Toilet Repair & Installation
Cure a toilet that runs, rocks, leaks or clogs, or install a replacement.
Fixtures and bathrooms
Emergency Faucet and Sink Repair in Louisville, CO
A drip is annoying. A faucet that will not shut off, or a supply line that lets go under a sink at midnight, is a water problem that ruins cabinets. Most fixes are quick, but the first step is stopping the water at the valve below.
Close the small valve under the sink first, then call.
What to check first
- Valves under the sinkTurn the oval handles clockwise to stop each line.
- Which line is leakingDry everything, then run water and watch where it appears.
- Handle, spout or baseThe location points to the worn part.
Reading a leak by where it appears
Water at the spout means a worn cartridge, washer or seat. Water around the handle points to O-rings. Water at the base of the faucet can be a loose body or a failed seal. Water under the sink may come from supply lines, the drain or the faucet itself.
Dry the area and run the water in stages. Hot only, then cold only, then both. The change in where it drips tells you which line to blame.
When valves under the sink will not turn
Shutoff valves under sinks go years without being used, and many are stuck or crack when turned. If one refuses to move or leaks at the stem, do not force it. Close the main valve and call, because a broken valve can turn a small job into a flood.
Replacing the shutoff valves while the plumber is there is inexpensive and prevents the next emergency. Quarter-turn ball valves are more reliable than old multi-turn types.
In Louisville
Hard water and aging fixtures
Mineral deposits from hard water clog aerators and wear cartridges, so faucets here can lose flow before they start leaking. Soaking an aerator in vinegar sometimes restores the stream.
Houses in older Louisville neighborhoods often have shutoff valves that are original to the sink. They deserve replacement even when the faucet works.
Cost
What changes the price of faucet and sink repair
Small repairs are quick. Costs rise with access and parts.
Ask for a written price before work begins, including parts.
Drains and traps
A leak that appears only when the sink is draining points to the drain assembly. A loose slip nut, a cracked trap or a failed gasket is the usual cause. Tightening by hand may fix it, and replacing a corroded trap is a short job.
Slow drainage with a bad smell can be a clogged trap or a blocked vent. If other sinks are slow too, the problem is farther down the line.
Repair or replace the faucet
Cartridge-style faucets can often be repaired with a new cartridge. Older compression faucets get new washers and seats. When parts are discontinued or the finish is worn, a new faucet may cost less than hunting for a part.
If you are replacing it, check the sink's hole count and spacing, and consider a model with a lifetime warranty on parts. Ask the plumber to supply and fit the flexible connectors with new gaskets.
Low flow and noisy pipes at the faucet
A faucet that sputters or runs weak is often asking for a clean aerator. Remove the tip, rinse the screen and give it a vinegar soak if mineral crust has formed. If flow is still poor, the cartridge may be partly blocked or the supply stop may not be fully open.
A banging sound when the faucet shuts is water hammer, caused by a fast-closing valve stopping a moving column of water. Air chambers can waterlog over time, and water hammer arrestors fix it. The page on water hammer in the blog explains the details.
Hot water that arrives lukewarm at the kitchen faucet may point to the water heater setting, a long pipe run or a failing mixing cartridge. Test the hot tap in more than one room to see whether it is the faucet or the system.
Fixture help nearby
Garbage Disposal Repair & Installation
Unjam a disposal, stop a leak at the flange or seals, or mount a new unit.
Leak Detection
Pinpoint a concealed leak in a wall, a ceiling or the buried supply line, so only the right spot gets opened.
Quick answers
What people ask about faucet and sink
A worn washer, cartridge or O-ring is the usual cause. The leak's location helps identify which.
Turn the oval handles on the supply lines under the sink clockwise. If they are stuck, use the main valve.
A clogged aerator or cartridge is common. Mineral buildup can restrict flow.
If parts are cheap and available, repair. If the finish is worn or parts are discontinued, replacement may be a better value.
It can be, since the water keeps flowing into the cabinet or across the floor. Turn the stop valve under the sink, or the main valve, and then phone in.
Yes. If the faucet is mounted on a wall, a leak at the valve body can run behind it. Stains, a musty smell or a sound of running water are clues. A plumber can open the wall carefully and repair the valve.
Faucet or sink leaking?
Close the shutoff valve under the sink, then call. The dispatcher connects you with a local contractor.