Faucet Repair in McKinney, TX

Find out what kind of faucet you have

Faucets fail in different ways depending on how they are built. Most fall into one of four types:

• Compression: two separate handles that you tighten down to stop the water. They use rubber washers that wear out, and a drip is often fixed by replacing the washer.
• Cartridge: one or two handles that move smoothly with no tightening. A replaceable cartridge controls the flow, and a drip usually means replacing it.
• Ball: a single handle that rotates over a rounded cap, common on older kitchen faucets. They have several small seals and springs.
• Ceramic disc: a single lever with a wide cylinder under it. Very durable, but seals can wear and discs can crack.

The brand is often printed on the faucet or handle, and knowing the brand and model makes finding the right parts much easier. Many major brands offer lifetime warranties on parts for the original buyer, so it's worth checking before you buy anything.

Common faucet problems

Dripping from the spout

The internal seal isn't fully closing. Depending on the type, that means a worn washer, a worn cartridge, or worn seats and springs. A slow drip wastes more water than most people expect over a year.

Leaking around the handle or base

Usually worn O-rings or a loose packing nut. On a kitchen faucet, water around the base of the spout often means the O-rings under the spout need replacing.

Low flow or a sputtering stream

• Clogged aerator: mineral scale and debris collect in the screen at the tip of the spout. Unscrew it, soak it in white vinegar, rinse and reinstall.
• Clogged cartridge or partially closed shutoff valves under the sink.
• If low flow affects the whole house, it's not the faucet. See low water pressure.

Water under the sink

Look carefully before blaming the faucet. Dry everything with a towel, then run the water and watch:

• Supply lines from the shutoff valves to the faucet: tighten gently or replace
• Shutoff valves themselves, which can drip from the stem
• The drain: the P-trap slip nuts and the joint under the sink basin
• Pull-down sprayer hose on kitchen faucets, which can wear through or leak at the connection
• The faucet body, leaking down through the sink hole

A handle that's hard to turn or won't shut off

Often scale inside the cartridge or a worn cartridge. Replacing the cartridge usually fixes it.

Simple repairs you can do

1. Turn off the water at the shutoff valves under the sink (clockwise). If there aren't any, or they won't close, use the main shutoff. See how to shut off your water.
2. Plug the drain so small screws and parts don't disappear.
3. Take a photo at each step of disassembly.
4. Take the old part to the store to match it, or order by the faucet model.
5. Reassemble without overtightening, which can crack parts.

Repair or replace?

Repair is usually worth it when:

• The faucet is a good quality brand and parts are available
• It is a single worn washer, cartridge or O-ring
• The parts may be covered by a manufacturer's warranty

Replacement is often better when:

• The faucet body is corroded or cracked
• Parts are discontinued or the brand is unknown
• It has needed repeated repairs
• You want a different style, a pull-down sprayer, or a touchless model

Replacing a faucet in the same location without altering pipes doesn't need a permit in McKinney, according to the city's home repairs permit page. Faucet replacements are also among the exceptions to state permit requirements.

When to call a plumber

• The shutoff valves are seized, missing or leaking
• The faucet is corroded in place and won't come off
• There is water damage in the cabinet and you can't find the source
• You're moving a faucet, adding a pot filler, or changing sink layouts
• You'd simply prefer someone else handles it

It's often efficient to replace old supply lines and shutoff valves while the plumber is there. If you hire a plumber, you can check their license on the TSBPE lookup.