When you need it
Faucets wear from the inside. Cartridges, washers and O-rings soften, harden or collect mineral grit, and the result is a slow drip, a handle that turns too far, or a spout that leaks around its base. Some of these are a twenty-minute repair. Others are a sign the whole fixture has reached the end of its useful life.
- A steady drip from the spout with the handle fully closed
- Water pooling around the base of a kitchen faucet
- Handles that bind, wobble or drift off the setting
- A pull-down sprayer hose that leaks under the sink
- Corroded finishes or a style that no longer suits the room
How we do the job
Brand and model get confirmed before anything else, because parts availability decides whether repair is sensible. Many well-known makers still stock cartridges for faucets that are fifteen years old; budget fixtures often have no parts at all.
Repair
- Close the shut-offs under the sink and open the tap to relieve pressure
- Remove the handle and pull the cartridge or stem
- Replace the cartridge, seats, springs or O-rings as needed
- Clean the aerator and flush grit from the lines
- Reassemble and check for drips at every handle position
Replacement
For a new faucet, we remove the old unit, clean the deck, and install the new one with fresh braided supply lines. If the shut-off valves under the sink are seized or weeping, we replace them in the same visit; there is no sense hanging a new faucet on an old valve that will not close.
What affects the work
Undermount sinks with tight cabinet space, single-hole faucets going onto a three-hole sink, and stone counters needing an extra hole all add steps. Wall-mounted tub spouts and shower controls are a different job altogether; for those, see shower valve replacement. If you are already replacing a sink, our kitchen sink installation service covers both together.
Small upgrades worth considering
While the cabinet is open, a few low-cost changes make life easier. Quarter-turn shut-off valves replace old multi-turn stops and close fully in an instant. A soap dispenser can fill an unused deck hole. For outdoor taps that drip, the fix is often different again, covered on our hose bib repair page.
Brampton specifics
Peel's moderately hard water slowly scales cartridges and aerators, which is the most common reason Brampton faucets start dripping. Soaking an aerator in white vinegar every few months helps. Homes with a softener see slower wear; read about hard water in Peel if white crust keeps appearing on your fixtures.
Asked at the shop counter
Should an older tap be fixed or retired?
If it is a quality brand with available parts and you like it, yes. If parts are discontinued or the body is corroded, replacement is more economical.
How much water does a drip waste?
A drip of one per second adds up to thousands of litres over a year, enough to notice on your bill.
Will you fit a tap I ordered myself?
Yes. We check it fits your sink and valves first, and we tell you honestly if a part looks substandard.
Questions about this job? Call (365) 413-9125 and talk to a plumber.