Burst supply line or a valve that will not close: what to do first
Look under the sink for the two small shutoffs, one for hot and one for cold. Turn each clockwise until it stops. If the spray continues, or the shutoff itself is the thing leaking, go to the main water valve for the house and close that.
Open the faucet to drain the line, then put a bucket and towels under the leak. Keep power cords, a garbage disposal switch and any plug-in appliance away from the wet cabinet. After that, call the 24/7 line and tell us which valve would not hold, because that decides what we bring.
Tub and shower valves are harder, since many have no local shutoff. If the handle will not stop the flow, close the main valve and call at any hour. Dispatch answers these at any hour, and a same-day slot is offered when one is open.
Fixture by fixture: what goes wrong and what we do
Each fixture fails in its own way. Here is how we handle the four you are most likely to call about.
Kitchen faucets
Drips from the spout usually mean a worn cartridge or seat. A spray head that leaks, a loose base, or water under the sink points to the supply lines or the connections. If your sink also drains slowly, see Drain Cleaning.
Bathroom sink faucets
Single-handle models usually need a cartridge. Two-handle models usually need washers, seats or stems. Low flow from one side often points to a clogged aerator or a partly closed shutoff, which are quick checks.
Bathtub faucets and diverters
A tub spout that drips after the shower starts has a bad diverter. A handle that keeps the water running means the valve behind the wall has worn. We explain how we will reach it before opening anything.
Shower valves and showerheads
A showerhead that drips from the arm is often a thread seal. A valve that stays warm or drips from the head needs a cartridge. If you see stains on the ceiling below a shower, stop using it and ask us about the plumbing behind the wall.
Drip, spray or no shutoff: matching the symptom to the part
A quick guide to what we usually find. We confirm on site before we quote.
| What you see | Likely part | How urgent |
|---|---|---|
| Steady drip from spout | Cartridge, washer or seat | Book a visit soon |
| Water under the sink | Supply line or connection | Same day, shut the stops |
| Handle spins but water runs | Stem or cartridge failure | Same day |
| Shutoff valve will not turn | Seized or corroded valve | Call tonight if water is flowing |
| Spray from a supply line | Burst or cracked line | Emergency, close the main |
| Tub drips after shower starts | Diverter | Routine visit |
A valve that will not close and water on the floor
Call (562) 488-9614 any hour and tell us which fixture, so the right cartridge or valve rides along.
A slow drip is not as small as it looks
The EPA says a faucet dripping once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year. A showerhead leaking 10 drips a minute adds up to more than 500 gallons.
For you that means a repair is a decision about your bill as well as the noise. If the meter moves after you shut every tap, the leak is somewhere else, and our Leak Detection page covers how we find it. The EPA suggests checking the meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is used.
Replacing a failed supply stop: how the visit runs
Old shutoff valves are a common reason a simple faucet job turns into a bigger one.
- 1
Close the main
We shut the house water and open the lowest tap to drain the line.
- 2
Remove the failed stop
The old valve comes off the pipe and the supply line comes off the fixture. We check the pipe end for damage before fitting anything new.
- 3
Fit and test
A new stop and supply line go on, and we turn the water back on slowly while watching every joint.
- 4
Confirm the fixture
We run hot and cold and look under the sink for weeping after a short wait.
Tub and shower drains that will not clear
Bathtub and shower drains clog with hair and soap far more often than they fail. If water stands around your feet in the shower, that is a drain job, not a faucet job.
If a second fixture also pools, that points to the branch line. Our Hydro Jetting page covers the heavier cleaning we use when cable alone will not do it.
Older Pico Rivera houses and their fixtures
Census ACS 2024 estimates give Pico Rivera a median build year of 1957, with 86.2 percent of its 17,352 housing units built before 1980. Many bathrooms in homes that old still run on original shutoffs, and a shutoff that has not been turned in years often fails when first closed. Ask us to test them on any visit.
Water quality matters here too. The city's 2023 water report gives an average of 174.4 mg/L for hardness, and mineral buildup can clog aerators and showerheads. The same attention goes to customers in Santa Fe Springs and nearby areas.
What changes the price of a fixture repair
These are the pieces of the quote.
Fixture type
Kitchen, bath, tub and shower fixtures differ in parts and access.
Access to the valve
A shower valve behind a wall costs more time than a sink faucet.
Condition of the shutoffs
Seized stops often need replacing, which adds a part and a step.
Fixture supply
Whether you provide the faucet or we do changes the total.
Time of day
Late-night calls are quoted with the dispatch time stated up front.
Before we arrive for a fixture call
A few steps keep the visit short.
- Close the fixture shutoffs or the main valve and note which one holds.
- Empty the cabinet under the sink and put a bucket in place.
- Photograph the fixture and the brand name on the handle or spout.
- Tell us if the fixture is a tub, shower or kitchen faucet when you call us.
- Keep power cords away from the wet cabinet.
Standards and sources behind this page
The drip-rate figures on this page come from the EPA WaterSense Fix a Leak Week guidance, which says a faucet dripping once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year.
Questions we hear most
Yes. We cover burst supply lines and valves that will not shut off around the clock. Close the shutoffs or the main valve and call us, whatever the hour.
The EPA says a faucet dripping once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year. A showerhead leaking 10 drips a minute wastes over 500 gallons a year.
Sometimes. Many cartridges come out through the trim, and we explain before work if the wall must be opened. We will tell you the access plan with your price.
Do not force it. Close the main water valve for the house and call. A seized stop is normally replaced, and we do that during the repair.
Not by itself. It becomes urgent if the handle will not stop the flow or water is staining a ceiling below. Otherwise, book a same-day visit when available.
Yes. Shower and tub drain clogs are part of our work, and larger line problems are covered by Drain Cleaning.
Stop the drip or the spray today
For a faucet, tub or shower problem at any hour, ring the dispatch line and we will sort the part and the price.