Kitchen faucet repair in Hoffman Estates, IL

The kitchen faucet takes the most abuse

Think about what a kitchen faucet does in a day. It fills the kettle, rinses a hundred small things, runs a sprayer, swings across a double sink and takes the occasional knock from a heavy pot. It also faces both hot and cold water, which stress seals in different ways. That is why the kitchen faucet usually wears out before the one in the guest bath. This page covers how it fails, how to tell which part is failing, what is safe to check and how a plumber usually handles it. It is general guidance for homes in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and not a quote.

Five ways a kitchen faucet fails

1. It drips from the spout. Inside the faucet a valve closes the water off. In a single-handle faucet that is a cartridge or a ball. In a two-handle faucet it is a ceramic disc or a rubber washer on a seat. When it wears or gets scratched by grit, a thin stream gets through, and the drip starts.

2. It leaks at the base of the spout. Swiveling spouts ride on rubber O-rings. Years of turning wear them, and water then creeps down the outside of the faucet and into the cabinet. You may notice the base is always damp or that the counter around it has a ring.

3. The sprayer misbehaves. A pull-out or pull-down sprayer has a hose, quick-connect fittings, a weight and a head. Any of them can fail. A sprayer that hangs low has lost its weight or has a kinked hose. A sprayer that drips has a worn check valve.

4. The flow is weak. Often the aerator is clogged with scale. Sometimes a valve under the sink is only partly open. Occasionally the cartridge itself is blocked with debris.

5. The faucet wobbles. A loose mounting nut lets the whole faucet move. That strains every seal above and below the counter and leads to leaks.

Which kind of faucet is it?

The type decides the repair.

Single-handle cartridge or ball. One lever for hot and cold. Repair means a new cartridge or ball and seals.
Two-handle compression. Older. Each handle presses a washer onto a seat. Repair is washers or seats.
Two-handle ceramic disc. Quarter-turn handles. The discs seldom fail, but the seals can.
Pull-down or pull-out. More parts and more places to leak.
Touch or sensor faucets. Need a battery pack and a sensor along with the valve. Repairs may need the maker's parts.
Pot filler. A separate fixture above the range, often on a wall. A leak behind the wall needs fast attention.

If you can, note the brand, usually on the base or handle, and take a photo. A plumber can check for parts before arriving.

A few safe checks before you call

Unscrew the aerator at the tip of the spout by hand. If it is crusted, soak it in white vinegar for an hour. Flow often returns.
Feel under the sink for a loose faucet. If it moves, the mounting nut needs tightening, and a plumber can do that quickly.
Dry and test each connection. Wipe the supply lines, valves and faucet base, run the water and press a dry tissue to each connection.
Test the shut-off valves with a gentle quarter turn. A valve that will not move should not be forced.
Pull the sprayer out and let it go. If it does not retract smoothly, the weight or the hose is the likely issue.
Press the cabinet floor. Soft wood means the leak has been going for a while.

When to repair and when to replace

Repair makes sense when the faucet is fairly new, the maker still sells parts and only one part has failed. Replacement makes sense when the finish is peeling, the body is corroded, more than one spot leaks, parts are gone, or you have repaired it before. It also makes sense when you want something the old faucet lacks, such as a pull-down sprayer or a taller spout.

The installation matters as much as the faucet. A good faucet fitted badly will leak. Ask what warranty the plumber gives on the labor.

What a visit usually looks like

The plumber looks for the real leak source and checks the valves and supply lines.
They explain the likely cause and quote repair and replacement.
For a repair, they close the water, take the faucet apart, replace the worn parts and test it under pressure.
For a replacement, they remove the old faucet, fit the new one with new supply lines, check every connection and test the sprayer and flow.
They clean up and show you where the shut-off valves are.

You can usually supply your own faucet. Ask first, because some providers will not warrant work on a faucet they did not supply.

What changes the price

This website does not set prices. What changes them:

Repair or full replacement.
The cost of the faucet you pick.
The condition of the old valves and supply lines.
Whether the sink needs a hole drilled or a cover plate.
Whether a disposal, filter or soap dispenser has to be moved.
Time of day and day of the week.

Ask how the price is figured, whether there is a visit fee and whether it counts toward the work.

Kitchen faucets in Hoffman Estates homes

Hoffman Estates began in the 1950s, when the father-and-son builders Sam and Jack Hoffman bought 160 acres in 1954 and started building homes. The village was incorporated in 1959 and grew after the Northwest Tollway opened, so a great many houses here date from the 1950s through the 1970s. Kitchens in these homes have often been redone, with newer counters and sinks sitting on supply plumbing from the original build, and a new faucet is often connected to shut-off valves that have not been turned in decades.

Cold Illinois winters add a twist. Sinks on exterior walls can have supply lines that run through cold spaces, and a faucet that works fine in July may freeze or drip in January. If the kitchen sink is on an outside wall, leave the cabinet doors open on very cold nights. A drip from the spout is the most common call and usually means a worn cartridge or seat, which a plumber can often swap in one visit.

When it is an emergency

Call at once if water is spraying or running steadily and the valves do not stop it, if it is reaching an outlet or a ceiling, or if the cabinet is filling. Close the valves under the sink first, and the main if they fail. See emergency faucet leak repair for steps while you wait.

Keeping the next leak away

Fit braided stainless supply lines when you replace the faucet.
Clean the aerator a few times a year.
Do not lean on or hang things from the spout.
Wipe the base dry to slow corrosion.
Look under the sink every month.
Turn the shut-off valves a little twice a year.
Avoid abrasive cleaners on the finish.

About this referral service

Hoffman Faucet Help is a referral service and does not do plumbing work. When you call, you are connected to an independent plumber who sets their own prices and carries their own license and insurance. Ask about both.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my kitchen faucet drip after I turn it off?

A worn cartridge, washer, disc or seat inside the faucet is the usual cause. Mineral buildup can also stop it from sealing.

Why is there water under my kitchen sink?

It may be the faucet, but it could also be the supply lines, shut-off valves, drain, dishwasher or disposal connections. Dry everything and watch each connection to find the wet one.

Can I replace a kitchen faucet myself?

Many people do, but old valves, tight cabinets and corroded nuts can make it harder than it looks. If a valve will not shut off, stop and call a plumber.

How long does a kitchen faucet repair take?

A simple cartridge or seal repair is often done within an hour or two. A replacement can take a little longer depending on access.

Is an old kitchen faucet worth repairing?

If it is more than ten or fifteen years old, has a worn finish or needs hard-to-find parts, replacing it is often the better value.

Who comes if I call this number?

An independent local plumbing provider. This website only connects the call.

Kitchen faucet leaking or dripping? Get kitchen faucet repair in Hoffman Estates handled.