Faucet Repair in Decatur, GA

Why do Decatur faucets seem to need more than a washer?

Because many of them are old. Decatur's median home dates to 1975, about 54% were built before 1980 and roughly 22.7% went up in 1939 or earlier. In close-in neighborhoods such as Oakhurst, a kitchen or bath may still have a two-handle compression faucet, worn brass seats, a multi-turn stop that's frozen open or old stub-outs coming through the wall. A plumber may recommend replacing the faucet and the stops together instead of rebuilding a fixture whose parts are hard to find.

Does Decatur require a permit for plumbing work?

The city requires separate trade permits for plumbing, gas, drainage and sewer work regardless of job value, and all applications go through its Community Core portal. Addresses with a Decatur mailing address outside city limits are permitted by DeKalb County. For a faucet replaced in place, ask the plumber whether the city treats it as permitted work.

Where does Decatur's water come from, and who owns the pipes?

DeKalb County Watershed Management supplies the water, treated from the Chattahoochee River at the Scott Candler plant. DeKalb owns the line from the main through the meter, and the owner is responsible from the meter to the home's plumbing. The county's 'Check your line' inventory lets owners see whether their service line is listed as lead or galvanized, which is worth a look in a house this age.

Unincorporated Decatur-mailing ZIPs extend well beyond the city, so if you're unsure which side of the line you're on, the permit office question is the one to settle first.

If more than one faucet in the house is the same age and brand, it's worth having them all looked at during the same visit, since worn cartridges tend to fail in clusters.

A photo of the faucet, the brand mark on its trim and the valves underneath helps the plumber bring a matching cartridge, which can save a second trip.

Keep an eye on the cabinet floor under a leaking faucet. Particleboard swells quickly, and a slow drip from a supply connector can do more damage than the faucet itself.

Until the plumber arrives, closing the stop valves under the sink is usually enough to stop a drip. If they won't turn, use the main shutoff rather than forcing them.