Leaking right now: valve will not shut off or a supply line is spraying
If a supply line has split or a faucet will not close, go to the small stop valve under the sink and turn it clockwise. Those valves are the fastest way to isolate one fixture.
If the stop valve is stuck, will not turn or itself leaks, close the main shutoff where water enters the house. Then open a faucet at the lowest level to relieve pressure. Mop up and keep people away from wet outlets.
- Under-sink stop valve: clockwise to close, by hand only
- Main shutoff: near the meter or where the water line enters the house
- Wet floor near outlets: breaker off only if the panel is dry
- Municipal water emergency (curb or main problem): the Methuen Water Department 24-hour line is 978-983-8855
Then call (603) 815-9179. A broken or seized stop valve is a common emergency in older houses, and we often can repair or replace one on the same visit.
Which fixture is giving you trouble?
Kitchen faucet
Drips at the spout, weak flow from a clogged aerator, or water under the sink from a worn supply line. Pull-down sprayers add a hose that can crack.
Bathroom faucet
Slow drips, handles that feel loose, or a pop-up drain that no longer seals. Hard use wears the cartridge and the washers.
Tub and shower fixtures
A tub spout that runs after shutoff, or a shower that drips after the handle is off. The valve behind the wall is often the real culprit.
Utility sink and outdoor spigot
Laundry and utility sinks take heavy use. Outdoor spigots fail from frost and from hoses left attached all winter.
Dishwasher hookups sit behind the sink too. An air gap on the sink deck or a high loop in the drain hose keeps dirty water from flowing back, and a gurgling air gap often points to a clogged drain line downstream.
Cartridge, washer or ceramic disc: how your faucet is built
| Type | How it works | Common failure | Repair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression (washer) | A rubber washer presses on a seat when you turn the handle | Washer wears, seat roughens, steady drip | Replace washer and seat. Cheap but frequent |
| Cartridge | A cylinder inside the body controls flow and mixing | O-rings and seals wear, drip at the spout | Replace the cartridge for that brand |
| Ceramic disc | Two polished discs slide to control flow | Mineral debris or a cracked disc | Replace the disc cartridge. Lasts longest |
| Ball | A slotted ball with rubber seats under a single handle | Seats and springs wear, leaks at the base | Rebuild kit or replace the faucet |
A faucet that drips from the spout usually has a worn internal seal. One that leaks at the base or handle has a worn O-ring or a cracked body. If parts are discontinued or the faucet is corroded, replacing it is the better route, and the new one will work better.
Leak under the sink right now?
Shut the stop valve and call (603) 815-9179. We answer at any hour.
Stop valve replacement
The stop valve is meant to let you shut off one fixture without touching the rest of the house. After years of sitting open, many stop valves seize, drip at the stem or break when turned.
Replacing a stop valve means closing the main supply, cutting out the old valve, fitting a new one with a proper connection and testing for leaks. We may replace the supply line at the same visit. If your house has older galvanized or corroded pipe behind the valve, you may be a candidate for repiping before long.
Replacement stop valves and cartridges should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the work should meet the standards of the Massachusetts plumbing code (248 CMR).
Repair the valve if
- It leaks only at the packing nut
- It turns freely and closes fully
- The pipe behind it is in good shape
Replace the valve if
- The handle spins but does nothing
- It is seized or corroded
- It drips at the body or stem after tightening
Tub spout, shower valve and clogged shower drain
A tub spout that keeps running after the handle is off is a classic sign of a worn cartridge in the valve behind the wall. A shower that drips from the head can be a worn washer or a valve that is not fully shutting.
Some tubs and showers have access panels behind the wall. Others need a small opening cut in tile or drywall. We plan around the cartridge or valve model so the repair is as clean as the layout allows.
A slow shower or tub is usually hair and soap in the trap. If the tub drains slowly after cleaning, the clog may sit farther down the line. See drain cleaning for clogs that keep coming back.
Outdoor spigot and freeze season in Massachusetts
Outdoor spigots in Massachusetts take a beating from winter. A hose left attached traps water in the spigot, which can freeze and split the pipe inside the wall. You often only find out in spring when the spigot is turned on and water appears inside the house.
For reference, the state building code table uses a frost depth of 48 inches. That is deeper than most spigots sit, so shutoffs and drains matter more than depth.
Before the first hard freeze
- Disconnect and drain every hose
- Close the interior shutoff to the spigot if there is one, then open the outdoor spigot to drain
- Fit an insulated cover
- Replace a spigot that drips all season
If a pipe has already split, see burst pipe repair. Frost-proof sillcocks put the shutoff inside the heated wall, and are worth fitting when an old spigot fails.
What affects the cost of faucet repair
What affects the price
Faucet jobs range from a ten-minute cartridge swap to opening a wall. These are the factors.
Want your real number? Call (603) 815-9179 and we will give a clear price before work starts.
Property managers: tell us the unit and who holds the key, and whether water reached the unit below. We also serve Andover and nearby towns. For anything urgent, (603) 815-9179 answers at all hours.
Questions we hear
Yes. Our 24/7 line takes emergency calls at night, on weekends and on holidays, and we book same-day visits when available. Close the stop valve under the sink first.
Close the main water shutoff where the line enters the house, then call us. A seized or broken stop valve is replaced so you can isolate the fixture again.
The cartridge or washer in the valve behind the wall is usually worn. We replace the cartridge for the specific model.
If parts are available and the body is sound, yes. If the faucet is corroded or parts are discontinued, replacing it is the better route.
Usually a worn cartridge or a washer in the shower valve. Mineral buildup on the head can also cause a slow drip.
Disconnect hoses, drain the spigot, close the interior shutoff if there is one and cover it. A spigot that drips all season may need replacing.
Yes. We work on dishwasher air gaps, utility sinks, laundry sink faucets and the drain lines that serve them.
Not sure what is failing? Call (603) 815-9179 and describe what the faucet is doing.