34.07° N · 118.10° W · WESTERN SGV
Faucet and shower repair in the SGV
Faucets and showers share the same enemy here: minerals. If something drips, sticks or sprays sideways, text a photo to (310) 628-9399.
Faucets
Single-lever faucets use a cartridge; older two-handle sets use stems with washers. Both wear faster where water is hard, and both can usually be rebuilt instead of replaced.
We match the part to the maker, clean scale off the housing, and replace a scaled aerator if the stream is weak.
Showers and tubs
A drip from the head after shutoff is the valve cartridge. Water at the wall flange is the arm threads. Water from the spout during a shower is a worn diverter.
New heads go on the existing arm; WaterSense models are capped at 2.0 gallons per minute (EPA). New spouts are matched to a threaded or slip-on connection.
By city
In Monterey Park and Alhambra, where water is very hard, we see cartridges and shower heads fail sooner. In older San Gabriel and Rosemead houses, threaded spouts and stem valves are more common.
Sources and further reading
Questions we hear around the valley
Repair or replace my faucet?
Repair if the body is sound. A new cartridge or stem fixes most drips.
Why is my new shower head already clogging?
Hard water. Soak it in vinegar every few months.