Faucet and Valve Repair in Georgia

Faucet and valve repair takes in the fixtures you use every day and the shutoffs you only reach for when something goes wrong: kitchen and bathroom faucets, tub and shower valves, the stop valves under sinks and behind toilets, outdoor hose bibs, and the main shutoff for the whole house. A drip seems minor, but a valve that will not close when you need it is a real problem, so shutoffs deserve as much attention as faucets.

Why faucets drip and handles leak

Older two-handle faucets use compression valves with rubber washers that harden and wear, so the faucet drips until the washer is replaced or the seat is resurfaced. Most newer faucets use a cartridge or ceramic disc, and a drip usually means a worn cartridge or seals; the matching part from the manufacturer normally solves it. Water around the base of the spout points to tired O-rings, and a puddle under the sink may come from the supply lines rather than the faucet. Drips at several fixtures at once, along with banging pipes, can mean the water pressure is too high, which a gauge on an outdoor faucet will show.

Repair the faucet or replace it

A faucet with a sound body and an available cartridge is often worth repairing. Replacement makes more sense when the finish is corroded, parts for that model are hard to find, the faucet leaks from the body, or you simply want a different style. If you do replace a faucet, it is a good moment to renew the supply lines and stop valves too, since they are already disconnected and usually as old as the faucet.

Stop valves under sinks and toilets

Ideally, each sink and toilet has its own stop valve, so one fixture can be shut off without turning off the whole house. Older multi-turn valves often seize with mineral buildup or leak around the stem when they are finally turned. Quarter-turn valves are easier to operate and less prone to sticking. A stop valve that drips from the stem, will not turn, or will not shut off completely should be replaced before the day you need it.

Hose bibs and outdoor faucets

Outdoor faucets leak at the handle, drip from the spout, or split inside the wall after a hard freeze. Frost-free hose bibs put the actual valve well inside the house wall, where it stays warmer, but they only protect themselves if the hose is disconnected so the pipe can drain. One left with a hose attached through a freeze can crack inside the wall and leak into the house the next time it is opened; water showing up indoors calls for leak detection and repair. Many outdoor faucets also carry a vacuum breaker on the spout that keeps hose water from being drawn back into the house.

The main shutoff valve

The main shutoff controls water to the entire house, usually where the water line enters, in a basement, crawlspace, garage, utility closet or a box near the foundation. Older gate valves with round wheel handles often stick or fail to close all the way after years without use. Replacing one with a full-port ball valve gives a reliable quarter-turn shutoff. The work requires turning off water at the meter, and on some systems that step involves the water provider. Turning the main off and on now and then confirms it still works.

Getting the quote in writing

The quote should identify each fixture or valve being worked on, say whether it is a repair and with which parts, or a replacement and with what model or valve type, and note whether supply lines and stop valves are included. For a main shutoff, it should explain where the water will be turned off, for how long, and whether the water provider needs to be contacted; when the main valve or the piping around it changes, the building office for your address can say whether that takes a permit. A running toilet, a slow drain and other general fixture work are covered under our general plumbing services.

Faucet and valve repair by city

Faucet, shutoff and hose bib service in each city:

Questions about faucets and valves

Why does my faucet still drip after a repair?

The usual reasons are a cartridge or washer that is not an exact match for the faucet, a worn seat that the new part still cannot seal against, or a seal nicked during installation. On some single-handle faucets, small seats and springs sit under the handle mechanism and wear out too. Very high water pressure can also push water past new parts. Matching the part to the model and checking the pressure with a gauge usually find the cause.

What should I do if the main shutoff valve will not close?

Do not force it with a wrench, because an old gate valve can break internally or snap at the stem. If there is an active leak, call your water provider, which can shut the water off at the meter. Once the leak is under control, have the main valve replaced with a quarter-turn ball valve so you can rely on it the next time something goes wrong.

Why does my outdoor faucet leak only when the hose is attached?

Usually the hose washer at the connection, the vacuum breaker on the spout or the packing around the stem has worn out. A vacuum breaker may vent a little water when pressure changes, but steady leaking means it needs replacing. If water appears inside the house while the hose runs, the pipe behind a frost-free hose bib may have cracked during a freeze, and the bib should be checked promptly.

Fix the drip, free the valve

A single dripping faucet and a main shutoff that has not moved in years are both worth a call to (404) 409-4448. You can also reach us through the request page.