Can Dripping Faucets Be Repaired or Do You Need Shorewood Faucet Replacement?

Most dripping faucets can be repaired, but there are certain instances where a faucet will need to be replaced instead of being repaired.

Common Faucet Problems

Let’s take a look at some reasons why your faucet might be leaking and what the fix is for each!

Leaking at the Base

If water is leaking out from the base of your faucet around the spout or handles, it’s likely that you have a worn O-ring, cartridge seal, or stem seal allowing water to leak out. This is fixable with the right knowhow and some inexpensive parts.

Dripping from The Spout

If water is dripping from the spout of your faucet, you’ll need to know which type of faucet you have so you can get the right part(s) for the repair. To fix it, you’ll either need to replace the washer, cartridge, or ceramic disk inside the faucet. If you have some knowledge of your sink’s hardware and the right tools, you can find the right part to fix this on your own. This is a more complicated fix than just changing out an O-ring, but it’s likely still doable for home DIYers.

Water Won’t Stop Running

Sometimes what looks like a fast drip is actually a tiny stream of water running continuously because the faucet is stuck open. This can be due to a failed internal component (like a cartridge, stem, or ball-valve) or problems with the handle itself. If the handle threads are stripped out, you will need to replace the faucet. Otherwise, you should be able to fix the drip with the right parts. You may be able to fix this yourself, or you may need a local plumber to fix it for you depending on what’s causing the stuck faucet and how easy it is to identify the issue. Some faucets require more investigative work to determine the cause, which may mean you need to bring in a plumber to speed up the job and ensure it's done right the first time. 

Additional Considerations

While each of these common sink problems is something that’s often fixable, there are still scenarios in which a faucet will need to be replaced instead of repaired. For instance, if your faucet model is no longer being manufactured, you may not be able to find the specific parts needed to complete the repair even if you know what’s wrong and how to fix it. Additionally, if your faucet is corroded or cracked, you’ll want to replace it even if you can get the parts to fix your current problem because it will end up being cheaper in the long run to swap it out now rather than keep putting money into something that is failing.

One other thing to think about is whether you want to use the opportunity that having a broken faucet presents to upgrade your space. If you need to spend money to fix your old broken faucet, it’s worth asking yourself whether you even want to keep your old faucet. If you were considering upgrading your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room sink with a better-quality faucet at some point anyways, you might want to go ahead and do it now instead of waiting.

If you have a dripping faucet, give us a call at 1 (800) 674-9130. We’ll either fix your faucet or replace it depending on what the problem is and which solution works best for your home or business. We have developed a strong reputation as a trusted Chicago-area plumbing company serving Shorewood and beyond. Give us a call today!