A dripping faucet usually needs new internal parts, such as a cartridge, washer or O-rings, rather than a full replacement. Water under the sink more often comes from a supply line, shutoff valve or drain fitting. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Winston-Salem.

Where the water shows up tells you a lot
- From the spout after it's shut off: worn washer and seat on older two-handle faucets, or a worn cartridge on single-handle models
- Around the handle or base: O-rings or stem packing
- In the cabinet below: a supply hose, the shutoff valve or the drain connection
- Spray going sideways or a weak stream: a clogged aerator or debris in the cartridge
- Handle hard to turn: a worn cartridge or stem
Small drips, real waste
EPA's WaterSense program says a faucet dripping once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year. Letting it go also wears the valve seat further, so a quick parts job can turn into a bigger one.
What Winston-Salem's water means for your faucets
The 2025 water quality report from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities lists average hardness of 17.5 ppm, which is soft. Soft water leaves little mineral scale, so most faucet leaks here come from worn rubber and plastic parts rather than buildup. The utility disinfects with chlorine, not chloramine, which is worth knowing if you're choosing replacement washers or an under-sink filter. If flow drops suddenly, unscrew the aerator and rinse out any grit.
The same report found lead and copper 90th percentile results below detection, with no sampled sites above action levels. In older homes, though, an original faucet can still be a reasonable thing to replace rather than rebuild, since current fixtures are built to tighter lead limits. About 43% of homes in the city were built before 1980, and many of those still have their original shutoff valves, which may not close fully after years without use.
Rebuild or replace
A quality faucet with a drip is normally worth rebuilding, and the plumber can usually match the cartridge by brand and model. Replacement makes more sense when parts aren't available, the body is cracked, the finish is failing, or you want a different style.
What sets the price
The faucet brand and design, how easy parts are to find, the condition of the shutoff valves and supply lines, and whether you're supplying a new faucet all affect the cost.
Faucet Repair questions from Winston-Salem homeowners
Why won't my faucet stop dripping?
Does Winston-Salem water cause scale on faucets?
How much water can a dripping faucet waste?
The shutoff under my sink won't close. What now?
Related plumbing services in Winston-Salem
Helpful guides
Faucet Repair in nearby cities and towns
Forsyth County
Davie County
Davidson County
Rowan County
Sources
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