Broken faucet or supply valve: shut it off
A broken valve or a faucet that will not close can flood a cabinet in minutes. Our dispatch line is open 24/7, and you can slow the water right away with a few turns.
- Find the two small oval handles under the sink, called angle stops, and turn each clockwise until it stops.
- If water keeps coming, the stop itself has failed. Shut the main water valve, also clockwise, at the meter or where the line enters the house.
- Open the lowest faucet in the house to drain pressure from the pipes.
- Empty the cabinet, put a bucket under the leak, and call (855) 575-2890.
Faucet and fixture repair in Los Gatos covers the visible hardware at sinks, tubs and showers and the small valves behind it. Most leaks come from a worn cartridge, a hardened washer, a cracked supply line or an angle stop that has seized. A repair is often cheaper than a new fixture.
Water spraying under a sink or from a handle? Close the angle stop, then call (855) 575-2890 for a licensed plumber.
Call (855) 575-2890The valve under the sink broke or will not close
Angle stops sit untouched for years, then fail the first time anyone turns them. The stem packing dries out, the washer crumbles, or the handle spins without closing anything. Old stops of chrome-plated brass and multi-turn gate design are the usual culprits.
When a stop fails, the fix is to shut the main, cut out the old valve and solder or compression-fit a new quarter-turn ball valve. That is also the right moment to replace the braided supply lines, since they are about the same age as the valve.
Which faucet part is leaking?
Where the water shows up points to the part inside.
| Where it leaks | Part inside | Typical remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Drips from the spout when off | Cartridge, ceramic disc or washer | Replace the cartridge or discs |
| Water around the base of the handle | O-ring or packing nut | New O-rings, tighten the nut |
| Wet cabinet floor | Supply line or angle stop | New braided line or valve |
| Weak or sideways stream | Clogged aerator | Clean or replace the aerator |
| Pools at the faucet base on the counter | Cracked body or deck seal | Replace the faucet |
Shower valve and tub faucet leaks
A showerhead that drips after the water is off often has a worn diverter or a cartridge behind the handle. Tub spouts drip when the cartridge seats poorly. A drip that you can hear inside the wall during a shower deserves attention because it can wet framing out of sight.
Replacing a cartridge usually means opening the wall trim, not the tile. If the valve body behind the wall is corroded or the handle trim has no access, we explain the options before cutting anything.
Water that drains slowly from the shower or tub
Slow shower and tub drains are more often hair and soap in the trap than a failed fixture. We pull the stopper or strainer, remove the buildup, and test the flow. If it clears and returns, drain cleaning with a cable reaches past the trap into the branch line.
A gurgle in the tub when other fixtures drain points further downstream.
Los Gatos hard water and your fixtures
San Jose Water reports three source types, and their hardness differs. Mountain surface water averages 151 ppm, groundwater 288 ppm and Valley Water treated supply 99 ppm. Which one serves your home varies, so test your tap.
In harder supply, white crust builds on aerators and inside cartridges, and handles stiffen long before they leak. The utility advises cleaning aerators regularly and running the tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes if water has sat for several hours. If crust returns quickly, water softener and filtration is worth asking about.
San Jose Water manages about 6,000 acres in the Los Gatos Creek and Saratoga Creek watersheds, and that mountain supply averages 151 ppm hardness in its report. Ask the plumber whether scale is shortening the life of your cartridge. Faucet calls in Santa Clara County ZIP codes 95030, 95031, 95032 and 95033 are all handled from this line.
Outdoor spigots and jetted tubs
A hose bib that drips behind the handle usually needs a new packing nut or stem. A spigot that leaks inside the wall needs shutting off at its interior valve, if one exists, until it is replaced.
Jetted tubs hide their plumbing behind the access panel, and a leaking pump union or jet fitting needs that panel opened. Tell us the tub brand when you call.
Repair the faucet or replace it?
Replacement makes sense when the body is damaged or parts are no longer made.
| Situation | Repair | Replace |
|---|---|---|
| Dripping from the spout | Cartridge swap | Only if finish is worn too |
| Cracked body or pitted finish | No | Yes |
| Discontinued model, no parts | Hard to source | Usually |
| Handle stiff from mineral crust | Clean and lubricate | Rarely |
| Leaking supply valve | Replace the valve | Not the faucet |
What affects the price of faucet repair
We name the cause first and give a clear price before work starts.
Cartridge or whole faucet
A cartridge is a smaller job than removing and setting a new faucet.
Valve accessibility
A seized angle stop in a tight cabinet takes longer than one in an open vanity.
Behind-wall work
Shower valves that need the wall opened add repair time.
Parts availability
Specialty brands and older finishes may need to be ordered.
Time of the call
After-hours dispatch is priced differently from a daytime appointment.
Insurance may respond to a sudden supply line burst that soaks a cabinet and floor, since accidental discharge is often covered. A slow drip, wear and corrosion often are not, and policies differ, so check yours.
Want your real number? Call (855) 575-2890. We give a clear price before work starts.
A closing note on shutoffs
After the repair, test every angle stop in the house while you have a plumber to ask. A stop that moves smoothly today may seize by the time you need it. The dispatch line covers Saratoga and Los Gatos, with same-day appointments when available. If you see water that is not coming from a fixture, such as a wet wall, burst pipe repair may be the better description of the job.
Faucet and fixture repair questions in Los Gatos
Yes. Our dispatch line runs 24/7 for burst supply valves and fixtures that will not shut off. We do not promise an arrival time, and the price is clear before work starts.
Close the main water valve, clockwise, and call us. The failed angle stop will need replacing before the faucet can be worked on.
Usually yes. A newer faucet most often needs a cartridge or a supply line rather than a full replacement.
A slow drip means a worn seat or cartridge. It wastes water around the clock and often grows worse, so repair is cheaper early.
A loose handle often means a worn cartridge or a stripped set screw. If the stem wobbles inside the wall, the valve body may need replacing.
Mineral buildup clogs aerators and stiffens cartridges over time. Cleaning the aerator regularly helps, as the utility also advises.