TareaPLUMBING · BURBANK
Leaky faucet repair in Burbank
That steady drip from your kitchen or bathroom faucet isn't just annoying — it's wasting water and money every day it goes unfixed. In Burbank, where many post-war single-family homes still have original plumbing fixtures and galvanized supply lines, worn-out internal parts are a common culprit. A leaky faucet repair typically takes 1-2 hours and addresses the issue at its source rather than just muffling the sound.
This job runs $135 to $220 in Burbank, based on a $94/hour rate and a typical job length of 1-2 hours. The lower end usually covers a straightforward washer or O-ring swap, while the higher end reflects faucets with corroded valve seats or original hardware that takes more time to safely disassemble.
Common causes
- Worn rubber washers or O-rings inside the faucet body harden and crack over decades, especially in original fixtures from the 1940s-1960s era common in Burbank.
- Corroded or mineral-scaled valve seats prevent the faucet from sealing fully when shut off.
- A loose or degraded cartridge in newer faucet replacements can develop leaks even if the rest of the fixture is older.
- High water pressure common in some Burbank neighborhoods accelerates wear on internal seals.
- Loose packing nuts or a worn-out stem can let water seep past the handle even when the faucet is off.
What a pro does
- Shuts off the water supply to the fixture and relieves pressure before opening anything up.
- Disassembles the faucet handle and body to inspect washers, O-rings, cartridges, and valve seats for wear or corrosion.
- Replaces the specific worn part — often a washer, cartridge, or O-ring — matching it to the faucet's make and age.
- Reassembles the faucet, checks for smooth handle operation, and turns the water back on to test for leaks under pressure.
- Inspects nearby shutoff valves and supply lines for the same wear pattern, since original plumbing in older Burbank homes often shows corrosion in more than one spot.
Do it yourself, or call a pro?
If you're comfortable turning off a shutoff valve and have replaced a washer or cartridge before, a simple drip can sometimes be a DIY fix with the right parts. But in homes with original plumbing, corroded valves or brittle old pipe threads can crack or strip when disturbed, turning a small leak into a bigger water damage problem — that's when it's worth calling a pro instead of pushing further.
Questions
Why is my faucet still dripping right after I tightened the handle?
Tightening the handle doesn't fix worn internal parts — if a washer, O-ring, or cartridge has degraded, water will keep seeping past it regardless of how tight the handle is turned.
Is a dripping faucet actually worth fixing, or can I just ignore it?
A slow drip can waste a significant amount of water over months and, in older homes, sometimes signals a valve or seal problem that gets worse over time, so it's worth addressing rather than living with it indefinitely.
My home still has original plumbing from the 1950s — will that make the repair harder?
It can. Original fixtures and valves in Burbank homes of that era are often more corroded or brittle, which sometimes means extra care during disassembly, but a pro will account for that when working on the fixture.
Prices are estimates for Burbank and depend on what the job turns out to involve. Tarea sets the labor price before you hire, so you know it up front.