Faucet will not shut off? Close the supply stops
A faucet that runs at full flow, or sprays from the base, is an emergency, and our line takes calls 24/7 in Dania Beach. Open the cabinet and find the two small supply stops under the sink. Turn each one clockwise by hand. Hot is normally the left one, and cold the right.
If a stop spins without slowing the water, or leaks when you touch it, go to the main shutoff at the house and close it. Then open the lowest faucet to drain the pressure. Set a bucket under the trap and keep clear of outlets inside the cabinet. If a pipe in the wall is the source, that moves into burst pipe repair.
A stop valve that will not close is a repair in its own right, and it is often why a small faucet job turns into a bigger one. Tell us on the call whether the stops did anything, so the plumber arrives with valves as well as a cartridge.
Which faucet do you have, and which part is failing?
Four designs cover almost every faucet in a Dania Beach home. Each one fails in its own way, so the first job is to name the type and the symptom. Photos of the handle and the spout help us on the phone, and we cannot tell you the exact part without seeing it.
| Faucet type | How to spot it | Part that usually fails | What you notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression | Two handles that take several turns to close | Rubber seat washer and brass seat | Steady drip from the spout, harder to close over time |
| Cartridge | One or two handles, smooth motion | Cartridge or its O-rings | Drip at the spout or water at the handle base |
| Ball | Single lever on a rounded cap | Springs, seats and cam | Leak at the base and uneven temperature |
| Ceramic disc | Single lever, firm quarter-turn feel | Disc cartridge seals | Handle will not shut off fully, spurting at the spout |
The faucet drips even with the handle off
A drip is not a small problem on a water bill. EPA WaterSense says a faucet dripping once per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons a year, which is over 180 showers. It also reports that 9 percent of homes have leaks wasting 50 gallons or more per day.
On a compression faucet the fix is a new seat washer and sometimes a reground seat. On a cartridge or disc faucet we replace the cartridge as a unit, because the seals inside cannot be bought alone. Either way we flush the line and run the faucet through hot and cold before we leave. If it keeps dripping after that, Call (954) 697-4920 and we will book the repair.
Weak flow or a spray that goes sideways
The aerator is the screen at the spout tip, and it catches grit before the sink does. When it clogs, flow drops or splits. Unscrew it with a cloth around the pliers, rinse the screen and check for a rubber washer.
After a water main repair, sediment can lodge in aerators and cartridge ports. Dania Beach had a main break near SW 54th Street and 40th Avenue in February 2026 that put a boil advisory on 41 residents, and any repair like that can stir up debris. Run the cold tap for a few minutes, then clean the aerator.
Dania Beach softens its water with lime and nanofiltration, so heavy scale is less common than in raw aquifer water. If the screen is crusted white anyway, tell us, because it may point to a softener or a heater problem.
Tub and Shower Trouble: Valve, Showerhead and Slow Drain
A showerhead that drips after the water is off often has a worn cartridge or valve behind the wall, and a tub spout that still runs after the handle is closed points the same way. A showerhead that sprays in odd directions usually has mineral scale in the holes. Soaking it in vinegar is a common first step.
If the tub faucet will not shut off, there may be no small stop valve to close, so use the home's main valve and call. A shower or tub that drains slowly is usually hair and soap caught in the trap or the strainer. Pull the strainer and clear it, and call us if the water still stands.
What to check first when water is under the sink
Water in the cabinet could come from the faucet, the supply lines, the stops or the drain. Wipe everything dry and run the faucet for a minute with a paper towel under each joint.
- Touch the paper towel under each supply stop and each braided line. The first wet spot is your leak.
- Look for white or green crust at a fitting. That marks a slow leak that has been going for weeks.
- Check the drain trap under the sink. A leak there only shows when the basin is draining.
- Close both stops. If the leak continues, it is the faucet body or the line between the wall and the stop.
- Move stored items out of the cabinet and note whether the cabinet floor is swollen or soft.
Old shutoff valves and what happens when you turn them
The median Dania Beach home was built in 1977, according to the American Community Survey. Original multi-turn stops in houses that age may not have moved in decades, and they sometimes weep at the stem or fail to seal when turned. A stop that has never been exercised is the most likely part to fail during a faucet job.
We replace tired stops with quarter-turn ball valves and new braided stainless supply lines. That way the next leak can be shut off in a second, and you are not left reaching for the main. We work the same way for customers in Pembroke Park, close to Dania Beach.
