Dripping or Noisy Faucet? Causes and Repair Options in Fairfield

Every faucet has a part that opens and closes the flow of water. When that part wears, water seeps past it and drips from the spout even with the handle off.

Which part has failed depends on the type of faucet:

- Cartridge faucets (most single-handle and many two-handle faucets) use a replaceable cartridge. A worn cartridge or its seals is the most common cause of a drip. - Ceramic disc faucets use two hard discs that slide against each other.

The discs rarely wear out, but the rubber seals under them do, and grit can scratch the discs. - Compression faucets, common in older Fairfield homes, have separate hot and cold handles that you tighten to shut off.

They use rubber washers that wear and harden over time. - Ball faucets use a rotating ball with springs and seals that wear.

If the drip comes from the spout, the shutoff part is leaking. If water seeps from around the handle or the base of the spout, an O-ring is usually the culprit.

A faucet that starts dripping again a few weeks after a new washer is frustrating, and it usually has one of a few causes:

- A damaged valve seat. On compression faucets the washer presses against a brass seat. If that seat is pitted or corroded, a new washer will not seal for long. The seat needs to be resurfaced or replaced.

- The wrong replacement part. Cartridges look similar but are brand and model specific. A close fit that is not exact may seal at first and then leak.

- Mineral buildup. Hard water leaves deposits on seats and seals, so new parts sit unevenly. - Overtightening the handle. Cranking a compression faucet closed to stop a drip crushes the new washer and wears it out faster.

A slow drip seems minor, but it adds up. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program, a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.

A dripping hot water tap also wastes the energy used to heat that water, and constant moisture can stain sinks and wear out finishes.

A faucet that makes noise when you turn it on is telling you something different from a drip:

- Squealing or whistling usually means a loose or worn washer, a worn cartridge, or a partly blocked aerator restricting flow.

- Sputtering often comes from air in the line after the water has been shut off, or a clogged aerator.

- Banging or a thud when you shut the faucet off is usually water hammer: the water stops suddenly and the pipe jolts. It can point to high water pressure or loose pipe straps.

Start with the aerator, the small screen at the tip of the spout. Unscrew it, rinse out any mineral grit, and see if the noise stops.

If it does not, the noise is coming from inside the valve or the supply lines.

A repair usually makes sense when: - The faucet is in good condition and parts are still available - Only one part, such as a cartridge or washer, has failed - You like the faucet and it suits the sink

Replacement usually makes more sense when: - The body is corroded or cracked, or leaks from more than one place - Parts for an older or discontinued model are hard to find - The faucet has needed repeated repairs, or

you are updating the kitchen or bathroom anyway

Before any work, shut off the supply valves under the sink. If those valves are stiff, seized, or leak when turned, have them replaced at the same time, because you will need them to work in an emergency.

C&C Plumbing repairs and replaces faucets, cartridges, shower valves, and tub diverters across Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun City, and the rest of Solano County.

We identify the faucet type, fit the correct parts, check the valve seat and supply valves, and give you a free, upfront estimate before starting. Same-day service is available.

See our fixture repair and installation service or fixture repair in Fairfield for how we handle these calls locally. If a running toilet is wasting water too, our guide to why a toilet keeps running covers the usual causes.

C&C Plumbing is licensed and insured under California contractor license 982867 and has served Solano County since 2013. The water waste figure in this article comes from the EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week page.