Faucets and showers · Greeley, CO
Faucet and shower repair in Greeley, CO: drips, weak flow and worn valves
A faucet that drips overnight, a shower that will not shut off, or a spout with weak flow in a Greeley, CO home usually points to a worn part inside the fixture. Some are quick repairs. Others mean replacing the fixture, or opening the wall to reach a shower valve. This page helps you sort the symptom and decide between repair and replacement. Call now to connect with a local plumber for faucet and shower repair in Greeley.
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Faucets and showersDrips, weak flow, repair or replace
Symptoms
Faucet repair: drips, sprays and weak flow
What the water does tells you where to look. Three patterns cover most calls.
A steady drip
Water drips from the spout when the handle is off. The cartridge, washer or seat inside has worn, so it no longer shuts the water off fully.
Water at the handle or base
Water seeps from around the handle or collects under the faucet. A worn seal or O-ring is a common cause, and a loose connection underneath is another.
Weak or uneven flow
The stream is thin, sprays sideways or splits. A clogged aerator or shower head is the first suspect. A partly closed stop under the sink is another.
Hot or cold will not mix
The handle is stiff, the temperature swings, or only one side works. A worn cartridge or valve can cause it.
Shower drips after it is off
The shower head drips, or the tub spout runs while the shower is on. The valve behind the wall may be worn, or the diverter that switches between tub and shower.
Loud or banging pipes
A bang when you shut a faucet can point to pressure in the lines rather than the fixture. Water pressure problems
Close the stop under the sink to pause a leaking faucet. Each sink usually has two small stops, one for hot and one for cold. A shower or tub often has none, so turn off the main shutoff if water will not stop.
What is inside
Faucet types and the parts that wear
Faucets look alike outside and work differently inside. The type decides which part is replaced.
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CompressionTwo handles, older style
A rubber washer presses against a seat to stop the flow. The washer wears and the seat can pit, so the faucet drips.
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CartridgeCommon
A cartridge slides inside the body and controls flow and temperature. When it wears, it is usually swapped as a whole part.
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Ball or ceramic discSingle handle
Single-handle faucets use a ball or ceramic discs with small seals. Wear shows up as a drip, a leak at the handle, or hard-to-set temperature.
Repair kits and cartridges are made for specific models. A plumber matches the part to the faucet, and an older or discontinued faucet may not have one.
Faucet dripping or shower valve acting up? Call now to connect with a local plumber for faucet and shower repair in Greeley.
Call (970) 633-4799Showers and tubs
The shower valve behind the wall
Most of a shower valve sits inside the wall. What you see is the handle and a trim plate. Behind it is a valve body with a cartridge, which is the part that usually wears.
Some valves can be reached by removing the handle and trim. Others need access from behind the wall, such as a panel, or cutting into the wall or tile. Ask how the plumber plans to reach the valve and who repairs the wall or tile afterward.
A stain on a ceiling or wall near a shower can mean a leak behind it, not a worn fixture. That is a hidden leak, not a faucet repair. Leak detection explains the signs and how a plumber finds the source.
Buildup
Scale on spouts and shower heads
North Dakota State University Extension says hard water leaves a whitish buildup on faucet and shower-head ends. That buildup can clog the small holes in a shower head or the screen in an aerator, and flow drops.
This page states no hardness level for Greeley. For more on hard water and treatment options, see hard water in Greeley. If flow is weak at every fixture, not just one, the cause is likely beyond the fixture: water pressure problems.
Repair or replace
Fix the faucet, or put in a new one
A drip is easy to put off. The question is whether to repair the old fixture or replace it.
A repair usually makes sense when
- The faucet is in good shape and a part has worn
- The right cartridge or kit is available
- The finish and body are sound
Replacement is worth a look when
- The body is cracked, corroded or pitted
- Parts are no longer made, or repairs keep coming back
- You want a different style, a pull-down sprayer or more sink holes
- The shower valve is old and the wall is open anyway
This page gives no prices or lifespans. Ask a plumber to compare a repair with a new fixture, and to say what each includes.
Installing a new faucet
What replacing a faucet involves
This is a general outline. The plumber will explain the steps for your fixture.
Water off at the stops
The shutoff stops under the sink are closed. A stop that is stuck or leaks may be replaced at the same visit.
Old faucet removed
The supply lines are disconnected and the faucet is unfastened from beneath the sink. Tight space and old fittings can make this the hardest part.
New faucet set and connected
The faucet is mounted, the supply lines are attached, and any sprayer or pop-up drain is connected.
Flushed and checked
The water is turned on and run for a while, and every joint is checked for drips.
A faucet that goes into a kitchen sink with a disposal or dishwasher is near other plumbing. Garbage disposal repair and replacement covers the appliance under the sink.
Before you call
What to have ready
A few details help the plumber bring the right parts. A photo of the fixture and any label or brand name on it helps most.
Tell the plumber
- Which fixture: kitchen, bathroom, tub or shower, and how many handles
- What it does: drips, sprays, leaks at the handle, weak flow or hard to set
- Whether hot, cold or both are affected
- Whether the stops under the sink close
- Whether there is a stain, soft spot or damp wall near it
FAQ
Faucet and shower repair in Greeley: common questions
Why does my faucet drip?
A worn washer, seat or cartridge inside no longer shuts the water off fully. The part that wore depends on the faucet type. A plumber can usually replace it, if a matching part is available.
Why is the flow weak at only one faucet?
Check the aerator on the spout end first, since buildup and grit can clog its screen. A partly closed stop under the sink is next. If every fixture is weak, the cause is likely elsewhere. See water pressure problems.
Does hard water cause faucet and shower problems?
It can leave a whitish buildup on faucet and shower-head ends, according to North Dakota State University Extension. That can clog aerators and shower heads. This site gives no hardness level for Greeley. Hard water in Greeley
Should I repair or replace a leaking faucet?
If the faucet is sound and a part has worn, a repair often works. A cracked or corroded body, parts that are no longer made, or repeated repairs point to replacement. A plumber can compare the two.
How does a plumber get to a shower valve?
Some valves can be reached by removing the handle and trim. Others need a panel behind the wall or an opening cut into the wall or tile. Ask how the valve will be reached and who repairs the wall or tile afterward.
What should I do while waiting for a plumber?
For a faucet, close the shutoff valve under the sink. For a shower valve that will not shut off, close the main shutoff if water is spreading. Note which fixture is affected and whether hot, cold or both are involved.
Call about the faucet or shower
Say which fixture it is, what the water does, and whether a shower valve may be involved.
Reviewed October 2026