Most faucet jobs are routine, but a few are urgent. A faucet that will not shut off, a burst supply line under a sink or a valve that sprays when touched all justify a call to the 24/7 line. A licensed plumber can often be booked the same day when availability allows.
Close the small angle valves under the sink by turning them clockwise. If they will not close, shut the main water valve and call (805) 249-7135. Tell us the faucet brand if you can see it.
Urgent faucet problems versus routine ones
| Problem | Urgency | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Faucet will not shut off | Urgent | Close the angle valves or the main, then call |
| Supply line burst or valve spraying | Urgent | Shut the main, turn off power nearby, call |
| Water under the sink cabinet | Same day | Close the angle valves and dry the area |
| Slow drip at the spout | Routine | A cartridge, washer or seat is worn |
| Low flow or weak spray | Routine | Clogged aerator or scale in the cartridge |
Slow drips matter too, because they waste water and wear the valve seat. The tub and shower side of the same problem, a faucet or valve that sticks or leaks, is just as common.
Burst supply valves and what to replace
A burst or broken supply valve is a frequent after-hours call. Chrome angle valves under sinks use rubber seals that dry out over the years, and plastic supply lines can split without warning. If a valve sprays or weeps from the stem, replace it.
We replace the valve and the braided supply line together, because a new valve on an old line leaves half the risk behind. If the main shutoff itself will not close, that valve becomes the repair. That is a bigger job, and a short leak detection pass may be part of finding where the water is going.
Valve will not shut off?
Close the main and call. The 24/7 line books the next plumber, with same-day slots when available.
Drips, cartridges and aerators in hard water
The City of Lompoc's 2025 report lists average hardness near 293 ppm and total dissolved solids near 817 ppm. Those minerals harden into scale inside cartridges, around valve seats and across the screen of the aerator.
The practical result is that Lompoc faucets drip, sputter and lose pressure earlier than the manufacturer's estimate. Unscrew the aerator and soak it in vinegar for an hour before you call. If the faucet still runs poorly, the cartridge is next. Some faucets are cheaper to replace than to repair, especially if parts are no longer made.
Showers, tubs and kitchen sinks
Shower valves and tub faucets leak behind the wall more often than they leak at the spout. A tub faucet that will not stop or a shower that drips after closing needs a new cartridge or valve body. We access it from the face of the wall when possible, or through the back from a closet.
Kitchen sink
Spray hose leaks, dripping spout, loose base or a slow drain.
Bathroom sink
Pop-up stopper issues, trap leaks, loose handle or low flow.
Tub and shower
Dripping spout, hot and cold mixing, weak pressure or a stuck diverter.
Outdoor spigot
Leaking stem, broken vacuum breaker or an interior wall leak.
Repair or replace the faucet
If the faucet is under about ten years old and the body is sound, repair is usually cheaper. Corroded bodies, discontinued parts or finishes that have worn through favor a new faucet. If you also want a new sink or are remodeling, see plumbing installation, and for the disposal beneath the sink see garbage disposal repair.
What affects the price of faucet repair
You get a clear price before work starts. Call (805) 249-7135 for yours, from Lompoc or Santa Maria.
A faucet repair counts as fixing a leak, which the City of Lompoc building division exempts from permits when nothing is rearranged. New supply lines and relocated fixtures follow the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, 2025 edition, effective January 1, 2026), which is based on the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC).
Faucet Repair questions, answered
Yes. The 24/7 line takes calls for burst supply lines, stuck valves and faucets that will not shut off, with same-day visits when availability allows.
Turn the small oval or round valve under the sink clockwise. If it does not close or leaks, use the main shutoff.
The valve seat may be pitted by minerals or the cartridge is worn. Hard water speeds both.
Yes. Most need a new cartridge. Some need a new valve body, which may mean opening the wall.
A clogged aerator or cartridge is the usual cause. Soak the aerator in vinegar to test.
We can, or install one you provide. Ask for the price difference on the call.