Which faucet problem do you have?
| What you see | What is usually wrong | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Drip from the spout | Worn cartridge, washer or seat | Replace the cartridge or seat |
| Leak at the handle | Worn O-ring or packing | Replace the seals |
| Water under the sink | Supply line, nut or sprayer hose | Replace the line or hose |
| Low pressure | Clogged aerator or mineral buildup | Clean or replace the aerator |
| Hot or cold only | Failed cartridge or stop valve | Replace the cartridge or valve |
A single drip can waste several gallons a day, enough to show up on a bill within a cycle. A leak under the sink does a different kind of damage, soaking the cabinet floor and growing mold in the dark. Both are cheaper to fix early.
The brand matters. Some faucets use a standard cartridge, others use a proprietary one that we order or replace outright if the finish is already worn. We tell you which road you are on before we open the handle.
Repair or replace the faucet
A faucet with a sound body and a worn cartridge is a repair. A faucet with a pitted finish, a cracked body or discontinued parts is a replacement. If you are upgrading, we install the new faucet, test the supply lines and check the angle stops while we are under there. Larger fixture swaps and new supply runs fall under plumbing installation.
Low flow and mineral buildup
Weak flow from one faucet usually means a clogged aerator, the small screen at the tip. Unscrew it, rinse out the grit and reinstall. If every faucet in the house is weak, the cause is upstream, such as a partly closed valve, a failing pressure regulator or a corroded supply line. DeKalb County's water system sets the pressure at the street, so a house-wide drop is worth a call to us and, if the neighbors have it too, a call to the utility.
Things you can do before we arrive
- Close the angle stop under the sink, turning it clockwise until the drip stops.
- Unscrew the aerator and rinse it if flow is weak.
- Empty the cabinet and place a towel or tray under the pipes.
- Note the faucet brand and model, often stamped under the handle or on the box, which speeds up parts.
Outdoor faucets and hose bibs
A hose bib that drips at the handle needs new packing, and one that leaks inside the wall after a cold snap may have a split pipe behind it. We check for that before closing it. If you see a wet spot on the interior wall near an outdoor spigot, call us and read about leak detection in the meantime.
What affects faucet repair cost
Faucet type
Single-handle, two-handle and pull-down kitchen models differ in parts and labor.
Parts availability
Common cartridges are quick, proprietary ones may be ordered.
Condition of the stops
Seized angle stops add work.
Repair or replace
Replacement includes the new fixture.
Access
Tight cabinets and wall-mounted sets take longer.
Insurance rarely covers a worn part. For your real number, call (770) 214-4545.
Faucet dripping?
Call to book a visit, and we can often come the same day.
Faucet repair in Tucker
We repair faucets across Tucker, in older ranches near LaVista Road and in newer homes off Northlake Parkway, and in nearby Stone Mountain and Clarkston. If a leak under the sink turns out to be a drain issue, we move to drain cleaning or a trap replacement in the same visit.
Standards and sources
Plumbing work in Georgia follows the state minimum plumbing code, which is built on the International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Georgia amendments. Ask the City of Tucker permit team which edition and which local rules apply to your address. Plumbers are licensed through the Secretary of State's Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers, and you can ask for a license number. When you shop for toilets and faucets, the EPA WaterSense label marks models that meet its water efficiency criteria, and WaterSense toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush or less.
Written by Tucker Express Plumbing for homeowners in the Tucker area. We name standards where they apply and tell you when a rule depends on your address.
Questions we hear from homeowners
A worn cartridge, washer, O-ring or seat is the usual reason. These parts wear with use and mineral deposits.
Often yes. If the body and finish are sound, we replace the worn parts.
It can become one if water is spraying or the cabinet floor is soaking. Close the angle stop, and call if it will not stop.
Yes. Tell us the model and we check for fit, supply lines and stops before arriving.
Many repairs take under an hour. A seized stop or an unusual brand can take longer.