Most people have dealt with a bathroom faucet that won’t turn on, or that doesn’t have the water pressure they want, but it can be very surprising when you go to turn off the faucet, and the water continues to run.
It seems like you should always be able to turn something off, but there are some situations that do actually prevent the faucet from turning off correctly.
If you’re dealing with one of these issues, it may be time to look for local residential and commercial plumbing services.
Here are a few reasons why you may not be able to shut off the water in your bathroom.
The Valves Need to Be Replaced
If it’s the faucet in your bathtub that won’t shut off, the problem may be the valves. These valves are what control the flow of water, and if they’ve worn out, the only way to deal with this issue is to replace them.
You’ll need to shut off the water in order to get the faucet to shut off. Then you’ll need to contact a repair service to come out. They will have to take the faucet apart to get to the valves in the wall, then put it back together.
If your sink faucet is the issue, it’s possible that the valves are also to blame. These valves are smaller than those you’ll find in your bathtub, but they operate the same way. You’ll need to have them replaced before the water will stop running.
The Handle Is Damaged
Another reason the water won’t shut off may have to do with damage to the faucet handle. The inside of the handle connects to what’s called a faucet stem. This stem, in turn, is what allows water to flow up through the faucet.
If the handle is worn or cracked, it won’t be able to properly grip the stem, which means it won’t be able to turn it. Depending on your bathroom design, this may be simple or somewhat more difficult to check.
Basic bathroom faucets with two handles or knobs are easy enough—remove the handle or knob to check for damage or wear. For faucets that only use one lever or that are more modern in design, though, it can be a little more difficult to quickly determine if damage and wear are the problems or not.
Repair or Replace?
Replacing a bathroom faucet isn’t a huge task. If you know the faucet is fairly old, it’s likely a better solution to have it completely replaced than to try to repair it. If the handle of an older faucet is cracked, it may not even be possible to find a matching handle to install.
This is also a great time to do a small bathroom remodel and replace a faucet you don’t particularly like. Some bathroom faucet sets are very affordable, although there are certainly some that are more expensive. Keep in mind that, more often than not, you will let what you pay for.
Koval Building Supply
The bottom line is that it depends on what you’re looking for and what is causing the faucet to remain running. Valves are typically very cheap, and a professional won’t take long to replace them.
Replacing faucets is also a fairly quick job, but you do have to factor in the cost of the new hardware. For more information or assistance repairing a bathroom faucet that won’t turn off, contact Koval Building Supply in West Virginia today.
