Faucet problems look small and cost more than people expect — not because the repair is expensive, but because the drip runs constantly. A faucet leaking one drop per second wastes over 3,000 gallons a year, and in a metered Manhattan apartment that shows up on the water bill before it shows up anywhere else. Most faucet failures come down to a few worn internal parts, and most are repairable in a single visit.
What we repair
- Dripping faucets — almost always a worn cartridge, washer or ceramic disc. The most common faucet call, and the most straightforward fix.
- Low or sputtering pressure — often a clogged aerator or a partially blocked supply line, sometimes a failing valve upstream.
- Hard-to-turn or stuck handles — mineral buildup inside the cartridge or a corroded stem.
- Leaks at the base or spout — failed O-rings or a cracked faucet body.
- Temperature-control problems — a failing pressure-balance or thermostatic mixing valve that won't hold a steady temperature.
- Pull-out and pull-down spray heads — common on kitchen faucets, where the hose retractor or spray diverter wears out.
Repair or replace the faucet?
The decision is usually simple. A quality faucet with a worn cartridge is a repair — the part is cheap and the body has years left. A cheap faucet with a cracked body, or one where replacement parts are discontinued, is a replacement. We carry common cartridges for the brands installed in Manhattan apartments and can usually repair same-visit; for discontinued or off-brand fixtures we'll tell you honestly that a new faucet costs less than hunting down an obsolete part.
Installation
When a new faucet is the call, we handle the full install: matching the new faucet to your sink's hole configuration (not every faucet fits every sink), replacing the supply lines and shutoff valves while we're in there (reusing corroded angle stops is how under-sink floods start), checking the drain assembly, and testing for leaks under pressure. In prewar buildings the shutoff valves under the sink are often original and frozen — we replace them rather than force them, because a valve that snaps off under the sink is a much bigger problem than the faucet you called about.
A faucet that won't stop running and can't be isolated with the under-sink valves becomes water-damage territory — see emergency plumbing. And a drip you can see under the sink often points to a supply line or the shutoff itself, which overlaps with leak repair. For a full shower-valve replacement rather than a tub spout or handheld, see shower repair & installation.