Faucet & Valve Repair in Decatur, GA

Many older Decatur homes still have two-handle compression faucets at the bathroom sink, in the kitchen or at the tub. In this design, a rubber washer on the end of a threaded stem presses down onto a brass seat to stop the water. Faucet and valve repair for this style is straightforward when parts are available, and a well-built compression faucet can be rebuilt again and again.

How you know a compression faucet is wearing out

• You have to turn the handle harder each month to stop the drip.
• The spout drips steadily even with both handles firmly closed.
• Water seeps from under a handle while the faucet is on, a sign the packing or stem seal has worn.
• A handle turns and turns without shutting the water off, which usually means stripped stem threads.
• One side squeals or chatters when it is partly open.

What is inside, and what wears

Each handle sits on a stem. At the bottom of the stem, a brass screw holds a rubber or composite washer. When the handle closes, the washer seals against a seat that is either machined into the faucet body or threaded in as a separate part. Over the years the washer hardens and cracks, and constant pressure plus grit in the water can cut grooves into the seat. A new washer on a grooved seat soon drips again, which is why cranking the handle tighter only makes matters worse: it presses the washer harder into the damage.

Rebuilding the faucet

1. The stops under the sink, or the main for a tub, are closed and the faucet is opened to relieve pressure.
2. The handle, cap and packing nut come off, and the stem is unscrewed from the body.
3. The seat is inspected. A removable seat is unscrewed with a seat wrench and replaced; a fixed seat with light wear can be dressed smooth with a seat-dressing tool.
4. A new washer and brass screw go on the stem, with new packing or seals at the top.
5. If the stem threads are worn, a replacement stem is matched to the faucet. Stems vary by brand, length and spline count, so the old one is taken along for comparison.
6. The faucet is reassembled and tested at several handle positions.

Tub and shower faucets of the same style

Two- and three-handle tub and shower valves work on the same principle, but their stems sit deep in the wall and need a deep socket to remove. The repair is done from the front, through the trim, so the tile is left alone. On a three-handle valve, the middle handle is usually the diverter, and if it no longer sends water up to the showerhead, its stem gets the same treatment. Stops and outdoor spigots from the same era tend to be worn as well, and they fall under the same faucet and valve repair service.

Rebuild or convert

A rebuild is worth it when the body is solid brass and stems and seats are still available. Converting to a newer cartridge or ceramic-disc faucet makes sense when stems for an old brand can no longer be found, when the body is cracked, or when you would like single-handle control. At the sink, conversion is simply a faucet replacement; at the tub, moving to a single-handle valve means opening the wall, which is a larger job. Older homes may also have galvanized supply pipe that narrows inside and corrodes at the stubs, and if that turns up during the visit, it deserves a separate conversation about whole house repiping in Decatur. Weak or harsh flow at every fixture can also come from household pressure, which a pressure and PRV check can confirm.

Asking Decatur about valve work

The city's permit page describes a separate trade permit for plumbing that is installed, altered, repaired or replaced, regardless of cost. That wording is broad, so check with the Design, Environment and Construction Division before a tub valve or the piping behind it is changed.

Common questions about older faucets in Decatur

How long does a rebuilt compression faucet last?

That depends mostly on the water and on how hard the handles are turned. A new washer on a smooth or replaced seat commonly gives years of service, and closing the handles gently, just until the flow stops, slows wear on both. If the drip returns within weeks, the washer, seat or stem was probably not the right match and should be looked at again.

Can parts still be found for old two-handle faucets?

Often, yes. Washers, screws, seats and packing are close to universal, and many long-running brands still make stems. The harder part is identification, since faucets from that era often carry no visible brand name. When no matching stem turns up, replacing the faucet is the practical answer.

Is a single-handle faucet better than a two-handle one?

Neither wins in every case. Single-handle faucets with ceramic cartridges usually need attention less often and are easier to use with one hand. Two-handle compression faucets are simple, repairable and suit many older bathrooms visually. The choice mostly comes down to parts availability, the look you want and how much upkeep you are comfortable with.

Call when you are ready

If a two-handle faucet or tub valve in your Decatur home keeps dripping no matter how hard you turn the handles, Alpha Plumbing and Sewer can rebuild it or help you pick a replacement. Call (404) 409-4448.