In short
Most dripping or stiff faucets need a new cartridge, stem, washer or O-ring, not a whole new faucet. We match the part by brand, swap it with the water off, and test hot and cold. If parts aren’t made anymore, we tell you before the visit.
Your photo checklist
- The faucet head-on, both handles in frame
- The brand name on the base or handle cap
- The exact spot where water drips or seeps
- The two stops under the sink
- A slow-motion clip of the drip
Covered on a Rosemead visit
- Cartridge, stem or washer replacement when the faucet body is still sound
- Like-for-like faucet swaps at kitchen, bathroom and laundry sinks
- New braided supply lines when the old ones are stiff, kinked or corroded
- Aerators and pull-down sprayer hoses
- The shutoff valves under the sink checked, and a quarter-turn valve fitted if one won’t close
Outside what we take on
- Gas piping of any kind past the existing flex connector.
- Roof, foundation and structural repairs.
- Tearing out and rebuilding a whole bathroom or kitchen.
Rosemead water and the inside of a faucet
Which company supplies your water depends on your street. San Gabriel County Water District, which has its office on Grand Avenue in Rosemead, says 100% of its water “comes from wells in the Main San Gabriel and Raymond Groundwater Basins.” Its 2025 water quality report lists hardness from 17 to 200 ppm, averaging 97.4. If another company sends your bill, its own annual report gives the figure for your area.
On the U.S. Geological Survey’s scale, 61 to 120 mg/L (the same as ppm for water) counts as moderately hard, and the USGS notes that hard water “can cause mineral buildup in plumbing, fixtures, and water heaters.” Inside a faucet, that scale settles on the cartridge and its seals. A handle that turns stiffly and a spout that won’t quite stop often show up together, and a new cartridge usually fixes both without replacing the faucet.
It’s worth doing sooner rather than later. EPA’s WaterSense program says “A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.”
How a faucet visit goes
Find the leak
We check whether it drips from the spout, weeps at the handle or leaks under the sink, since each points to a different part.
Shut off and open up
The angle stops get closed; if they will not hold, we use the main. The handle comes off and the cartridge or stem is pulled.
Match the part
We match the cartridge by brand and series, or recommend a full faucet swap when parts are no longer made.
Test
Water back on, hot and cold run, and the cabinet checked dry with a paper towel.
Bigger jobs, free estimate
If the valves under the sink are seized and the only way to stop the water is the main shutoff, if the leak is inside the wall, or if old galvanized pipe crumbles when the line comes off, the repair is bigger than a faucet swap, and it gets its own free estimate. Keep the main shut until it's fixed. We tell you what we found, leave the sink safe to use, and can come back to set the new faucet once the piping is sorted.
While we’re out for this, Rosemead customers often add outdoor faucet repair, faucet installation, under-sink leak repair, P-trap and sink drain repair, shutoff valve replacement, garbage disposal repair and replacement or toilet repair.
Photos that help with the quote
One photo of the faucet from the front, one from under the sink showing the valves and supply lines, and the brand if it’s printed anywhere. Text them to (310) 628-9399.
Faucet questions
Can you fix a leaking outdoor spigot?
Yes. A dripping hose bib usually needs a new washer, packing or a new spigot.
Why does water pool around my kitchen faucet base?
Spout O-rings have worn or the faucet has loosened on the sink. We reseal or tighten it from below.
Why is my faucet dripping when it’s turned off?
The cartridge, washer or seat inside is worn. Replacing those parts stops the drip.
Why does my faucet make a loud noise or vibrate when I turn it on?
A loose washer or worn cartridge can chatter, and high house pressure makes it worse. We open the faucet, replace the worn part and check pressure at a hose bib.
How long does a faucet replacement take?
Depends on the job; we’ll let you know after we see photos. Seized nuts under an old sink or a stop that will not close can add time, which we flag before starting.
Repair or replace my faucet?
If the brand still makes parts and the body is sound, a new cartridge or washer is usually enough. Corroded bodies and discontinued models get replaced.
Why does my faucet drip only on the hot side?
Hot water wears washers and seals faster. That side’s stem or cartridge half usually needs replacing.
Can you install a faucet I bought online?
Yes. Check that the hole count matches your sink before ordering.
Do you replace the supply lines too?
Usually, yes. Old lines are cheap insurance to swap while the faucet is off.
What about a pull-down kitchen faucet?
Yes, including the hose weight and the spray head.
Why is my new faucet’s flow low?
Debris from old pipes often lodges in the aerator. Unscrew it and rinse it.
Will I know when you’re on the way?
Yes. You get a text from us before we head over.
What if the valve under the sink is bad too?
We stop and ask first. You hear what we found and what it adds to the price before any extra work starts.
Should I buy the faucet myself?
Either way works. If you’ve picked one, we install it. If you’d like us to supply it, the faucet and parts are listed in the quote, since they depend on the sink.
What if it starts dripping again?
Text us. If something isn’t right after the job, we come back and take care of it.
Can a faucet cartridge get clogged?
Yes. Grit and mineral buildup block the cartridge screens and the flow drops. We clean or replace it.
How do I fix a faucet sprayer button?
A sticky sprayer is usually mineral buildup or a worn diverter. We clean or replace the sprayer head and hose.
How can I tell what kind of faucet I have?
Look at the handles: one lever is usually a cartridge or ball faucet, two handles are compression or cartridge. A photo of the faucet and the parts under the sink tells us.
Why is my faucet dripping when the water is off?
A steady drip from the spout with the handle closed means the seal inside is worn: a cartridge in single-handle faucets, a washer or seat in older two-handle ones. Replacing that part ends the drip.
Why is my faucet dripping from the handle?
Water around the handle comes from a worn O-ring or packing on the stem or cartridge. New O-rings, or a new cartridge, stop it.
Before you text: our notes on under sink leaks and supply lines, for anyone booking faucet repair and replacement.
Just outside Rosemead? We take these jobs in Alhambra (faucet repair in Alhambra) and San Gabriel (dripping faucet repair in San Gabriel) as well.
Jobs that pair with this one
- Faucet installationWhen the faucet is worn out.
- Under-sink leak repairWater in the cabinet.
- Shutoff valve replacementStiff valves.
- P-trap and sink drain repairDrain leaks.
Faucet tips for Rosemead homes
- Hard water scale on faucets, aerators and shower headsHow hard-water scale clogs aerators, wears faucet cartridges and stains fixtures in Rosemead homes, plus the cleaning you can do and repairs we handle.
- Tracking down a leak under the sinkLeak under your kitchen or bathroom sink? Find out if it’s the supply line, shutoff, faucet or drain, and text a photo for a free estimate in Rosemead.
Jobs like this one are everyday work for our Rosemead handyman service, from the blocks off Garvey Avenue to the streets near Rosemead Park. A photo by text gets you a quote first.
Part of plumbing repairs. You can also browse all our services or read about repairs in postwar Rosemead homes.