Dripping Faucet?
A dripping faucet is the small plumbing problem everyone lives with too long — and it wastes more water than people realize. The good news: it's almost always a cheap part and a fast fix. This page covers what causes the drip and what the repair involves. Streamlined Plumbing, Fairhope, AL · MP-4462 · (251) 423-7654.
- 01Master Plumber MP-4462
- 02Upfront pricing
- 032-year repair warranty
The short version
A dripping faucet is usually a worn cartridge, washer, or O-ring — inexpensive parts and a quick job. A steady drip wastes gallons a day and slowly stains the sink and wears seals further, so it's worth fixing sooner than later. If a new washer doesn't stop it or you'd rather have it done right and warrantied, call (251) 423-7654 — it's exactly the kind of quick job we knock out same visit.
What a dripping faucet Actually Means.
Inside every faucet, a moving seal opens and closes the water flow. Over time that seal — a rubber washer, an O-ring, or a cartridge depending on the faucet type — wears, hardens, or gets chewed up by mineral grit, and it stops sealing fully. The result is a drip.
Which part it is depends on the faucet: older compression faucets use washers and seats; modern single-handle faucets use a cartridge. Our water's mineral content speeds up the wear on all of them.
Why You Don't Want to Ignore It.
A steady drip wastes gallons a day — it adds up on your water bill and, multiplied across a house with a couple of drips, it's real money down the drain.
Constant moisture stains the sink and fixture, can feed mildew, and wears the internal seals further, so a small drip tends to become a bigger leak.
Because the repair is cheap and fast, there's simply no upside to living with it — the water it wastes costs more than the fix.
What You Can Check Yourself.
- Note whether the drip is at the spout (a worn washer, seat, or cartridge) or around the base or handle (usually an O-ring). That helps us bring the right part.
- Make sure the handle is fully off — a handle that no longer shuts tight can be an early sign the cartridge is worn.
- For a compression faucet, a homeowner comfortable with basic tools can replace a washer; if that doesn't stop it, the seat or cartridge is the culprit.
- Check under the sink for any drip at the supply lines while you're there — sometimes the 'faucet drip' is actually a weeping supply connection.
What to Record About This dripping faucet.
For a dripping-faucet repair, note whether water falls from the spout, seeps around a handle, or collects beneath the fixture. Identify the number of handles, photograph the faucet and any visible brand mark, and check the cabinet below for supply-line moisture. Mention whether the drip changes when hot or cold is selected and whether the local shutoff valves move normally. Those details help match the likely cartridge, washer, O-ring, seat, supply connection, or replacement fixture to the installed faucet.
Do not force a stiff shutoff or overtighten the handle to silence the drip. If a replacement faucet has already been purchased, keep the box, model number, included parts, and installation instructions together for the appointment. The plumber can then compare the new fixture with the sink-hole pattern, supply connections, clearance, and existing drain before removing the installed faucet.
Count the drip for one minute with the handle untouched, then repeat after using hot and cold water normally. Record whether the rhythm changes as the fixture cools and whether moisture appears only during use. This simple comparison distinguishes a constant sealing failure at the spout from water that is escaping around a moving handle, swivel base, pullout hose, or connection below the sink.
How Streamlined Plumbing Handles a Dripping Faucet.
- We identify the faucet type and replace the worn cartridge, washer, or O-ring with quality parts, so the fix lasts rather than failing again in a season.
- While we're there, we check the shutoff valves and supply lines under the sink so one quick fix doesn't leave another slow drip behind.
- If the faucet is old, corroded, or you've been wanting to upgrade, we can install a new fixture — including one you bought yourself — and confirm it's leak-free.
- Our repair work carries a 2-year warranty.
Preventing a Repeat.
- Don't crank faucet handles hard to stop a drip — over-tightening chews up the very seals that are supposed to stop the water.
- Clean aerators periodically so mineral grit doesn't circulate and wear the internal parts faster.
- Fix a drip when it starts. It only wastes more water and wears more parts the longer it runs.
Related Streamlined Plumbing services: Faucet & fixture repair, Toilet repair, Leak detection, and the full Baldwin County service area.
Dripping Faucet — Frequently Asked Questions
How much water does a dripping faucet actually waste?
A steady drip wastes gallons a day — enough to show up on your water bill over a month, and more across a house with several drips. The repair costs far less than the water a chronic drip wastes.Why does my faucet drip even when it's turned all the way off?
The internal seal — a washer, O-ring, or cartridge — is worn and no longer sealing fully. Water sneaks past it and drips. Replacing that part almost always stops it; over-tightening the handle just makes the wear worse.Can you install a faucet I bought myself?
Yes. Bring your own faucet and we'll install it correctly, check the shutoffs and supply lines while we're under there, and make sure it's leak-free. We'll also flag it before we start if what you bought won't fit your setup.