Faucet Repair in San Diego, CA

Hard water is the main enemy

According to the City of San Diego water quality report, water from the Alvarado, Miramar and Otay treatment plants averages roughly 13.8 to 14.2 grains per gallon of total hardness. Those minerals collect on cartridges, valve seats and aerator screens. Rough, scaled surfaces stop sealing cleanly, which is why handles get stiff and faucets begin to drip. The chalky ring around a spout or handle base is a hint of what is building up inside.

Signs and their usual causes

• Spout drips when closed: a worn cartridge, washer or seat.
• Water seeps around the handle: a failed O-ring or cartridge seal.
• Stream is weak or splatters: a clogged aerator, a scaled cartridge or a partly blocked supply line.
• Handle is hard to turn: mineral deposits on the cartridge.
• Cabinet floor is wet: a loose supply connection, a worn sprayer hose or a leak at the faucet base.

Outdoor faucets near the coast

Hose bibs in La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Point Loma and other beach communities sit in salty, damp air year-round, and exterior fittings corrode faster than they do inland. Look for green or white crust, a handle that spins without shutting off, or water dribbling from the stem. Freezes are rare at the coast, but in inland valleys and higher East County areas an exposed hose bib can split on a cold night. A drip from an outdoor faucet is easy to ignore and wastes water the whole time.

Shutoff valves and supply lines

The angle stops under a sink often sit untouched for years. In hard water they can stick or start leaking the first time someone turns them. When replacing a faucet, many plumbers suggest new shutoffs and braided supply lines in the same visit. If you live in an older home in North Park or Hillcrest, that check can also turn up galvanized piping that restricts flow.

Repair or replace

A sound faucet with available parts can usually be fixed with a new cartridge and seals. Replacement makes more sense when the body is corroded, the finish is pitting or the model is discontinued. Cost depends on the brand and parts, any shutoff or supply line work, and access under the sink. If faucets keep wearing out quickly, a whole-house water softener is worth discussing.