Many Dunwoody homes date to the 1970s, so faucet repairs often include tired stop valves and older fixtures along with the usual worn cartridge or washer. A plumber can rebuild or replace in one visit. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
Dunwoody in brief
About 44% of Dunwoody housing was built before 1980, and the 1970s alone account for roughly 28%. DeKalb County supplies water and owns the line through the meter. The city's single-trade component permits cover stand-alone plumbing repairs.
First steps while you wait
- Resist cranking the handle harder to stop a drip; that tends to crush the washer or seat and make it worse.
- Open the faucet to relieve pressure, then dry the cabinet so any new drips are easy to spot.
- Know where the main shutoff is, usually where the line enters the house or near the meter, in case a valve gives out.
- Unscrew the aerator, rinse out any grit and see whether the flow improves.
- For an outdoor leak, take the hose off and close the interior shutoff for that spigot if the house has one.
- 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.
- Photograph the faucet and any brand markings so the plumber can match parts.
Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
(404) 637-2993Reading the symptoms
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Outdoor spigot leaks at the handle | Loose packing nut or worn washer |
| Low flow from a single tap | Clogged aerator or debris in the cartridge |
| Spout drips when the faucet is off | Worn cartridge, washer or valve seat |
| Spigot leaks inside the wall after a freeze | Split frost-free sillcock or pipe |
| Pull-down sprayer drips | Worn hose or sprayer head |
| Leak under the handle | Failed O-ring or stem packing |
| Temperature swings while running | Worn mixing cartridge |
Cost drivers to know about
- Hidden damage. A slow leak that has soaked the cabinet floor or subfloor can turn into more work than the faucet itself.
- Supply connectors. Old plastic or braided connectors are often changed while the water is already off.
- Access. Rusted mounting nuts, a deep apron sink or a cramped vanity can stretch a simple repair.
- 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.
- 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.
- Outdoor spigots. A washer is quick; a frost-free sillcock that split inside the wall may mean opening a wall or working from the crawl space.
Faucet Repair questions in Dunwoody
Does faucet work need a permit, and who issues it?
Dunwoody uses single-trade component permits for stand-alone plumbing repairs and water heater replacements, and work may not begin until the permit is issued. Whether a simple faucet swap needs one is worth asking the plumber or the permit office.
When is a new faucet a better buy than a repair?
Replacement makes sense if the faucet is a discontinued or unknown brand, the finish or body is corroded, or it has more than one problem. A sound faucet with a single worn part is generally worth fixing.
Who is responsible for the pipe that feeds my faucets and spigots?
DeKalb County Watershed Management is responsible for the service line from the main to the meter, including the meter, which usually sits in a pit outside. The owner is responsible from the meter to the plumbing inside the home. Faucets, hose bibs and the pipes feeding them are on the owner's side, so their repairs are plumber work.
Can high water pressure make faucets leak?
It can. Pressure that runs high wears cartridges and washers faster and can make a faucet drip or bang when it closes. A plumber can test the pressure and check the regulator if the house has one.
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Call now to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
(404) 637-2993Sources
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