If water is spraying from a faucet, a supply line or a shutoff valve, close the nearest shutoff first. Under a sink, turn the oval handle on the supply valve clockwise. If that valve is stuck or broken, close the main water valve for the house and open one low faucet to drain the pressure. Our line is open 24/7, so call as soon as the water is under control.
Dry the floor and keep anyone away from wet outlets and appliances. If the water is coming through a ceiling or wall, shut the main and call right away, since the leak can travel farther than the stain suggests.
Not every faucet problem is an emergency. A slow drip or a loose handle can wait for a normal visit, and we will tell you which kind you have when you call.
Faucet that will not shut off: urgent signs and common problems
Faucets fail in predictable ways. The tricky part is that the symptom does not always point to the failed part, and a repair that treats the wrong one wastes a visit.
Drip from the spout
A steady drip means the cartridge, seat or washer inside the faucet no longer seals. Many single-handle faucets can be rebuilt with a new cartridge, but a pitted body or a model that is no longer made is better replaced.
Leak around the handle or base
Water at the handle usually points to worn O-rings or a loose packing nut. Water pooling around the base of the faucet can come from the deck seal or from a leaking supply connection underneath.
Burst or broken supply valve
A valve under a sink or behind a toilet can crack, corrode or snap when someone turns it. Water sprays or runs steadily until the main is shut, which makes this the most urgent faucet-area call.
Shower valve or showerhead leak
A leak at the showerhead is often a worn washer or connection. Water inside a wall or behind the tub is different, and it needs the valve body opened up and inspected quickly.
Outdoor spigot that drips or will not turn off
A spigot that leaks behind the handle or inside the wall can soak the siding and the framing. If a hose cannot be removed or the handle will not shut off, call and tell us what you tried.
What happens during a faucet repair visit
We start with the shutoff, because a stuck or leaking valve changes the plan. If the supply valve under the sink will not close fully, we replace it first or shut the main, then work on the faucet itself.
Find the leak path
We dry the area, run the water and watch where it appears. Many "faucet leaks" turn out to be a loose supply nut or a failing valve below.
Repair or replace the part
If a cartridge, seat or O-ring fixes it, we replace that part. If the faucet body is worn or parts are hard to find, we explain why replacement saves money in the long run.
Test under pressure
We turn the water on, run hot and cold, check every connection and look under the sink again after a few minutes. Slow leaks often show up late.
Hot, cold, and why pressure matters in Millbrae
Millbrae gets all of its water from the San Francisco Regional Water System through a city utility network with 11 pressure zones. Pressure in the pipes is not the same everywhere, and a house on a higher-pressure zone puts more stress on cartridges, supply lines and shutoff valves.
In practice, if a faucet cartridge keeps failing or a supply line bursts more than once, the pressure at the house is worth checking before another part goes in. We can tell you whether a pressure regulator at the house makes sense. We will not tell you what a particular street runs at, because no public source gives that.
Millbrae water and your fixtures
Millbrae's 2025 Water Quality Report lists hardness from 8.1 to 112 ppm, with an average of 62. That is on the softer side, so heavy scale buildup in aerators and cartridges is less common here than in hard-water towns, though pockets of harder water can still leave white crust on spouts and showerheads.
The same report shows the water is disinfected with chloramine, so we choose replacement seals and cartridges made for everyday household water and check each seal when we put the faucet back together.
Plumbing work on a house can require a permit, and the Millbrae Building Division handles plumbing permits. A faucet swap or cartridge repair is routine. Moving a supply line or adding a fixture is a bigger job, and we tell you when it crosses that line.
Repair or replace the faucet
| Situation | Usually repair | Usually replace |
|---|---|---|
| Drip from the spout | Cartridge or washer is the only worn part | Body is pitted or parts are discontinued |
| Loose or wobbly handle | Set screw or packing nut needs tightening | Corroded stem or cracked handle |
| Low flow | Clogged aerator or valve debris | Interior corrosion, old chrome flaking |
| Leak under the sink | Supply line or valve replaced | Faucet and valves both worn |
| Outdoor spigot drips | Packing or washer swap | Corroded body or leak inside the wall |
DIY or what people try
- Cranking the handle harder to stop a drip, which wears the seat
- Wrapping tape on a leaking supply fitting and leaving it
- Forcing a corroded shutoff valve and snapping it
- Replacing a cartridge without checking the other end of the line
Professional approach
- Identify the faucet model and match the correct cartridge or replace the unit
- Replace a leaking fitting with the right washer or new line
- Install a new shutoff valve before the faucet work begins
- Test hot, cold and pressure after reassembly
What drives the cost of a faucet job
Faucet and valve pricing factors
Most faucet calls are quick, and we price them clearly before we start.
Part and fixture
A cartridge kit is a small cost, a designer faucet or a new shower valve is not.
Access
A shower valve inside a wall takes more labor than a kitchen faucet.
Shutoff condition
A failed supply valve adds a second repair.
Number of fixtures
Several fixtures in one visit share a single trip.
After-hours timing
Night and weekend calls are priced differently than a scheduled visit, and we tell you before work starts.
Call the 24/7 line for a clear price before work starts. If your homeowner's policy covers sudden water damage, keep photos of the leak.
Leak spraying? Call now
Tell us where the water is coming from, whether the shutoff worked and if it is reaching the ceiling below. We use that to decide how quickly to get there.
Related repairs and where we work
A faucet that leaks into the cabinet may point to a bigger problem, and our leak detection service traces hidden water when the source is not obvious. If your toilet keeps running in the same bathroom, our toilet repair page covers that. New fixtures or a remodel are handled as plumbing installation work.
We serve Millbrae and the neighboring city of Burlingame. The service area page lists the neighborhoods we work in. The 24/7 line is open at any hour for the urgent calls, and scheduled visits are easy to book too.
Faucet repair questions
Yes. The line is open 24/7 for spraying supply valves, burst fittings and shower leaks. Shut the nearest valve or the main first, then call. We do not promise an arrival time, but we will tell you what to do while you wait.
The seat inside the faucet may be pitted, or the part may not match the model. A worn seat keeps leaking even with a new washer. We check the seat and cartridge together and replace the faucet when repair will not hold.
Sometimes. Many cartridges can be replaced from the front after removing the trim. If the valve body is cracked or the connections inside the wall leak, the wall needs to be opened. We tell you which before we cut anything.
Close the supply to the spigot if there is a shutoff inside, or close the main water valve. Then call us. A spigot that leaks inside the wall can damage the siding and framing, so do not wait.
A like-for-like faucet replacement is routine work. Permits may apply to bigger changes, and the Millbrae Building Division handles plumbing permits. If we are moving supply lines or adding a fixture, we tell you what the permit situation is before we begin.
Often yes. Old valves can seize or leak once they are disturbed, and replacing them while the water is already off is the cheapest time to do it. We check each valve and tell you what we find.
Watch your water meter with every fixture off. If it keeps moving, there is a leak somewhere else too. Stains below a bathroom or a musty smell near a wall also suggest hidden water, and we can trace it.
Sources and standards: The California Plumbing Code (based on the Uniform Plumbing Code). The City of Millbrae 2025 Water Quality Report for hardness and chloramine.