Emergency Fixture Repair and Installation
Failed supply lines and shutoff valves cause a disproportionate share of household water damage because they fail while nobody is home. Most fixture repairs run $150 to $500. Replacing braided supply lines every five to ten years is cheap insurance against exactly this.
How urgent is this? An actively spraying supply line is an emergency until the water is off, then it is a scheduled repair. A dripping faucet is never an emergency, though it does waste a surprising amount of water.
Typical cost: $150 to $500 nationally. Supply line and valve replacement sits at the low end. Faucet replacement runs mid-range and rises when corroded connections must be cut out. Fixture cost is separate from labor.
Warning signs
- Water spraying or dripping from a supply line connection
- A shutoff valve that will not close, or that leaks when turned
- A faucet dripping continuously or leaking at the base
- A garbage disposal leaking from the housing
- Corrosion or mineral crust visible at a connection
What causes it
- Braided stainless supply lines failing at the crimp, typically after ten years
- Compression and packing failures in old multi-turn shutoff valves
- Worn cartridges, seats, and O-rings in faucets
- Corrosion at dissimilar metal connections
- Overtightened connections cracking plastic nuts and fittings
What to do before the plumber arrives
- Close the local shutoff valve under the fixture, or the main if that valve will not hold
- Place a bucket and towels to contain drips
- Clear the cabinet under the sink so the plumber has access
- Have the new fixture on hand if you are supplying it
- Note whether the shutoff valve itself worked, since a failed stop changes the job
What the plumber will actually do
Isolate the fixture
The local shutoff is closed, or the main if the local valve has failed, which is itself a common finding.
Assess the connection
The plumber determines whether the failure is the supply line, the valve, or the fixture, since they fail in different ways and get replaced differently.
Replace failed components
Supply lines are replaced rather than reused. Old multi-turn stops are typically upgraded to quarter-turn ball valves, which are far more reliable.
Repair or replace the fixture
Cartridges and seals are replaced where the fixture is sound; badly corroded fixtures are replaced outright.
Test under pressure
Water is restored and every connection is checked under full pressure, then rechecked after a few minutes.
Fixture repair FAQ
How often should braided supply lines be replaced?
Every five to ten years, and immediately if you see any corrosion, kinking, or rust at the crimp. They fail suddenly and at full pressure, and a washing machine or toilet supply line that lets go while nobody is home is one of the most common large water damage claims there is. The parts cost a few dollars each.
Why won't my shutoff valve close?
Old multi-turn stops seize from mineral deposits and from never being exercised, and the packing hardens. Forcing one often breaks it open, which turns a small repair into an emergency. If a stop will not close, use the main and have the valve replaced with a quarter-turn ball valve.
Should I turn my shutoff valves periodically?
Yes. Exercising each valve once or twice a year keeps them from seizing, and it also tells you which ones have already failed, which is much better learned on a calm Saturday than during an emergency. This is one of the highest-value five-minute maintenance habits in a house.
Can I install a faucet myself?
Often, yes, and it is a reasonable DIY project. The usual complications are corroded supply connections that will not come apart, a shutoff valve that fails when you close it, and access under a tight sink. Have a plan for the main shutoff before starting, and be prepared for a fifteen-minute job to become a two-hour one.
Related services
- Emergency Toilet RepairRepair of overflowing, leaking, or non-functioning toilets, including wax ring replacement, valve repair, and clearing blockages.
- Emergency Leak DetectionNon-invasive location of hidden water leaks behind walls, under floors, and beneath slabs using acoustic, thermal, and pressure testing equipment.
- Emergency Burst Pipe RepairA burst pipe releases water continuously until the supply is shut off. Emergency repair covers isolation, pipe section replacement, and pressure testing.
- Emergency Water Heater Repair and ReplacementDiagnosis and repair of water heater failures, including leaking tanks, no hot water, pressure relief discharge, and emergency replacement.
Emergency guides
- How to Shut Off Your Water in an EmergencyFind and operate your main water shutoff before you need it. The single most valuable thing a homeowner can know during a plumbing emergency.
- When to Call an Emergency Plumber (and When to Wait)After-hours plumbing costs 1.5 to 2 times standard rates. Here is which problems justify it and which are cheaper to schedule.
Cost guides
- Sewer Line Repair and Replacement CostWhat sewer lateral repair costs by method, including trenchless lining and pipe bursting, and how to compare quotes honestly.
- Slab Leak Repair CostWhat it costs to find and fix a leak under a concrete foundation, and when rerouting beats repairing in place.
- Whole-House Repiping CostWhat it costs to replace a home's supply piping, how PEX and copper compare, and the scope question that causes most disputes.
Common questions
- Costs and Billing QuestionsHow emergency plumbing is priced, what the premiums are, and which questions to ask before dispatch.
- Water Heater QuestionsLeaks, no hot water, strange noises, safety valves, and the repair-or-replace decision.
- Drain and Sewer QuestionsBlocked drains, main line backups, recurring clogs, and what not to put down them.
Related articles
- The Five-Minute Habits That Prevent Most Plumbing EmergenciesA short list of genuinely high-return maintenance, and an honest note about which common advice is not worth your time.
- The First Ten Minutes of a Plumbing EmergencyWhat you do before the plumber arrives determines most of the damage. The order of operations that limits it.
- Why Pipes Burst in Cold States and Catastrophically in Warm OnesMinnesota freezes harder than Texas every year and loses fewer pipes. The reason is preparation, not temperature.