A faucet that will not shut off, or a supply line spraying under the sink, is an emergency in the plainest sense. Our 24/7 dispatch answers at any hour. While you wait, reach under the fixture, find the small oval-handled valve on the pipe called the angle stop, and turn it clockwise until the water stops. Then call (503) 974-3329 and tell us what you see.
Most faucet trouble is smaller than that. A drip, a loose handle, a spout that sputters or sprays sideways. Those are usually worn rubber parts and mineral buildup, and a licensed plumber can often fix them in one visit. We offer same-day appointments when available, and you get a clear price before work starts.
Water Spraying Under the Sink Right Now
Start with the angle stops. Most sinks have two, hot and cold, on short pipes rising from the wall or floor. Turn each clockwise by hand. Skip the pliers on a stiff stop, because an old stem can snap and turn a spray into a flood.
If the stops will not close, go to the main shutoff valve where the water line enters the house. In Forest Grove, never close the valve at the city water meter. City policy says customers and contractors do not touch the meter. If you need the City to shut water off there, call Public Works at 503-992-3258. If a meter or line breaks after someone closes it, the repair is on the homeowner.
Water coming out of a wall behind a tub or shower valve, or running onto a ceiling below, is a same-day call at any hour. Shut the main valve at the house first, then phone (503) 974-3329.
Which Kind of Faucet Is Failing
The fix depends on the mechanism inside the handle. Newer fixtures mostly use a cartridge or ceramic disc. Older ones press rubber washers against a brass seat. The table matches what you see to what a plumber usually finds.
| What you notice | Likely cause | Usual repair |
|---|---|---|
| Steady drip from the spout. | Worn washer, seat or cartridge seal. | Replace the washer, seat or cartridge. |
| Water pooling around the base. | Failed O-rings on the spout body. | Replace the O-rings, clean the seat. |
| Weak flow from one side only. | Clogged aerator or a partly closed stop. | Clean the aerator, open the stop fully. |
| Hot and cold mixing at the spout. | Cracked cartridge or worn check parts. | Replace the cartridge. |
| Drip under the sink only when in use. | Loose or worn supply line. | Replace the supply line. |
Why a Drip Is Worth Fixing This Week
EPA WaterSense reports that the average household leaks more than 9,300 gallons of water a year. A faucet drip is a small share of that. But it also tells you a seal is already worn, and a steady drip can groove a brass seat until a cheap cartridge swap becomes a new fixture. Shut the angle stops tonight and book a same-day appointment when one is open.
Faucet still running or spraying? Tell the dispatcher what you can see and we will line up a licensed plumber.
Call (503) 974-3329Tub and Shower Valves Behind the Wall
A tub spout that drips after the shower is on, or a shower that never quite shuts off, usually points to the valve cartridge inside the wall. The handle and trim plate come off, the cartridge pulls out, and a new one goes in. A plumber often identifies the valve brand first so the right part is on hand.
Sometimes the valve body is corroded, or the wall has to be opened. Altering piping inside walls, ceilings or floors needs a plumbing permit from the City of Forest Grove Community Development office at 503-992-3229. A plain cartridge swap does not change the piping. Replacing a whole valve behind tile can. We tell you which applies before work starts.
Cost guides such as This Old House report that a typical tub or shower cartridge replacement averages $300 and ranges from $200 to $400. Tile repair, if needed, is separate.
Supply Lines and Stops: The Hardware You Cannot See
The braided lines that connect the faucet to the angle stops wear out. Rubber inside the braid hardens, nuts corrode, and a line can split without warning, which is when a cabinet turns into a burst pipe call. Lines more than about a decade old are worth replacing whenever the faucet is open.
Angle stops fail too. A stop that drips at the stem, or will not turn, has to be replaced before the faucet can be serviced. That means shutting the main off for a short stretch, so run the cold tap once afterward to purge air from the line.
Forest Grove Houses and the Fixtures in Them
About 48 percent of Forest Grove homes were built before 1980, and 1,030 date to 1939 or earlier, according to the 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey. Houses in the Clark and Painter's Woods historic districts south of downtown can still carry original wall-mounted valves, and parts are hard to find. Newer homes in Cornelius, where the median build year is 1992, mostly have cartridge fixtures.
City water comes from the Clear Creek Watershed and the Joint Water Commission supply, and the City reports no lead or galvanized service lines needing replacement. For a hardness question, call the City water treatment team at 503-992-3259, since hardness is not in the City reports. EPA says ideal home pressure runs 45 to 60 psi, and pressure far above that wears faucet seals quickly.
Repair the Faucet or Replace It
Repair makes sense when the body is sound and parts exist. Replacement makes sense when the finish is flaking, the body is cracked, or labor would approach the price of a new fixture. HomeGuide reports $200 to $600 total for faucet replacement, a useful yardstick. A brand new fixture or a moved sink is installation work instead.
You do not need a permit to repair or replace a sink faucet that is not concealed in a wall, or to change a shower head. If the real problem is a running toilet, see toilet repair. If a cabinet never dries out, finding a hidden leak may come before buying parts.
What Faucet Work Costs and Why It Varies
We do not publish one flat faucet price because the fixture decides the job. Portland-area guides from Angi list plumber service call fees of $100 to $250, and your final cost depends on the parts and the time on site. What matters is that you hear a number before the work begins.
Type of faucet
A single-handle kitchen faucet with a cartridge is quicker than a vintage two-handle fixture with seats that must be ground or replaced.
Access
A bathroom vanity with a pedestal sink or a wall-mounted tub valve takes more time than an open kitchen cabinet.
Parts availability
Common cartridges are easy to find. Discontinued parts for older fixtures may mean a replacement faucet instead.
Condition of stops and lines
Seized angle stops or failed supply lines add parts and time, and are smarter to fix in the same visit.
After hours or same-day
Cost guides say after hours calls often cost more, and the price is stated before work starts.
If a faucet or supply line failure has already damaged cabinets or flooring, your homeowner policy may cover the water damage even if it does not cover the faucet. Take photos before you clean up and ask your insurer what documentation they need.
To get a clear price for your fixture, call (503) 974-3329.
Ready to get the faucet sorted out? Call and we will book a licensed plumber.
Call (503) 974-3329