before calling a plumber. A fixture leak that was ignored for months is often the one that damaged a cabinet or a floor.
If a repair involves opening a wall, ask who patches it. The city's permit page says permits are issued to the certified contractor, so ask whether a larger fixture job needs one.
Describe the leak and where it shows up
Tell us which fixture is leaking and when it started, and you will hear what to check and what to expect. What changes the price of a faucet or sink repair is explained on the faucet repair pricing factors page.