First, stop the water
Look under the sink for two small valves, one for hot and one for cold. Turn each clockwise until it stops. If a valve spins freely, drips or will not move, the valve itself has failed, and the next step is the main water shutoff for the house, usually near where the line enters the basement or utility room.
Do this before you do anything else, then call. A supply line that has split can move gallons a minute, and a cabinet floor holds very little.
Which faucet problem do you have?
Dripping spout
A steady drip from the spout means the part that closes the water path has worn. In a compression faucet that is a rubber washer. In cartridge, ball and ceramic disc designs it is the cartridge or seats. Replacement parts are matched to the brand and model, which is why we ask for a photo of the faucet or the name stamped on it.
Leak at the handle or base
Water seeping around the handle comes from worn O-rings or a loose packing nut. Water pooling at the base of a kitchen faucet may come from the hose connections underneath. Both are small repairs that turn into a stained, swollen cabinet if left.
Low flow or sputtering
The aerator on the spout clogs with mineral flakes and sediment. If the whole house is low, the cause may be upstream, and you should ask about our water line and pressure diagnosis.
Faucet, valve and fixture repair at a glance
Each fixture fails in its own way. This guide shows the symptom, the usual cause and what the visit involves.
| Fixture | Common symptom | What the repair usually involves |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen faucet | Drips, loose swivel, weak spray | New cartridge or hose, aerator cleaned |
| Bathroom sink faucet | Handle leaks, slow flow | Cartridge or O-ring, supply lines checked |
| Tub spout or tub faucet | Runs after handles are shut | Stem, seat or cartridge replaced |
| Shower valve | Cannot adjust temperature, drips from the head | Cartridge replacement, sometimes valve body behind the wall |
| Shutoff valve under a sink | Will not close, weeps at the stem | New quarter-turn valve and braided line |
| Outdoor spigot | Leaks inside the wall when on | Washer or packing, or a frost-proof spigot replaced |
Supply valves and broken stops
The small valves under sinks and behind toilets are called stops. They sit unused for years and then crack or seize on the day they are needed. A broken stop is one of the most common reasons a plumber is called out at night, because the only way to stop the water is the main valve.
Replacing a stop is a short job when the pipe behind it is sound. If the pipe is corroded, we replace a small section so the new valve has something solid to attach to. That is also the moment to swap old rubber or braided lines that are past their service life.
Shower and tub valve repair
Shower valves are different from sink faucets because most of the working parts are inside the wall. Call if you notice any of these.
- Water too hot or cold. A worn pressure-balancing cartridge can no longer blend the supply properly, which is a scald risk for children and older family members.
- Handle won't shut off completely. The stem or seat is worn. Constant drip from the showerhead is wasted water.
- Moisture on the wall or ceiling near the valve. This can mean a leak behind the wall. Do not wait. The wall can hold water for weeks before the stain appears.
- Tub spout diverter fails. Water runs from the spout when the shower is on. A diverter or spout replacement is usually quick.
Older houses in Guilford and what we find behind faucets
The town center around the Guilford Green was settled in 1639, and the historic district the National Park Service describes includes houses from every century since. Older houses often carry mixed plumbing: new fixtures on old galvanized or copper lines. When a faucet is replaced, we check whether the supply lines behind it are rusting from the inside, because a new faucet on failing pipe only moves the leak.
If a home has a persistent low-flow problem, we may point you to a repiping assessment rather than keep replacing fixtures.
What affects the price of faucet and valve repair
A faucet fix is priced by how deep the problem goes, from a worn cartridge to a corroded valve inside a wall, and you get a clear price before work starts.
- Fixture type and brand.Parts for common brands are easy to find. Specialty or imported faucets can mean a wait.
- Repair or replace.A faucet with a repairable cartridge costs less to fix than to replace. A faucet with a corroded body is better replaced.
- Behind the wall.Tub and shower valves can need an access panel or wall repair.
- Shutoff condition.If the stop valve is seized, replacing it is part of the job.
- When you call.Evenings, weekends and holidays are quoted as emergency visits.
A sudden burst is generally covered by homeowners insurance, while a slow drip over months generally is not. Take photos and keep receipts. For your real number, call the 24/7 line.
Faucet or valve emergency?
Call the 24/7 line and tell the dispatcher which fixture is leaking. If the water is already reaching the floor below, mention that first. If a pipe has split rather than just a fixture, our burst pipe repair team handles that.
Questions we hear on calls
Yes. A supply valve that will not shut off, a faucet that has split or a leak behind a shower valve is handled as an emergency at any hour, and the line is open 24/7.
The valve seat may be pitted, which keeps a new washer from sealing. A seat can be dressed or the faucet replaced. A plumber can tell in a few minutes with the faucet apart.
Do not force it, because a seized stop can snap. Use the main water shutoff to stop the water and have the stop replaced.
Yes. Tell the dispatcher the faucet brand and the number of holes in the sink. The visit also includes new supply lines when the old ones are worn.
Replacing a cartridge is possible for a handy homeowner, but the wrong cartridge or a missed shutoff can flood a wall. If you are not sure of the model, call.
Yes. A spigot that leaks into the wall when the hose is attached should be repaired before freezing weather, because the water can freeze and split the pipe.
Four more: Madison, Branford, North Branford and Clinton. Tell the dispatcher whether your water is public or from a well, because it changes what a plumber checks first.
Sources for the local details on this page
The local facts above come from the National Park Service nomination for the Guilford town center district and 2022 Connecticut State Building Code. Rules and figures can change, so check with the town or state office before you rely on them for a permit or a purchase.