Start by naming the faucet you own
Faucets fall into four common designs: compression, cartridge, ceramic disc, and ball. The design decides which part wears out and how the faucet comes apart. Two handles usually means compression or cartridge. One handle that swings side to side is a cartridge, a ceramic disc, or a ball.
Look at the base of the handle for a small cap, a set screw, or a decorative ring. Pop the cap with a thin blade and you will often find a screw underneath. Take a photo at every step so you can put the parts back in order.
Brand matters less than the design. Most name-brand faucets use a cartridge you can match by size and shape, and the part number is often stamped on it. Bring the old cartridge to the counter rather than guessing from the box.
What each symptom usually means
| What you see | Likely culprit | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Steady drip from the spout | Worn cartridge, seat, or washer | Replace the cartridge or seat set |
| Water pooling at the base of the spout | Worn O-rings on the swivel | Replace the O-rings and grease them |
| Weak or sputtering flow | Clogged aerator or sprayer hose | Clean the aerator, check the hose |
| Handle loose or stiff | Set screw or cartridge wear | Tighten, then replace the cartridge |
| Wet cabinet floor under the sink | Supply line, shutoff, or faucet shank | Trace the drip before buying parts |
| Spray head stuck or leaking | Diverter or hose failure | Replace the diverter or the hose |
Notice that most rows point to a single worn part, not the whole faucet. That is why a diagnosis comes before a shopping trip.
Shutting off the water without a mess
Do this before you pick up a single tool.
- Find the stops.. Look under the sink for two small valves, one on the hot line and one on the cold. Turn each clockwise until it stops.
- Open the faucet.. Let it run until it quits. That drains the lines and proves the stops are holding.
- Plug the drain.. A small screw or set screw dropped down the drain is gone for good. Cover it with a rag or a stopper.
- Stop at a stuck valve.. If a stop will not turn, or it drips when you turn it, do not force it. Shut the water at the main valve and call.
Slow drips deserve more respect than they get
A faucet dripping once a second sounds minor. Over a month, it wastes thousands of gallons, and the constant flow can stain the sink and etch the finish. The wear that causes the drip also tends to get worse, not better.
Drips also hide leaks elsewhere. Water that runs down the supply line or the faucet shank can soak the cabinet floor for weeks before you notice a smell. Open the cabinet and look once a month, with a flashlight and a dry paper towel.
Not sure which part is failing?
Describe the drip to us at (440) 468-0237 and we will say whether it sounds like a ten-minute fix or a job for a plumber.
What hard water and city rules mean for a Solon faucet
Cleveland Water, which supplies Solon, states that its water measures 7 grains per gallon, or 120 mg/L as calcium carbonate. That is moderately hard. Mineral scale builds up inside aerators and around cartridges, so weak flow in a Solon kitchen is often a scale problem before it is a plumbing problem.
A soak in white vinegar loosens most aerator scale. Unscrew the aerator, soak it, and brush it clean. If the scale keeps coming back within months, a plumber can tell you whether a cartridge swap or a different faucet will last longer.
The city's Required Residential Permits Guide lists replacing fixtures as work that does not need a permit. Swapping a faucet falls on that side of the line. Moving supply lines or running new plumbing is different, so ask the Solon Building Department before you rearrange anything.
When the repair is not worth it
Replacement makes more sense when the faucet body is pitted, the finish is peeling, or the spout wobbles at the base. It also makes sense when the maker has stopped selling parts. A new cartridge in a corroded body only buys a few months.
Age is a hint, not a rule. A well-made faucet can last decades with new cartridges. A cheap one may fail in five years. Ask the plumber to show you the worn part before agreeing to the swap.
What changes the price of the visit
The part is the smallest piece of the price. Cartridges, O-ring sets, and aerators are inexpensive. Labor time depends on how tight the cabinet is, whether the shutoff valves still work, and how much corrosion the plumber has to fight.
A new faucet adds the cost of the faucet itself. Old supply lines and failed shutoffs are often replaced at the same time because they are already exposed. A good plumber gives you the full price before touching a wrench.
Fix-it-yourself limits, and where to get help
Replacing a cartridge or an aerator is reasonable for a careful homeowner with a screwdriver and a hex key. Anything involving a stuck shutoff, a corroded supply line, or a wall-mounted fixture is where small jobs turn into floods.
Our faucet repair crews handle drips, leaks, and replacements across Solon. If your kitchen setup includes a disposal, the same visit can cover garbage disposal repair if it is jamming or leaking.
Neighbors in Aurora and Chagrin Falls can call the same number. Dial (440) 468-0237 at any hour if water is running and you cannot stop it.
Faucet questions, answered
A worn cartridge, washer, or valve seat lets water slip past the closed position. Mineral scale can also hold the seal slightly open. Replacing the worn part usually stops it.
The rubber O-rings on the swivel have dried out or flattened. New O-rings with a thin coat of plumber's grease usually fix it. If the base is also loose, the mounting nut under the sink may need tightening.
If other taps run fine, the problem is local. A clogged aerator is the usual cause, followed by a kinked sprayer hose or a partly closed shutoff valve.
Many homeowners do. The hard parts are reaching nuts in a tight cabinet and dealing with old shutoff valves. If either looks fragile, call a plumber before something snaps.
The city's Required Residential Permits Guide says replacing fixtures does not need a plumbing permit. New supply lines or relocated plumbing is different. Ask the Solon Building Department if your project goes beyond a simple swap.
It is urgent when water is running and the stops will not close. Shut off the main valve and call. A slow drip can wait for a same-day visit, but check the cabinet floor for damage.
Sources and standards behind this page
Local facts and rules on this page come from these public sources. Check the current version before relying on a permit or code detail.