Replace the faucet or keep repairing it
Repair makes sense when the body is sound and the part is cheap, and replacement makes sense when the finish is gone, the body is corroded or parts are no longer made. A faucet that has been rebuilt twice and drips again is usually done. If you are choosing a new one, read the box for the mounting hole count and the supply connection size.
New installs and fixture upgrades also fit under plumbing installation, and we can run both jobs on the same visit. For a hidden source behind a wall, leak detection finds it without opening the drywall first.
Installing a new faucet: what the plumber does
Replacing a faucet is more than hand-tightening two nuts. The steps are the same in a kitchen or bath, and the order matters.
- Close both supply stops and open the faucet to release pressure.
- Disconnect the supply lines and remove the old mounting nuts with a basin wrench.
- Clean the sink deck, set the new gasket and seat the faucet.
- Connect new braided lines to quarter-turn stops.
- Open the stops slowly, clear the aerator by running water with it removed, then replace it.
- Check every joint with a dry paper towel after five minutes.
Faucet repair versus replacement: published price bands
National published guides put faucet replacement at about $162 to $364, and Florida prices vary. Labor alone for a basic swap is listed at $260 to $480, and up to $1,600 for a complex install. A simple cartridge or washer repair usually costs less than a replacement.
We quote the repair once the plumber sees the faucet type and the stops.
What moves the price
- Faucet type. A cartridge swap is quicker than rebuilding a ball faucet with springs and seats.
- Condition of the stops. A seized stop adds a valve replacement before the faucet work can start.
- Fixture choice. A basic faucet and a wall-mounted or touchless model are priced very differently.
- Sink and counter. Stone counters and tight vanities slow the job and raise labor.
- Night or weekend call. Ask on the call whether nights, weekends or holidays are priced differently.
| Work | Published range |
|---|---|
| Faucet replacement, installed | $162 to $364 (HomeAdvisor, national) |
| Labor for a basic faucet swap | $260 to $480 (HomeAdvisor), complex installs up to $1,600 |
A faucet that suddenly lets go and floods a kitchen is usually treated as sudden and accidental water damage. A slow drip behind a cabinet for months may be argued as gradual seepage, and policies differ. Photograph the damage and ask your insurer before you clean up.
A photo of the faucet and the stops under it tells us most of what we need. Call (954) 697-4920 for a real number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle faucet repair emergencies at night or on weekends in Dania?
Yes. Our dispatch line is open 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. A faucet that will not shut off is treated as an active leak. We cannot promise an arrival time by phone, but we will tell you which valves to close while you wait. Call (954) 697-4920 and say what the faucet is doing.
Why won't my faucet shut off even with the handle fully down?
On a single-lever faucet the cartridge or disc has worn, so the seal no longer closes. On a two-handle faucet the seat washer is cut or the seat is pitted. Close the supply stops under the sink and call. Cranking harder only breaks the stem.
Is a dripping faucet worth calling about at night?
A drip that stays a drip can wait for the morning. Spraying water, a base leak that fills the cabinet or a faucet that cannot be shut off should not. If you are unsure, call and describe the water flow.
Can you install a faucet I bought myself?
Yes, in most cases. Check that the box matches your sink's hole count and that the supply size fits. We cannot guarantee a product we did not supply, but we do test every joint after the install.
I manage a rental property. Who approves the work?
Owners or managers normally approve the repair cost. For an active leak we can stop the water first and then coordinate the repair with your manager. Tell us who to contact when you call.
The hot side drips and the cold side does not. Why?
Hot water wears seats and seals faster, so one side often fails first. If the heater is running very hot, that wears them faster still. Tell us about both when you call and we will check the faucet and the temperature setting.
Can you repair a dripping outdoor spigot?
Yes, an outdoor faucet that drips at the spout or the handle is a faucet repair like any other. Tell us where it is mounted and whether the leak is at the spout, the handle or inside the wall, because a leak inside the wall changes the job. Close the home's main valve if water is spraying.
A laundry sink or washer valve is leaking. Is that a faucet job?
It can be. Supply valves and hoses at a laundry sink or washer box fail the same way as a kitchen supply stop. Close the valve if it turns, close the main valve if it does not, then call us and tell us where the water is.
Code reference: plumbing work in Florida falls under the Florida Building Code, Plumbing (8th Edition, 2023), which is based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC). Ask the Dania Beach Building Division whether your job needs a permit.