Kitchen faucet repair in Coppell, TX

What this page covers

The kitchen faucet gets used dozens of times a day. It fills pots, rinses plates, runs a sprayer and swings back and forth over a sink that is often full of dishes. That workload is why kitchen faucets wear out faster than the one in the guest bathroom. This page explains what usually goes wrong with a kitchen faucet, how to tell the problem apart, what you can safely try before calling, and how a plumber typically handles it. It is general guidance for homes in Coppell, Texas. A plumber has to see your faucet before giving a real answer.

Common kitchen faucet problems

A drip from the spout. The most common complaint. A valve inside the faucet, a cartridge, ceramic disc or rubber seat, no longer closes tight. You hear it overnight and see the stain in the sink.

Water at the base of the spout. Single-handle kitchen faucets with a swiveling spout have O-rings around the spout base. They wear from movement and let water creep down the outside of the faucet into the cabinet.

A leaking or sluggish pull-out sprayer. The sprayer hose can crack, the quick-connect fittings can loosen and the weight that makes the sprayer retract can slip. Some sprayers just drip from the head after use.

Low water pressure. Often it is the aerator at the spout tip, clogged with mineral scale. Sometimes a partly closed shut-off valve under the sink or a clogged cartridge.

Loose faucet. A faucet that wobbles when you move the handle has a loose mounting nut underneath. Over time this stresses the seals and causes leaks.

Water under the sink. The faucet itself is only one possibility. Supply lines, shut-off valves and the drain trap are often the real leak.

Which type of kitchen faucet do you have?

The type decides how it is repaired.

Single-handle cartridge or ball faucets. One lever controls both hot and cold. Repair usually means replacing a cartridge or a ball assembly and seals.
Two-handle compression faucets. Older style. Each handle presses a rubber washer onto a seat. Repair is usually new washers or seats.
Two-handle ceramic disc faucets. Quarter-turn handles. Discs rarely fail, but seals and cartridges can.
Pull-down and pull-out faucets. Hose and sprayer parts add more places to leak.
Touchless or electronic faucets. Have a battery pack or a sensor in addition to the valve. Repairs can need manufacturer parts.
Wall-mounted pot fillers. A separate fixture over the range with a shut-off at the wall. Leaks behind the wall need prompt attention.

If you can, note the brand, which is often on the base or the handle, and take a photo. It lets a plumber check for parts before arriving.

What to check yourself

These checks are safe and take only a few minutes.

Look at the aerator. Unscrew the tip of the spout by hand. If it is full of white or green crust, soaking it in white vinegar for an hour often restores flow.
Check the mounting. Reach under the sink and feel whether the faucet moves. A loose mounting nut is a quick fix for a plumber and a reason for the faucet to leak over time.
Dry and test the connections. Wipe the supply lines, the valves and the faucet base. Press a dry tissue to each connection while someone runs the water.
Test the shut-off valves. Turn each a quarter turn and back. If a valve will not move, do not force it.
Run the sprayer. Pull it out, spray, and let it retract. If it hangs low or drips, the weight or the hose is the likely issue.
Check the cabinet floor. Soft or stained wood under the sink means the leak has been there a while.

Repair or replace

A kitchen faucet repair makes sense when the faucet is relatively new, the brand still sells parts and only one part has failed. Replacement makes sense when:

The finish is peeling or pitted.
The faucet body is corroded or cracked.
There are leaks in more than one place.
Parts are no longer available.
You have already repaired it more than once.
You want a feature the old faucet does not have, like a pull-down sprayer.

Keep in mind the installation of the new faucet matters as much as the faucet. A well-chosen faucet installed badly will leak. Ask the plumber what warranty applies to the labor.

What a plumber typically does on a visit

Different providers work differently, but a typical visit goes like this:

The plumber checks the leak source and the condition of the shut-off valves and supply lines.
They tell you the likely cause and give a price for repair and for replacement.
If you go ahead with repair, they shut off the water, take the faucet apart, replace the worn parts and test it under pressure.
If you choose replacement, they remove the old faucet, install the new one with new supply lines, check the connections for leaks and test the sprayer and the flow.
They clean up and show you how to shut the water off at the valves.

You can usually supply your own faucet if you prefer, but ask first. Some providers do not warranty work on a faucet they did not supply.

Costs and what changes them

Prices vary by provider and by job, and this website does not set them. Things that change the price:

Repair or full replacement.
Cost of the faucet you pick.
Condition of the old shut-off valves and supply lines.
Whether the sink needs a hole drilled or a deck plate.
Whether a garbage disposal, water filter or soap dispenser has to be moved.
Time of day and day of the week.

Ask how the price is figured, whether there is a visit fee and whether it counts toward the work.

Kitchen faucets in Coppell homes

Coppell grew fast after Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport opened in 1974. Wikipedia says the city changed from a small farming village to a large suburban community in the 1980s and 1990s, and that by 2000 almost all of the residentially zoned land was built out. That means many kitchens here are 25 to 40 years old. The cabinets and counters may have been updated, but the shut-off valves and supply lines under the sink are often the originals.

Because most homes here are on a slab, the supply lines to a kitchen sink usually come up through the cabinet floor or the wall behind it, so a slow leak shows up as a soft cabinet base or a damp smell rather than a stain on a basement ceiling. If you see warped wood under the sink, empty the cabinet and take photos before you call. A drip from the spout is the most common request and usually means a worn cartridge or seat, which a plumber can often replace on one visit.

When it is an emergency

Call right away if:

Water is spraying or running steadily and you cannot stop it with the valves.
Water is reaching an outlet, a light fixture or the ceiling below.
The cabinet is filling with water.

Shut off the valves under the sink first. If they do not work, shut off the main. See emergency faucet leak repair for steps to take while you wait.

Preventing the next kitchen faucet leak

Replace rubber supply lines with braided stainless ones when you replace the faucet.
Clean the aerator a few times a year.
Do not lean on or hang things from the spout.
Wipe the faucet base dry to slow corrosion.
Check under the sink every month.
Turn the shut-off valves a little twice a year.
Do not use harsh abrasive cleaners on the finish.

About this referral service

Coppell Faucet Help is a referral service and does not do plumbing work. When you call, you are connected to an independent plumber. They set their own prices and carry their own license and insurance. Ask about both.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my kitchen faucet drip after I turn it off?

A worn cartridge, washer, disc or seat inside the faucet is usually the cause. Mineral buildup can also keep it from sealing.

Why is water pooling under my kitchen sink?

It may be the faucet, but it can also be the supply lines, the shut-off valves, the drain or a dishwasher or disposal connection. Dry everything and watch each connection to find which one gets wet.

Can I replace a kitchen faucet myself?

Many homeowners do, but old valves, tight cabinets and corroded nuts can make it harder than it looks. If a valve will not shut off, stop and call a plumber.

How long does a kitchen faucet repair take?

A simple cartridge or seal repair is often done within an hour or two. A full replacement may take a little longer, depending on access and the condition of the old plumbing.

Is it worth repairing an old kitchen faucet?

If it is more than ten or fifteen years old, has a worn finish or needs parts that are hard to find, replacing it is often the better value.

Who comes if I call this number?

An independent local plumbing provider. This website only connects the call.

Kitchen faucet leaking or dripping? Get kitchen faucet repair in Coppell handled.