It’s the sound you only notice after the house goes quiet. Drip. Pause. Drip. By the time you’re lying awake counting, that bathroom faucet has already been leaking for weeks. Randallstown faucet installation & repair is one of the smaller jobs we do, but for the person listening to that drip at midnight, it’s the one that matters.
Bruce Solomon Plumbing, Heating & Air mends and installs kitchen, bathroom, laundry and outdoor faucets for homeowners in Randallstown, MD 21133. Bruce Solomon opened the family shop in 1984 and still holds Maryland Master Plumber License #6867. Faucet visits cover finding the worn part, replacing it from stock on the truck, or installing a new faucet you’ve chosen, usually in a single trip.
Why Faucets Drip (and What Actually Fixes Them)
Every faucet has a small part inside that opens and closes the water. When that part wears, water sneaks past it. Which part it is depends on the kind of faucet you have.
- Compression faucets (two handles you crank tight) use rubber washers that harden and crack over time.
- Cartridge faucets use a plastic or brass cartridge that can wear, crack or get jammed with mineral deposits.
- Ball faucets (common single-handle kitchen models) have springs, seats and a rotating ball that can leak from the spout or the base.
- Ceramic disc faucets are very durable, but the seals around the discs can fail and debris can scratch the disc surfaces.
A drip from the spout usually means a worn washer, seat or cartridge. A leak around the handle or base usually means an O-ring. Leaky faucet repair is often a matter of the right replacement part and 30 minutes of careful work. We carry common cartridges, washers and O-rings on our trucks, and we’ll match brand-specific parts when we can.
When Repair Stops Making Sense
We’ll always tell you if a fix is worth it. Replacement is usually the better option when the faucet body is corroded, the finish is flaking, parts are no longer made, or you’ve already repaired it more than once. If a leak is showing up under the sink or behind the wall instead of at the spout, we’ll track down the source with our leak detection service.
Low Water Pressure at One Faucet
If one faucet runs weak while the others are fine, the problem is almost always right there at the fixture. The most common causes:
- A clogged aerator at the tip of the spout
- Mineral scale inside the cartridge or valve
- A kinked or failing supply line under the sink
- A partially closed shutoff valve
Hard water is the usual reason scale builds up this fast. If you keep seeing white crust on your aerators and showerheads, it may be worth adding a water softener or filtration system so new fixtures last longer.
Kitchen Faucet Replacement in 21133
The kitchen faucet gets more use than any other fixture in the house. A lot of kitchens around Randallstown still have the two-handle faucet that came with the house in the 1970s or 80s, or a single-lever model that’s been limping along for years.
Popular Kitchen Upgrades
Here’s what we install most often:
- Pull-down and pull-out sprayers that make filling pots and rinsing dishes much easier
- Single-handle faucets that are simpler to use with wet or full hands
- Touch or touchless faucets for busy family kitchens
- High-arc spouts that clear big pots and deep sinks
- Faucets with a matching soap dispenser or side sprayer using the extra holes in your sink
What Installation Involves
We shut off the water, remove the old faucet and clean the sink deck. We check the shutoff valves under the sink, because in older kitchens those are often frozen in place, and we’ll replace them if they won’t turn. New supply lines go on, the faucet goes in tight and level, and we run it and check every connection before we pack up. If the sink drains slowly while we’re under there, our Randallstown drain cleaning team can clear it on the same visit.
Bathroom Faucets and Showers
Bathroom faucets tend to last longer than kitchen ones, but they wear the same way. We repair and replace:
- Single-hole, centerset and widespread lavatory faucets
- Tub spouts and diverters that won’t switch to the shower
- Shower valve cartridges that drip or won’t hold temperature
A faucet swap is a quick way to freshen a bathroom. If you’re thinking bigger, we also handle the plumbing side of bathroom remodeling in Randallstown, from moving fixtures to updating old supply lines.
A running tank is often the next fix people ask about while we’re in the bathroom. We can take care of toilet repairs on the same trip.
Outdoor Spigots and Frost-Free Hose Bibs
Randallstown winters bring hard freezes, and outdoor spigots take the worst of it. A standard hose bib holds water right at the outside wall. If a hose is left connected or the line isn’t drained, that water freezes, expands and splits the pipe. You often don’t find out until spring, when you turn it on and water sprays inside the wall or into the basement.
Why We Recommend Frost-Free Hose Bibs
A frost-free hose bib closes the valve several inches inside the heated part of the house, so the water in the exposed section drains out when you shut it off. On a big, garden-heavy lot where the spigot gets daily use all summer, that’s a smart upgrade. A few simple habits help too:
- Disconnect hoses before the first freeze
- Close the interior shutoff for older spigots and open the outside tap to drain it
- Call us if the spigot drips after it’s shut off, since that often means an internal crack
Bringing Your Own Faucet?
Plenty of homeowners pick out a faucet at a showroom or online and just want it installed right. We’re happy to install fixtures you supply. Before you buy, check how many holes your sink or counter has and the spread between them. If you’re not sure, send a photo to our office and we’ll help you figure out what fits.
Why Call a Master Plumber for a Faucet?
It’s a fair question. Faucets look like a DIY job, and sometimes they are. But a cross-threaded supply line or an overtightened fitting can leak slowly into a cabinet for months. The plumber under your sink has spent more than ten years doing this, keeps the cabinet and floor protected, and wipes everything down when the faucet is in. A small faucet job gets the same attention as a big one, start to finish. You can see everything else we handle on our main plumbing services page.
Schedule a Faucet Fix
A dripping bath faucet, a tired kitchen sprayer or a spigot that split last winter: we’ll get it working like it should. Schedule a faucet fix at (410) 833-2188, or request an appointment online. Drips and stuck handles can frequently be handled the day you call if we have an opening.
Faucet Repair and Installation FAQs
Can a dripping faucet be repaired or does it need to be replaced?
Most dripping faucets can be repaired by replacing a worn washer, O-ring or cartridge. Replacement makes more sense if the faucet body is corroded or parts are no longer available. A plumber can usually tell you which it is within a few minutes of looking at it.
How long does it take a plumber to install a kitchen faucet?
A typical kitchen faucet installation takes about one to two hours. Seized shutoff valves under the sink add a bit of time. Either way, you’ll usually be using the new faucet the same afternoon.
Why did my outdoor faucet burst in the winter?
Outdoor faucets burst when water trapped in the pipe freezes and expands, usually because a hose was left attached. The crack is often inside the wall, so you may not notice until you use it in spring. Installing a frost-free hose bib and disconnecting hoses in the fall helps prevent it.
Will you install a faucet I bought myself?
Yes, we install faucets that homeowners buy on their own. It helps to check that the faucet matches the number of holes in your sink or countertop before you buy. We bring new supply lines and any shutoff valves needed to finish the job.
Caring Technicians
Our technicians know how to treat your home with respect. We come prepared with booties and drop cloths to protect your home.
Always On Time
Your time is very important to us. We strive to show up at your home when we say we will fully equipped for the job.
We Focus On You
You're our first priority! We will not leave you to service a new or bigger job. We focus on outstanding customer service!
Locally Owned
We don't just work here, we live here, too! We know all of the homes in the areas we serve and are familiar with your home's model.