Faucet & Sink Repair in Altadena, CA

Faucet and sink work covers the day-to-day plumbing fixtures most homeowners actually touch. The faucets in your kitchen and bathrooms, the sinks they sit in, and the drain and supply plumbing connecting them to the rest of the house. Most repair calls take under an hour. Replacement calls take two to three. The work is straightforward when the parts are available, which for major brands like Moen, Delta, Kohler, Grohe, and Hansgrohe usually means same-day on the truck.

IMAGE: Plumber repairing kitchen faucet

Common faucet and sink failures

Faucets and sinks fail in a few predictable ways. Knowing which type your faucet is helps narrow the cause before the handles come off.

Dripping faucets

By failure mode, dripping splits by faucet type. Compression faucets (older two-handle, with a rubber washer) drip when the washer wears out. Ball faucets (single-handle, common Delta style) drip from worn springs, seats, or O-rings. Cartridge faucets (Moen-style and most modern single-handles) drip from a failed cartridge. Ceramic disk faucets drip from seal damage or mineral scoring on the disks. Diagnosis takes seconds once the faucet is identified.

Low water pressure at a single fixture

If everything else in the house has normal pressure and only one faucet is weak, the issue is at that faucet or its supply. Most common cause: a clogged aerator. The screen catches mineral debris and limits flow. Less commonly, the angle stop under the sink is partly closed, or the supply line is partially blocked by a chunk of pipe scale.

Faucet base leaks

Water pooling under the faucet handle or around its base usually means the O-rings inside have failed, or the gasket between the faucet body and the sink top is compromised. The latter often shows up as a leak under the sink rather than on top.

Sprayer and pull-down problems

Pull-down kitchen faucets fail at the hose connection inside the body, at the diverter that switches between spray and aerator, or at the magnet docking system that holds the head in place. Most are serviceable with brand-specific parts.

Sink drain leaks

P-traps under the sink leak at slip-nut connections when gaskets fail or when the trap was over-tightened originally. The fix is replacing the slip-nut washers and re-seating the joints.

Slow-draining sinks

Kitchen sinks slow from grease accumulation in the P-trap and branch drain line. Bathroom sinks slow from hair and soap scum. Both clear quickly with a cable auger.

Garbage disposal sink connections

Garbage disposals connect through a mounting flange to the sink. Leaks at that flange show up under the sink as drips when the disposal runs. We cover disposal-specific work on the garbage disposal service page; the sink-side plumbing connections we handle here.

How we fix them

Most faucet and sink repairs are component replacements rather than full unit swaps.

Cartridge replacement. The most common faucet repair. Moen, Delta, Kohler, Grohe, and other brand cartridges are stocked on the truck. Repair takes 20-40 minutes start to finish.

Washer and O-ring kits. For older compression faucets and ball faucets, brand-specific repair kits with all the seals needed for one rebuild cycle.

Aerator clean or replace. The quickest fix in plumbing. Unscrew, soak in vinegar or replace with a low-flow aerator, screw back on.

Angle stop replacement. Compression angle stops that won't shut off get replaced with quarter-turn ball valve angle stops, which last longer and shut off cleanly.

Supply line replacement. Braided stainless supply lines get installed in place of older rubber or plastic lines.

P-trap repair or replacement. Failed slip nuts, cracked traps, and corroded metal traps get replaced with new PVC or polished metal as appropriate.

Drain assembly replacement. The basket strainer in a kitchen sink or the pop-up assembly in a bathroom sink can fail and need full assembly replacement.

When repair vs replace makes sense

For faucets, the rule of thumb is simple: if the faucet is a name-brand model with available parts and the fix is one component, repair. If the faucet finish is showing wear, parts aren't available for the model, or multiple components have failed, replace.

For sinks, replacement makes sense when the sink is chipped, cracked, badly stained, or doesn't match a kitchen or bath remodel direction. Sink replacement is usually paired with new faucet, new drain assembly, and possibly new garbage disposal install on kitchen sinks. We coordinate counter-cutting (when needed) with countertop fabricators on undermount installs.

IMAGE: New kitchen sink installation with faucet

Cost of faucet and sink work in Altadena

Prices vary by brand, finish, sink type, and access. We give a firm price after seeing the actual situation.

Other kitchen and bath plumbing work we handle

Beyond faucet and sink repair, we install and service garbage disposals, install dishwasher supply and drain connections, handle ice maker line installation for refrigerators, install instant hot water dispensers, set up under-sink reverse osmosis filtration systems, replace shower valves and tub spouts, install grab bars and accessibility fixtures with associated plumbing modifications, and provide full kitchen and bath remodel rough-in plumbing. We coordinate with cabinet, countertop, and tile contractors on larger renovation projects.

Frequently asked questions