Faucet will not shut off: what to do now
Running water you cannot stop is the situation this page is for. Work through these steps in order. They apply at night and on weekends as much as on a weekday, and the same after-hours line handles all of them.
- Find the shutoff valves under the sink, two small oval or round handles on the lines going up to the faucet. Turn each clockwise until it stops.
- If the valves are stuck or leak when turned, go to the main water valve, where the line enters the basement or utility room, and close it fully.
- Open the lowest faucet in the house, such as a basement sink or tub, to drain the pressure from the pipes.
- Put a bucket under any spray, move items out of the cabinet and switch off power to outlets near wet areas if you can do so safely.
- Call (973) 488-5410 and tell us whether it is the faucet itself or the valve below it that has failed.
Do not force an old valve past its stop. A seized stem can snap and turn a drip into a flood.
Four kinds of faucet, four kinds of repair
The repair depends on how the faucet is built. Compression faucets have separate hot and cold handles and use rubber washers that wear out. Cartridge faucets use a plastic or brass cartridge that slides to mix water. Ball faucets, common on older kitchen sinks, use a slotted ball with springs and seats. Ceramic disc faucets use two polished discs and a seal.
Each type fails differently, so we start by identifying yours. Many repairs mean replacing a washer, cartridge or seat rather than the whole faucet, and we keep common parts on the truck.
Repair or replace the faucet
This is how we decide between a repair and a new faucet with you.
| Situation | Better choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Drip from the spout, faucet is otherwise sound | Repair | A cartridge, washer or seat is a small, inexpensive part |
| Leak at the base of the handle | Repair | Usually an O-ring or packing nut |
| Corroded body or pitted finish | Replace | The body leaks even when new parts go in |
| Parts no longer made for the model | Replace | Repair would be a workaround that does not last |
| Low flow on an old faucet | Clean first, then decide | Mineral buildup in the aerator is often the only cause |
A general guide. If a repair would cost nearly as much as a new faucet, we say so.
Why your faucet drips and what the drip costs
A worn washer or cartridge lets water seep past the seal even when the handle is closed. The drip seems small, but it runs all day and every day. It also leaves mineral stains in the sink and, over time, can wear the seat so the repair gets bigger.
A drip that appears only on hot points to the hot side parts. A drip on both sides suggests a worn cartridge or seat that serves both. We test each side so we replace what has actually failed.
Faucet running and will not stop?
Shut off the valve under the sink or the main, then call the 24/7 line. We will give you a clear price before work starts.
Call (973) 488-5410Check these before you call
A few quick checks can save time, and some can fix the problem outright.
- Unscrew the aerator at the spout tip and clean out grit, since a clogged aerator mimics low pressure.
- Check whether the low flow is on hot only or cold only, which tells us which supply line or valve to inspect.
- Look under the sink with a flashlight for drips, wet cabinet floors or green crust on fittings.
- Note whether the faucet is a single handle or two handles and what brand name is stamped on it.
- Make sure the shutoff valves under the sink actually turn. If they do not, tell us when you call.
If the faucet is fine but the water under the sink keeps coming back, the culprit may be a drain trap or a supply hose, and a broader leak detection check may be the right next step.
Shutoff valves that will not shut off
Under-sink shutoff valves are rarely turned, so they seize with mineral deposits and the packing dries out. When one fails, the plumber has to shut the main to do the work, which means every fixture in the house goes dry for a while.
We replace old multi-turn valves with quarter-turn ball-type stops when we are already there. They cost little in the scheme of a repair and give you a working shutoff next time something goes wrong. Braided stainless supply lines are replaced at the same visit if the old ones are brittle or bulging.
Kearny water and faucet life
The Town of Kearny Water Department distributes water bought from the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission, and the 2024 report shows pH between 7.0 and 8.0. Hardness is not listed, so we judge by the faucet: a heavily scaled aerator or white crust on the spout points to mineral content worth treating or filtering.
Main breaks, street leaks and low pressure that affects the whole street (also true in Belleville, which has its own water department) belong to Veolia, which handles the system for the town, at (201) 955-7406. If only one faucet is weak, the problem is almost always in the house, and it is ours to fix.
Faucet repair is ordinary maintenance under the state code. According to the guidelines in the National Standard Plumbing Code, 2024 edition, new supply or drain piping behind the wall is different and needs a permit check.
What affects the price of faucet repair
We give a clear price before work starts. The range comes from a few real factors.
If water damage is already present, check your homeowners policy. It generally covers sudden accidents, not wear. Want a real number? Call (973) 488-5410 and tell us what the faucet is doing.
Kitchen, bathroom, tub and outdoor spigots
Kitchen faucets with pull-down sprayers add a hose and weight to the repair. Bathroom faucets often have a pop-up drain linkage that leaks into the cabinet. Tub and shower valves are different again, because the cartridge sits behind the wall, which is a topic for a separate visit.
Outdoor hose bibs deserve a mention. A bib that drips inside the wall after a cold spell may have frozen, and a quick-closing frost-free model should be considered. If a pipe has split, our burst pipe repair service covers that.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the faucet type, whether a cartridge or whole faucet is needed, the shutoff valve condition and the time of day. A washer or cartridge is the lowest tier, a new faucet is higher. We give a clear price before work starts. Call (973) 488-5410 and describe the problem for an honest estimate of scope.
Yes. The dispatch line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A faucet that will not shut off or a supply line spraying under a sink gets treated as an emergency at any hour. A steady drip usually fits a same-day appointment.
A worn washer, cartridge or valve seat is not sealing. In compression faucets the rubber washer hardens. In cartridge faucets the seals wear. Mineral scale can also hold the seat open. A repair kit often cures it, but a pitted seat may need replacing.
If the body is sound and parts are available, repair is usually cheaper. If the finish is flaking, the body is corroded, or parts are discontinued, replacement makes more sense. We tell you which applies after we look at it.
A clogged aerator is the most common cause, then a partly closed shutoff valve or a failing cartridge. If every faucet is weak, the issue is at the main valve, a pressure regulator or the street supply instead.
Routine repair counts as ordinary maintenance, the one exemption listed in the NJ Uniform Construction Code. Moving supply lines or adding fixtures is different, so ask the Kearny construction code office when in doubt.
Do not force it. Close the main valve instead and call us. We can replace the stuck valve with a quarter-turn stop and test the supply lines. See plumbing installation if you want new fixtures set up at the same time.
Not sure if it is the faucet or the valve? Call the 24/7 line and we will help you sort it out.
Call (973) 488-5410