Signs your faucet needs work
- Drops from the spout with the lever off.
- Water seeping around the base or handle.
- Stiff or loose handles.
- One tap feeble while the rest run strong.
- Corrosion or mineral crust at the base.
Why faucets wear out
Hard water in the region leaves mineral deposits on cartridges and aerators. Rubber seals and O-rings dry out with age. Cheaper faucets use plastic parts that crack. Kitchen pull-down hoses kink and leak inside the cabinet, often unnoticed until the cabinet floor swells.
How we handle it
- We identify the faucet brand and model to source the right parts.
- For a repair, the cartridge or valve seat is replaced and seals renewed.
- For a replacement, the old faucet is removed and the deck cleaned.
- New supply lines are fitted, and old shut-offs replaced if they will not close.
- Both the deck and the cupboard below get a leak check.
What moves the bill
Parts availability is the main factor in repairs. For replacements, the type of sink and counter matters: undermount sinks with stone counters and single-hole decks are straightforward; older three-hole sinks may need a deck plate. Seized nuts under old sinks take time.
Worth asking
Ask whether a repair is worth it for the faucet's age. Ask whether the shut-off valves under the sink should be replaced at the same time; it is the cheapest moment to do it.
What callers want to know
May I buy the faucet myself?
Yes. Make sure it suits the number of holes in your sink and counter, and keep the box and instructions.
My new faucet runs weak. Why?
Grit knocked loose while swapping it can block the aerator. Unscrew and rinse it.