Faucet & Sink Repair in Cerritos, CA

Faucet problems in Cerritos homes

A dripping faucet is the most common fixture call in any residential market, and Cerritos is no different. The drip is almost always the internal sealing element: a worn cartridge, a degraded O-ring, a pitted ceramic disc, or a ball faucet seat that mineral scale has etched enough to prevent a clean shut. In Cerritos, hard groundwater at 280 to 300 parts per million accelerates that process. Cartridges in hard water areas accumulate scale on their seating surfaces faster than in soft water regions, and the result is a drip that develops earlier in the fixture’s life.

Reduced flow is the second most frequent complaint. The aerator at the faucet tip, the showerhead, or both are restricting water because mineral deposits have partially or fully clogged the screen. Aerator cleaning or replacement is a simple repair that restores full flow without replacing the faucet itself. In Cerritos, a complete aerator replacement is often better than cleaning because the scale has bonded to the screen material.

Leaks at the base of the faucet or under the sink at supply connections are the third category. These involve either failed cartridge O-rings that allow water to leak around the faucet body, or supply line connections and angle stops that have deteriorated.

IMAGE: Plumber replacing kitchen faucet cartridge in Cerritos home, hard water scale visible on old cartridge being removed

Hard water and faucet wear in Cerritos

The connection between Cerritos water hardness and faucet component wear is direct. Calcium and magnesium in the water react with the metal surfaces and rubber components inside a faucet over years of use. On cartridges, scale forms on the ceramic or plastic seating surfaces and acts as a fine abrasive during operation. On aerators, scale physically blocks the screen openings. On brass ball faucet seats, mineral deposits pit the surface that the rubber seat washer needs to seal against.

The visible result is scale on the outside of the faucet around the base and on the aerator tip. The less visible result is the internal wear that causes the drip. Installing a water softener at the point of entry to the house addresses both: the external scale problem and the accelerated internal component wear. For homeowners who want to address the source of the faucet wear rather than continue replacing cartridges every few years, the water softener page has more detail on what the right system looks like for Cerritos water conditions.

IMAGE: Clogged faucet aerator with calcium scale from Cerritos hard water, screen fully blocked by white mineral deposits

Types of faucet repairs we perform

Cartridge replacement is the most common faucet repair. We identify the faucet make and model, source the correct OEM or quality aftermarket cartridge, and replace the failed unit. Most cartridge replacements restore full function and stop the drip permanently until the new cartridge reaches end of life.

Ball faucet rebuild for single-handle ball-type faucets involves replacing the ball, cam, seats, springs, and O-rings as a kit. The individual components are small and inexpensive; replacing the full kit at once avoids a return call when a second component fails shortly after the first is replaced.

Ceramic disc faucet service involves cleaning or replacing the disc cartridge. Scale on the ceramic disc surface is sometimes reversible with careful cleaning; significant etching or cracking requires disc replacement.

Aerator service involves unscrewing the aerator, cleaning the screen if scale is not too severe, or replacing it if the screen material is compromised. We carry common aerator sizes on the truck.

Sink and supply line repairs in Cerritos

Supply line failures in Cerritos homes from the 1960s to 1980s often involve the angle stops (the shutoff valves under the sink or behind the toilet) rather than the flexible supply lines themselves. Original compression-fit angle stops from the original construction can seize open or begin to weep after decades of non-use. We inspect angle stops during faucet service calls and replace them if they are non-functional or show signs of leaking. A non-operational angle stop means we cannot isolate the fixture for future repairs without shutting off the whole-house supply.

P-trap and drain arm leaks under sinks are also common in Cerritos homes. Original slip-joint fittings from the 1970s can crack or weep at the connection points. We service and replace p-trap assemblies, drain arms, and strainer connections as part of sink service calls.

Faucet and sink repair pricing in Cerritos

Cartridge replacement or ball faucet rebuild runs $150 to $300. Aerator service runs $75 to $150. New kitchen or bathroom faucet supply and installation runs $200 to $500 depending on the unit and access. Angle stop replacement runs $100 to $200 per valve. All pricing is confirmed before we begin work.