Water Is Spraying: Do This First
Stop the Water at the Fixture
Every sink, toilet and appliance should have its own shutoff valve.
- Look under the sink for two small valves, one hot and one cold, and turn each clockwise until snug.
- If a valve is frozen or leaks when turned, close the main shutoff where the line enters the house.
- Open the faucet to drain the lines and relieve pressure, then wipe the cabinet dry.
- Keep towels and a bucket in place, and call the 24/7 line if the leak continues.
Do not force a stuck valve with pliers. A cracked stem turns a drip into a flood.
Start With the Faucet Type
How a faucet is repaired depends on how it is built inside. Four designs cover nearly every home, and each wears out in its own way. Knowing yours saves a trip for parts.
According to the Danvers Water Division's annual water quality report, white scaling on faucets and shower heads may come from calcium carbonate, so not every crusty fixture is a failed one.
| Type | How to spot it | Part that wears | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Two handles, turn several times | Rubber washer, seat | Replace washer and seat |
| Ball | Single handle, kitchen sink | Springs, rubber seats | Rebuild kit |
| Cartridge | Single or two handles, smooth motion | O-rings, cartridge | Swap the cartridge |
| Ceramic disc | Single lever, heavy feel | Disc seals | New disc cylinder |
Parts for some brands are hard to match. Cartridges differ by maker, and a wrong one will fit loosely and drip again. We bring the model number in with us, or pull the old cartridge out and match it.
Why Fixtures Here Show Wear Early
The Danvers water report mentions white scale on faucets and shower heads that may come from calcium carbonate. Scale grinds on cartridges and clogs aerators, so a low-flow faucet or one that sputters is often just a clogged screen. Unscrew the aerator, soak it in vinegar and look at the screen before you call.
Older homes bring their own issues. About 43.5 percent of Danvers housing was built before 1960, and fixtures from that era often have corroded shutoffs that never get used. If a valve has not moved in years, expect it to weep when we turn it, and we plan for that.
Leaking faucet or shutoff that will not close?
A licensed plumber is available on the 24/7 line.
Supply Lines and Shutoff Valves
Braided supply lines run between the shutoff valve and the faucet. They fail without warning when the crimped end corrodes or the mesh frays, and a burst line can empty into a cabinet for hours. If yours is more than a decade old, replace it as a matter of routine.
The shutoff valve itself is another weak point. Old multi-turn valves often drip from the stem or refuse to seal. Quarter-turn ball valves are the replacement we favor because they are easy to operate in an emergency and have fewer parts to wear.
Shower and Tub Troubles
Showerhead drips after use
A worn cartridge or seat in the shower valve is the usual cause. Replacing it normally means opening a small access plate.
Water too hot or cold
A pressure balancing cartridge that has scaled up may no longer mix well. It is a safety issue because of scalding.
Tub spout leaks
The diverter on a tub spout fails first. A few drops from the spout while the shower runs means water is leaking past it.
Stain on the wall or ceiling below
A leak behind the tile may be a failed valve body or a pipe joint. Do not ignore a damp wall.
A drain that backs up with the tub is not a fixture fault. See drain cleaning for that, and if water appears where no fixture exists, a trace under leak detection tells you more.
Repair, Replace or Relocate
A faucet repair is usually small, but a replacement is a different category. Massachusetts treats minor work like fixing a leaky faucet as not needing a permit, while replacing or relocating a faucet is not minor. State rules say no plumbing is installed or replaced until the local inspector has issued a permit, and permits go only to licensed plumbers.
So a new kitchen faucet, a moved sink or a swapped shower valve is a job for a licensed plumber. Danvers Inspectional Services at 1 Sylvan Street handles local permits. You can check any plumber's license through the state license lookup on mass.gov.
What Drives the Price
A washer and a new shower valve sit at opposite ends of the scale. You hear the price before work starts.
A sudden supply line burst that floods a kitchen may be covered by a homeowners policy, while a long slow drip is typically seen as maintenance.
Want a firm number for your fixture? Call (855) 575-2890
Toilet trouble in the same room? See toilet repair. Under-sink disposal problems have their own page on garbage disposal service, and our Middleton neighbors can read about a plumber in Middleton.
Faucet and Fixture Questions
Yes. The 24/7 line dispatches a licensed plumber for burst supply lines, spraying faucets and valves that will not close, including nights, weekends and holidays.
The seal inside is worn. Compression faucets need a new washer or seat, and cartridge, ball or disc faucets need a new internal part.
Massachusetts says replacing or relocating a faucet is not minor repair, so a permit and a licensed plumber are required. Fixing a leaky faucet is considered minor.
Brand and model number matter. We remove the old cartridge and match it directly, since similar ones often differ by a few millimeters.
Often the aerator screen is blocked by scale or sediment. Unscrew it, soak it in vinegar and rinse. If flow is still weak, the cartridge or supply line may be restricted.
Ten years is a sensible limit for braided lines, sooner if you see rust on the fittings or fraying on the mesh.
The cartridge or the valve body has failed. Some valves can be repaired from the front, and others need wall access.