Start with where the water is coming from
A leak that shows only when the faucet is on usually sits above the sink. A leak that shows when the faucet is off, or runs continuously, usually sits in the supply lines, the shutoff valves or the drain below. Sorting that out before touching anything saves time and often saves a cabinet floor.
Dry the cabinet with a towel, put a sheet of dry paper on the bottom, and run the water for a minute. Wet paper shows you which connection weeps. Then open the faucet and drain separately to see which one is responsible.
| Where it leaks | Likely culprit | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|
| From the spout when closed | Worn cartridge, washer or seat | Replace the cartridge or valve seat |
| Around the handle | Loose packing nut or worn O-ring | Replace O-rings or the cartridge |
| At the base of the faucet | Spout O-rings or a loose mounting nut | Replace O-rings and retighten |
| From a shutoff valve stem | Dried packing inside the stop valve | Replace the valve, not the packing |
| From a braided supply line | Cracked nut, kinked line or corroded fitting | Replace the supply line |
| From the trap or drain tailpiece | Loose slip nut, cracked washer or worn trap | Reseat or replace the trap parts |
A supply valve that burst or will not turn
If a shutoff valve or supply line has let go
A failed stop valve is one of the fastest ways to flood a kitchen. Move quickly and do not force old valves.
Use the main shutoff
If the stop valve under the sink will not close or has broken, close the main valve where water enters the house. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
Open a faucet to relieve pressure
Open the lowest tap in the house to drain the line. Less pressure means less water at the leak.
Protect electrics
If water reaches a disposal switch, outlet or dishwasher cord, leave the breaker off until a plumber looks. Do not stand in water to reach the panel.
Call for a replacement
Dial (919) 944-7281. A quarter-turn ball stop replaces the old multi-turn valve and gives you a shutoff that actually works next time.
Dripping faucets and cartridge replacement
Most modern single-handle faucets use a ceramic disc or a plastic cartridge. Both wear out in the same way, a thin seal gets a nick and the faucet weeps at the spout. The fix is a new cartridge that matches the maker and the model, not a universal part from a bin.
Older two-handle faucets use rubber washers pressed against a brass seat. When the seat is pitted, a new washer will not hold, and we reface the seat or replace the valve body. We tell you which one it is after taking the faucet apart, before any parts are bought.
Morrisville water and your aerator
Cary supplies Morrisville with water from Jordan Lake, and its 2025 testing summary lists total hardness at about 30 mg/L as calcium carbonate, roughly 2 grains per gallon, which the report classes as moderately soft. That is on the low side for mineral scale.
So when a faucet sprays sideways or the flow drops, heavy limescale is a less likely cause than loose debris. Unscrew the aerator at the spout tip, rinse the screen under a tap, and look for grit or a cracked washer. If the flow stays weak after that, the cartridge or the supply line is the next suspect.
Source: Town of Cary, 2025 Drinking Water Detailed Report
Kitchen and bathroom sink repairs we do
Common sink and faucet jobs
- Cartridge, O-ring and washer replacement on kitchen, bath and utility faucets
- New faucet installation with fresh supply lines and a quarter-turn stop valve
- Pull-out sprayer hose and diverter repairs on kitchen faucets
- Loose or wobbling faucet mounts, including undersized hole fixes
- P-trap and tailpiece replacement when the old plastic is cracked or leaking
- Slow sink drains cleared with a hand cable or a small sink machine
A slow kitchen sink with a disposal usually carries grease further down the line, and we explain what we see before we recommend more. If the disposal itself is the issue, see garbage disposal repair. If every sink in the house runs slow, the answer is a deeper clean through drain cleaning.
Replacement parts and the code
Swapping a faucet or supply valve is minor work, but new installations follow the 2024 North Carolina Plumbing Code, based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC). In practice that means correct drain connections and a proper air gap or trap.
If a repair uncovers old or damaged piping, ask the plumber whether the fix is a patch or a code-level replacement.
Our dispatch line is open around the clock. Tell us what you have already shut off.
Shower, tub spout and bathtub faucet leaks
A showerhead that drips after the handle is off means worn seals in the valve behind the wall. A tub spout that drizzles while the shower runs usually has a bad diverter. Both are repairable without opening the wall in most cases because the cartridge comes out through the handle opening.
Pressure balance and thermostatic shower valves have cartridges that wear too, and temperature swings when someone flushes a toilet are the common warning. We identify the valve brand from the trim, pull the cartridge, and replace it. A hole in the wall is the last resort, and we explain it before we cut. A slow shower or tub drain is a clog, not a valve fault, so we clear it separately.
Outdoor spigots and utility sinks
A hose bib that leaks from the stem is repaired with a new packing washer or a new frost-resistant spigot. A bib that leaks inside the wall in winter is a different matter, because the freeze probably split the line behind it. Disconnect hoses in cold months, and call us if the wall behind the spigot is damp.
Utility sinks in garages and laundry rooms tend to leak at the faucet base or the trap. They are simple jobs, and a stainless-steel braided supply line is a cheap upgrade that removes a common failure point.
Repair, replace or upgrade
| Situation | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single drip on an otherwise sound faucet | Repair | A cartridge costs far less than a new faucet and takes less time |
| Pitted brass seat, corroded body | Replace | New washers will not hold on a damaged seat |
| Finish peeling or handle cracked | Replace | Cosmetic damage does not repair well |
| Parts no longer sold for the model | Replace | A matching cartridge may not exist |
| Low pressure at one fixture only | Clean the aerator, then check the lines | Debris is common and fixable |
Installing a new faucet is often the moment to swap old supply lines and valves. Rubber hoses and multi-turn stops are the parts that fail months or years later, and replacing them while the cabinet is open adds little time. We also pair faucet work with toilet repair on bathroom remodels.
What changes the price of faucet and sink repair
You get a clear price before work starts. The pieces that move it:
Repair or new fixture
A cartridge swap is a parts-and-labor job. A new faucet adds the fixture itself and sometimes a new mounting hole.
Valve and supply condition
Old stop valves often break during service and need replacing in the same visit.
Access
A deep undermount sink, a cramped vanity or a wall-mounted fixture takes longer to work around.
Fixture brand
Some manufacturers make parts easy to find and others do not, which affects the repair path.
Timing
After-hours and weekend calls change the visit charge, and we tell you before dispatch confirms.
Insurance often covers a sudden supply line burst and the water damage it causes, but not the wear that led to a dripping faucet. Check your policy.
Questions we hear
Yes. Dispatch answers 24/7. If water is spraying, close the shutoff valve or the main and call (919) 944-7281, and a licensed plumber can visit the same day when available.
A worn cartridge, washer or seat is almost always the cause. The seal no longer closes fully, so water leaks through the spout. Replacing the correct cartridge usually fixes it.
Do not force it. Old stop valves often snap or start leaking at the stem. Close the main shutoff instead, and let a plumber replace the valve with a quarter-turn model.
Often yes. We start with the aerator, then the supply line and the stop valve, since each can restrict flow. If the whole house is low, the cause is probably elsewhere and water line repair may be the question.
Cary's published testing lists hardness at about 30 mg/L, which it calls moderately soft, so heavy scale is not the usual story. Debris and worn seals are more common culprits.
Yes. We replace leaking hose bibs and can swap in a frost-resistant model. If water appears inside the wall, tell us on the call.
In many cases we replace the cartridge through the handle opening without opening the wall. If the valve body itself is damaged, we explain the options before any cutting.