Faucet Installation

It depends on the valve type and whether parts still exist. A cartridge, ceramic disc, or compression stem on a current-production faucet is usually a straightforward rebuild. Discontinued models, a corroded body, or a faucet whose finish is already failing are better replaced. We identify the manufacturer and model from the body or escutcheon and check parts availability before recommending either path.

Yes. Bring it in the box with the instructions and any supply lines it came with. Two things we check first: whether it is certified to NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 for lead-free wetted surfaces, which California requires, and whether the hole count and spread on your sink or countertop match the faucet. A three-hole sink with a single-hole faucet needs a deck plate.

California limits it by law. Under the Title 20 appliance efficiency standards, bathroom lavatory faucets sold in the state max out at 1.2 gallons per minute and kitchen faucets at 1.8, with a temporary boost to 2.2 allowed on kitchen models. Your old faucet predates that rule. If flow is well below the rating, the aerator or a supply stop is usually restricted.

Not for a like-for-like fixture replacement, which counts as maintenance in most California jurisdictions. It changes if the work involves moving supply or drain lines inside a wall, adding a fixture, or opening a wall, which becomes permitted plumbing work through LADBS in the City of Los Angeles or through your local building department. We tell you which category your job falls into up front.

A straightforward kitchen or bath faucet swap is usually under two hours. It runs longer when the old supply stops are frozen or weeping and need replacing, when mounting nuts are corroded onto the shanks under a tight sink, when a granite or quartz counter needs a hole re-drilled, or when a pull-down sprayer hose has to route through a crowded cabinet.

Usually worth it. Older multi-turn stops seize with mineral buildup and often will not close fully at the moment you need them, and the packing starts weeping once they are turned after years of sitting. Replacing them with quarter-turn ball stops and new braided stainless supply lines while the cabinet is already open costs far less than doing it later during a leak.

Tell us the brand and model before the appointment. Imported and premium lines often use proprietary rough-in valve bodies, non-standard thread and cartridge dimensions, and trim kits sold separately from the valve, and finish lead times run long. We verify valve compatibility and confirm the trim matches the rough-in before removing your existing fixture, so you are not left without a working sink.

One fixture points to something local. Start at the aerator: unscrew it and check for debris, which is common after any work on the main. Then the supply stops, which are frequently left partly closed, then the cartridge itself, which can scale up. If pressure is low everywhere, it is a house-wide issue such as a pressure regulating valve or the supply line, not the faucet.

Yes, though it is a different job. Existing holes in granite, quartz, or marble can often be used as-is or opened up with a diamond core bit and water cooling. Drilling a new hole for a soap dispenser or filtered water tap carries a real risk of cracking, depending on the slab material and the distance to the edge. We assess before any drilling starts.

We price after seeing the setup. Cost depends on whether we are supplying the faucet, whether the shutoff valves and supply lines are being replaced, how tight and corroded the under-sink access is, whether a deck plate or a hole modification is needed, and whether a stone counter has to be drilled. You get a firm number before we start, not after.

That is a different failure. Check the supply line connections at the stops and at the faucet shanks, the mounting nuts if the faucet rocks when you push it, and on pull-down models the quick-connect on the sprayer hose and its weight, a common slow drip. Turn off both stops and put a container underneath. Water sitting in a cabinet ruins the deck quickly.

Yes to both. Lords of Plumbing holds California C-36 Plumbing Contractor license 914119, verifiable at cslb.ca.gov, and has been plumbing since 1999. We install faucets from the Los Angeles office at 5301 Beethoven St across LA County and from 303 Potrero St across Santa Cruz County, Los Angeles Monday through Saturday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Santa Cruz Monday through Saturday 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM and closed Sunday.