Where is it leaking?
| Where the water shows | Likely cause | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Drips from the spout | Worn cartridge or seat | Replace the cartridge or ceramic disc |
| Pools at the base of the handle | Worn O-rings | Replace the O-rings and lubricate |
| Wet under the sink only when running | Loose or cracked supply line | Tighten or replace the line |
| Wet under the sink all the time | Failed shutoff valve or drain connection | Replace the valve or reseat the drain |
| Sprayer leaks or will not retract | Damaged hose or weight | Replace the hose assembly |
Fixing a spout or handle drip
Most single handle faucets use a cartridge that wears out after years of use. Remove the handle, lift out the cartridge and bring it to a supplier or pick the matching part from the manufacturer's guide.
O-rings around the swivel spout often fail before the cartridge does. A dab of plumber's grease on new O-rings usually stops a leak at the base for years.
Water under the sink: do this first
Close the two angle stop valves under the sink by turning the handles clockwise. If they will not close or leak when turned, close the main water valve for the house.
Clear the cabinet, mop the floor and dry the cabinet floor. Damp particleboard swells and can mold, so open the doors and run a fan if you can.
Leak coming from the cabinet?
Call and the dispatcher will book a plumber who can replace supply lines, shutoff valves and fittings.
The pieces under the sink
The braided supply lines and the angle stops are the parts that fail quietly. A line with a rusty collar or a bulge is due, and replacing both lines and both stops is a small job that prevents a cabinet flood.
If the sink also has a disposal, check its mounting and drain connections, because a leak there looks like a faucet leak. See garbage disposal repair when that is the source.
Caldwell billing, hard water and old fixtures
The City of Caldwell's billing policy says it does not adjust bills for excess water from leaks on the owner's side, so a faucet that drips all month shows up in the bill. Utility billing is at (208) 455-3000, option 1.
The city draws its water from groundwater wells, and published reports do not always list hardness. Mineral scale shortens the life of cartridges and aerators, so test your tap if you notice crust at the spout.
Replacing supply lines and shutoff valves is plumbing work under Idaho's adopted 2015 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Source: City of Caldwell Utility Billing and Water Department pages
Cartridge, ball or ceramic disc
| Type | How it fails | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge | Seals wear and the spout drips | Swap the cartridge |
| Ceramic disc | Sediment scratches the discs | Replace the disc cylinder |
| Ball | Springs and seats wear out | Use a repair kit with seats and springs |
| Compression | The washer hardens | Replace the washer and seat |
Low flow from the spout
A kitchen faucet with weak flow often has a clogged aerator, which is the small screen at the tip of the spout. Unscrew it, rinse out the debris and soak it in vinegar before putting it back.
If the flow is still low, the supply line or the angle stop may be partly closed or full of debris. Try opening the valve fully and flush the line into a bucket before reattaching the faucet.
Pull-down sprayers and hoses
Pull-down and pull-out faucets use a hose that runs under the sink with a plastic weight to pull it back. A leak that appears only when the sprayer is used points to a cracked hose or a loose quick-connect fitting.
The fix is usually a new hose, which snaps on in a few minutes. If the weight has slipped, the sprayer will not retract and the head may hang from the spout, so reposition it on the hose before it wears a hole.
Tools to gather before you start
- A basin wrench for the nuts that hold the faucet from underneath
- An adjustable wrench and a flashlight
- Plumber's tape for threaded connections
- A bucket and towels for the cabinet
- The faucet brand, or a photo of the cartridge for matching
When to replace the faucet instead
A faucet with a corroded body, a pitted finish or discontinued parts is cheaper to replace than to chase. A new faucet with new supply lines also resets the clock on the parts most likely to fail.
A plumber can install a faucet you supply or recommend one that fits your sink. For an overall fixture upgrade, see plumbing installation.
Questions Caldwell homeowners ask
Turn off the supply under the sink, replace the cartridge or disc and reassemble. Most drips come from the cartridge.
Worn O-rings around the spout or a loose mounting nut are the usual causes.
They wear out over time. If the lines are rusty, bulging or more than about ten years old, replace them.
Do not force them. Close the main valve and call a plumber to replace the stops.
Yes. The city does not adjust bills for excess water from owner-side leaks, so fix drips quickly.
Yes. See the page for Middleton and the service area page.