Faucet Repair in Salisbury, NC

How a failing faucet usually shows itself

• A drip from the spout that keeps going no matter how hard you close the handle
• Water beading up around the lever or pooling where the faucet meets the counter
• A handle that grinds, sticks or spins without fully shutting off
• Hot water that takes more turning than it used to, or a mix that drifts while you rinse
• Swollen cabinet bottoms or a musty smell under the sink
• A thudding sound or a short spurt when a faucet is shut quickly

Salisbury's water and older houses

Salisbury-Rowan Utilities pulls its water from the Yadkin River near where it meets the South Yadkin, and treats it at the SRU plant. SRU disinfects with chlorine in the form of sodium hypochlorite, not chloramine, and controls corrosion by raising the pH and adding zinc orthophosphate. Chlorine is generally easier on rubber parts than chloramine, so when a Salisbury faucet drips the cause is more often plain age and wear than water chemistry. SRU's published notes don't give a hardness figure, so it's worth letting the plumber look at the parts before assuming scale.

Housing age matters more here. About 55% of Salisbury homes were built before 1980 and roughly 14% before 1940, so kitchens and baths around downtown and the older streets near Catawba and Livingstone colleges are likely to still have two-handle compression faucets and shutoff valves that haven't been turned in years. SRU has also fitted new customer meters with check valves since 1988 and recommends a thermal expansion tank where one is added. Without that tank, pressure can climb each time the water heater runs, which is hard on faucet cartridges.

SRU maintains the line from the main to the meter. Everything from the meter into the house, including every faucet and hose bib, is the owner's to repair.

What shapes the cost

• Repair parts versus a new fixture. A cartridge or stem kit is a smaller job than removing and setting a new faucet.
• The age of the faucet. Older or off-brand models can be hard to find parts for, which can tip the decision toward replacement.
• Valves and supply lines. Corroded stops or old braided hoses are usually changed while the water is already off.
• Access. Seized mounting nuts and cramped vanities take longer.

What to expect when you call

The call connects you with an independent plumber who works in Salisbury. Tell them which faucet is leaking, whether it has one handle or two, any brand name you can see, and whether water is showing at the spout, the handle or under the sink. If you can, snap a photo of the faucet and the valves beneath it so the right parts come on the first visit.