Valve Will Not Shut Off? Stop the Water First
If water keeps running when the handle is off, or it sprays from behind a wall, work through this list in order.
- Close the stop valveTurn the oval handle under the sink clockwise until it stops. Do the same on the hot and cold stops for a toilet, washer or laundry sink.
- Use the main valve if there is no stopShower and tub valves often have no local stop. Close the main valve where the line enters the house, then open a low faucet to drain the pressure.
- Protect the floorLay towels along the base of the cabinet or wall, move rugs and, if the water reaches an outlet, switch off that circuit at the breaker. Do not touch a wet outlet.
- Do not force a seized handleA handle that spins freely or will not move can strip the stem and turn a cartridge swap into a valve replacement. Stop and call.
- Take a photo, then callA picture of the faucet, its brand mark and the water damage helps us bring the right part. We can often schedule a same-day visit, and our dispatch is open after hours.
How Crowley Water Wears Out Faucets
The City of Crowley's 2025 Water Quality Report gives total hardness of 108 to 150 mg/L, which is 6 to 9 grains per gallon, and pH of 7.8 to 8.5. Hard water leaves white scale on aerators and inside cartridges. The scale narrows the outlet, so water sprays sideways or pressure falls. Slightly alkaline water also scales faster once it is heated, so hot-side cartridges tend to clog first.
Those same minerals scratch the soft rubber seals on a cartridge, so a single-handle faucet may start to drip long before the chrome looks worn. If your aerator is crusty, unscrew it, soak it in vinegar for an hour and brush it clean. That fixes weak flow, but it does not fix a leak at the base of the spout or under the handle.
Fixtures and Valves We Repair
The fix depends on the fixture. Here is what we commonly see around Crowley homes.
Kitchen and bathroom faucets
Drips from the spout usually mean a worn cartridge, ceramic disc or washer. We replace the part when it is available, or the whole faucet when the body is corroded.
Shower valves
A shower that drips after you turn it off, or loses hot water, usually needs a new cartridge or a mixing valve. Access is through the wall or from behind the tub.
Bathtub faucets and diverters
A tub spout that leaks when the shower runs is a failed diverter. Leaks at the handle point to the cartridge, and leaks inside the wall need a closer look.
Outdoor spigots
Frost-proof hose bibs and standard spigots leak at the stem or the vacuum breaker. Water running inside the wall behind the spigot means the pipe is damaged, so shut off the line.
Supply stops and shutoff valves
Old multi-turn valves seize or drip at the stem. We replace them with quarter-turn valves so you can shut off water fast next time.
Laundry and utility sinks
Washing machine valves and utility faucets leak at the stem or the hose. We can swap the valve and braided lines in one visit.
Which Fault Means Which Part
A leak tells you where to look. This is the pattern we follow.
| What you see | Usual cause | Typical repair |
|---|---|---|
| Drip from the spout when off | Worn cartridge, washer or disc | Replace cartridge or washer. |
| Leak at the base of the handle | Failed O-ring or loose retaining nut | Replace O-rings and tighten. |
| Weak flow or sideways spray | Scale in aerator or cartridge | Clean or replace aerator and cartridge. |
| Water under the sink | Cracked supply line or leaking stop valve | Replace supply line or stop valve. |
| Shower will not fully shut off | Worn shower cartridge | Replace cartridge or valve. |
If the faucet body is pitted or the handle will not hold, replacement costs about as much as another repair, and we will tell you.
Water will not stop?
Call now. A licensed plumber can often come the same day, and dispatch answers at night and on weekends.
What Affects the Price of Faucet Repair
You hear a clear price before we start. These factors decide it.
Insurance usually covers sudden and accidental water damage, such as a supply line that burst, but usually not a slow drip or normal wear. Ask your carrier if the leak soaked a floor.
Leaks That Look Like Faucet Problems
Sometimes the faucet is fine and the pipe behind it is not. A wet wall below a tub spout, a stain on the ceiling under an upstairs bath, or a meter that keeps moving points to a leak inside the wall. In that case, see our page on leak detection or, if the pipe has failed, burst pipe repair.
Homes in Crowley's subdivisions and the older area around the old railroad downtown all end up with the same worn cartridges. If you live close to Forest Hill or Burleson, the same visit works. A kitchen sink leak may also come from the disposal, which is covered under garbage disposal repair.
Faucet Repair Questions
Yes. Our line is open 24/7, and a faucet or valve that will not shut off is an emergency. Close the stop valve under the fixture or the main valve, then call. A licensed plumber can come the same day when available, and we confirm a clear price before work starts.
If the faucet is otherwise solid and the part is available, a new cartridge is a quick fix. If the body is pitted, the handle is loose or parts are no longer made, replacement is often the better value.
A worn stem washer or packing is the usual cause. A spigot that leaks inside the wall is a bigger problem, so shut off the water to it and call.
It shortens the life of cartridges and aerators. Crowley water is 6 to 9 grains per gallon, so clean aerators every few months. A water softener or filter reduces scale on every fixture.
Close the main water valve, then open a faucet low in the house to drain the line. A seized or broken shower cartridge needs a plumber, and forcing the handle can break the stem.
It is possible, but you have to shut off the main valve, and old stops can crumble or break the pipe when turned. If the stop is stuck, call us.