In Austell a dripping or seeping faucet usually needs a new cartridge, washer or set of O-rings, though some of the town's older homes have fixtures worth replacing outright. Austell runs its own water system, but anything from the faucet back to the meter is a plumber's job. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Austell.
Faucets in Austell homes
Austell's housing is older than many Cobb suburbs: about 40.6% of homes were built before 1980, even though the median build year is 1993. That mix means one street can have a two-handle compression faucet with decades-old washers and the next a single-lever fixture on its first cartridge. Older stops under the sink are a common snag in the first group.
The City of Austell Water System serves roughly 3,300 customers and buys its water from the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, disinfected with free chlorine. Many addresses with an Austell mailing address in unincorporated south Cobb are on Cobb County Water System instead, so check your bill. City plumbing permits cover installing, altering or replacing fixtures and piping, so ask the plumber whether your job falls under one.
What to do before help arrives
- Watch the cabinet floor and the wall behind the sink for soft spots or staining.
- Unscrew the aerator, rinse out any grit and see whether the flow improves.
- Pin down where the water is coming from: the spout, under the handle, the base, the sprayer hose or the supply connections.
- Close the stop valves under the sink by turning them clockwise by hand. If they won't budge, leave them and use the main shutoff.
- Resist cranking the handle harder to stop a drip; that tends to crush the washer or seat and make it worse.
Reading the symptoms
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Spigot leaks inside the wall after a freeze | Split frost-free sillcock or pipe |
| Water at the base of a swivel spout | Worn spout O-rings |
| Pull-down sprayer drips | Worn hose or sprayer head |
| Handle stiff or grinding | Buildup inside the valve or a worn cartridge |
| Leak under the handle | Failed O-ring or stem packing |
Cost drivers to know about
- Fix or replace. Swapping a cartridge, washer or O-ring takes less time and fewer parts than pulling the old fixture and setting a new one.
- Shutoff valves. Stops under the sink that are seized or leak when turned add to the job, though a faucet visit is the natural time to replace them.
- Faucet style. Pull-down kitchen faucets, wall-mount fixtures and widespread bath sets take longer than a basic centerset.
- Countertop material. Stone, solid surface and tile change how a faucet comes out and goes back in, and drilling new holes is a bigger job.
Faucet Repair questions in Austell
The shutoff valve under my sink won't turn. Should I force it?
When is a new faucet a better buy than a repair?
Does faucet work need a permit, and who issues it?
Why does a faucet sputter after the water was turned off and back on?
More plumbing services in Austell
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