Water that will not shut off needs action now
A valve that will not close can fill a cabinet, soak a wall or flood a bathroom in minutes. Our 24/7 line is open at night and on weekends, and you can start the fix while you call.
- Close the small angle stop under the sink by turning it clockwise.
- If that stop is broken or spraying, shut off the main water valve for the house.
- Open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain pressure from the pipes.
- Move cabinet contents and towels, and keep power cords out of the wet area.
- Call (855) 575-2890 and tell us which fixture failed and whether the main is off.
Why hard water kills faucet cartridges in Marana
Town of Marana figures show hardness ranging from roughly 3 to 14 grains per gallon depending on the neighborhood. Gladden Farms averages about 9, while the Airport system runs 13 to 15. The Town says this poses no health risk, but the minerals leave scale on faucets and fixtures.
Scale hardens inside a single-handle cartridge and on the rubber seats of a ceramic disc. The handle gets stiff, the flow drops, and one day the valve will not seal. Aerators clog the same way, so a weak stream is often scale and not a pressure problem.
If your faucet fails after only a few years, hard water is the usual reason. A new cartridge costs less than a new faucet in most cases, but a faucet with heavy scale on the body may be worth replacing.
Faucet running and will not stop?
Close the stop or the main, then call our 24/7 line.
Faucet and valve problems we are called for
Each of these has a different cause, and a different fix.
Will not shut off
The handle moves but the water keeps running. The cartridge, ball or seat is worn or jammed with scale.
Drip from the spout
A steady drip wastes water and stains the basin. Worn seats and washers are the usual cause.
Leak under the sink
Water pooling in the cabinet may come from a supply line, a stop valve or the faucet base. Dry each part and watch which one wets first.
Handle leaks or wobbles
Water around the handle base means a worn cartridge or O-ring. Do not keep tightening.
Shower or tub valve stuck
A shower that stays warm after you turn it off, or a tub that drips from the spout, points to the valve behind the wall.
A broken or burst supply valve
The small stop valve under a sink or toilet is easy to ignore. Old multi-turn stops can seize, and a stop that has not moved in years may crack when you try to close it. If one sprays, the main is the only way to stop it.
Replacing a failed stop usually means closing the main, draining the line and swapping the valve and supply tube. Most newer Marana homes are on slabs, so lines run through attics or walls, and a stuck stop on a wall line may need an access cut. We tell you which before we start.
If the leak is from a pipe inside the wall and not the valve itself, see our burst pipe repair page. A wet wall or ceiling is a different problem from a leaking stop.
Cartridge, faucet or valve: what actually needs fixing
The cheapest repair is the right one only if the rest of the fixture is sound.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Will not shut off | Worn or scaled cartridge or seat | Replace the cartridge, or the faucet if the body is damaged |
| Weak stream | Clogged aerator or scaled inlet | Clean or replace the aerator and check the supply lines |
| Leak at base | Worn O-ring or loose mounting | Reseat or replace the faucet |
| Shower runs after shutoff | Failed valve cartridge | Replace the cartridge or the valve body |
| Under-sink spray | Cracked stop or supply line | Replace the stop and supply tube |
Parts for older or imported faucets can be hard to find, which can tip the choice toward a new fixture.
Shower valves, tub spouts and drains
A shower valve sits inside the wall, so a repair may mean opening a panel or tile. We check what access exists before quoting. A tub spout that drips while the shower runs can also be a diverter problem, not a valve failure.
Slow shower and tub drains are a related call. Hair and soap are the usual blockage, and our drain cleaning service clears the line when a store-bought remedy does not.
What to check before we arrive
A few details help us bring the right parts.
- Note the faucet brand, if it is printed on the handle or base.
- Take a photo of the faucet and the pipes under the sink.
- Check whether the angle stop turns, and say if it is stuck.
- Look for scale, white crust or green stains around the connections.
- Say whether the water is on or off at the main.
When the faucet is not the real problem
Low pressure at every faucet in the house usually points past the fixture. A sudden drop with no change at the sink may be the supply line or a pressure issue upstream, and our water service line repair page explains that case.
In the Picture Rocks area, water runs about 12 grains per gallon on average, so cartridges and aerators scale quickly there too. Faucets and their supply stops are covered by the plumbing code the Town of Marana adopted, the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with local amendments, which is one more reason to match parts to your fixture rather than forcing a fit.
What drives the cost of a faucet repair
A faucet repair can be a small part or a full fixture swap. The number depends on what is behind the handle.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our emergency line is open 24/7, including nights and weekends. Call (855) 575-2890 and shut off the angle stop or the main while you wait.
Close the small angle stop under the sink. If it will not turn, shut off the main. Then call us so the cartridge or valve can be replaced.
The seat inside the faucet may be pitted with scale. A new washer cannot seal against a rough seat.
Yes. Scale clogs the aerator screen and the small inlet holes. Cleaning or replacing the aerator is a quick check before a plumber is needed.
Yes. The Town's table puts Gladden Farms around 9 grains per gallon on average, and the Picture Rocks system around 12. Cartridges in harder areas scale sooner.
Usually. The cartridge inside the wall valve has failed. Shut off the water to the bathroom if it will not stop.
Yes. We repair when the body is sound and replace when scale, corrosion or availability make repair a poor choice.
Handle spinning, water running?
Close the stop and call (855) 575-2890. We are on call 24/7.
Call (855) 575-2890