Aurora CO Plumbers Den
Can a plumber fix a leaky faucet, or does it need replacing?
Usually the faucet can be fixed. A drip from the spout is a worn cartridge, washer or seat, and a leak at the base or handle is an O-ring or a loose packing nut. Replacement makes sense when the faucet is badly corroded, the finish is flaking, the parts are no longer made or the faucet is leaking from the body itself.
| Where it leaks | Usual cause | Repair or replace |
|---|---|---|
| Spout drip | Worn cartridge, washer or valve seat | Repair |
| Handle or base | O-ring or packing nut | Repair |
| Under the sink | Supply line, angle valve or drain joint | Repair the part |
| Cracked body or corroded fixture | Age and hard water scale | Replace |
| Low flow only | Clogged aerator or cartridge | Clean or repair |
Have the plumber name the failed part. A faucet install or replacement is a natural time to replace the supply lines and angle valves too, because those fail on a different schedule and cost little to swap while the sink is empty.
A toilet that keeps running: flapper, fill valve or a hidden leak
When a toilet refills by itself, one of three things is wrong. The flapper at the bottom of the tank does not seal, the fill valve does not shut off or the overflow tube is set too high. A few drops of food coloring in the tank show a flapper leak: if color appears in the bowl without flushing, the flapper is leaking.
Choosing between repair and replacement is simple. Parts for a running toilet are inexpensive and swap in minutes, so repair is the usual choice. Replace the toilet when the bowl is cracked, it leaks at the base, it flushes weakly after the parts are new or you plan a bathroom remodel. A rocking toilet or water at the base points to the wax seal or the closet flange, which means the toilet comes up.
Shower valve will not shut off: what to do now
A shower that will not turn off wastes water and can damage a wall if the valve is failing. Do now: close the bathroom’s shutoff if it has one, or shut off the main water valve. Can wait: a slow drip from the head after you turn it off, which is usually a worn cartridge.
The cartridge sits inside the wall and the plumber replaces it through the trim opening. If the valve body is corroded or a model with no parts available, the wall is opened and the valve replaced. If a shower drips through to the room below, treat it like a ceiling stain and suspect the pan, a valve or the drain seal.
Shower stuck on or a toilet that will not stop? Call now.
Call (303) 567-7524Bathtub and bathroom sink: installing, replacing and remodeling
Tub and sink work often starts as a repair and turns into a remodel. A drain that leaks, a tub that is cracked or a vanity that has water damage may lead to replacing the fixture. When walls are open, a plumber can do rough-in work: moving supply and drain lines, setting a new valve and testing before the walls close.
For a remodel, ask the plumber to confirm the drain size and slope, the vent connection and the location of the shutoff valves before the finish work begins. A written list of fixtures and rough-in points keeps the tile and cabinet crews from boxing in a valve.
Kitchen sink, supply lines and shutoff valves
Under a kitchen sink, three things fail most: the supply line connectors, the angle valve that shuts them off and the trap joints. A valve that will not close is a problem: a plumber swaps it out instead of forcing it, since a valve that snaps leaves the sink with no shutoff. Braided stainless lines are a common replacement and are easy to swap during a faucet change.
Hardness in Aurora’s 2026 water report averages 136 ppm, near 8 grains per gallon (water quality report). Water that hard leaves scale on aerators and shower heads. Soaking an aerator in vinegar often restores flow, and heavy scale on a fixture is a reason to ask about the water filtration page.
Also covered: appliance hookups, bidets and outdoor faucets
A single call can also connect a washer, dishwasher or ice maker and install a bidet seat. Specialty installs, such as an ADU bathroom, a wet bar, a laundry room, a tub-to-shower conversion, a toilet relocation or a dual-flush toilet installation, need a rough-in plan. For an outdoor faucet or hose bib, disconnect hoses before early October, since Denver’s average first freeze falls in that week.
Fixture upgrades, remodels and new construction
Plumbing system installation and plumbing system upgrades often come with a remodel. A bath to shower change needs a tub-to-shower conversion plumbing plan for the drain and valve, dual-flush toilet installation and other energy-efficient plumbing upgrades swap fixtures without touching walls, and renovation plumbing or new construction plumbing is rough-in work done before the walls close. The same plumber can handle pipes, fixtures and installation in one visit if the scope is clear. Before replacing a toilet, inspect toilets for silent leaks: test toilet leaks by adding a few drops of food coloring to the tank and watching the bowl for color without flushing.
Fixture questions
My shower will not shut off. What do I do now?
Close the shutoff for the bathroom if there is one, or the main water valve. A shower that runs can damage the wall behind it.
The plumber replaces the cartridge or the valve. If the drip is slow and the water is off at the valve, it can wait for a scheduled visit.
What causes a toilet to keep running?
Imagine hearing the toilet refill every few minutes with nobody using it. That means the flapper is leaking or the fill valve is not shutting off.
Add food coloring to the tank. Color in the bowl after twenty minutes without flushing confirms the flapper. Parts are quick to replace.
Toilet leak or running toilet: repair the toilet or replace it?
Repair when the parts inside the tank are worn. It is the least expensive choice and is done in one visit.
Replace when the bowl is cracked, the base leaks or the toilet keeps failing. A plumber also replaces the wax seal when a toilet is lifted.
Can a plumber fix a leaky faucet?
Yes. Most faucet leaks come from a worn cartridge, washer or O-ring, and a plumber replaces the part.
If the faucet is corroded or parts are unavailable, replacement is the better choice.