Faucet Repair and Fixture Installation in Pickering

Why Faucets Drip

A drip almost always means a worn part, not a worn-out faucet. The Region of Durham explains that faucets leak when washers, O-rings or seals become dirty or worn, and it lists dripping faucets among the leaks that waste both water and money.

Older two-handle faucets usually seal with rubber washers that harden and compress with use. Most newer faucets use cartridges instead, and a cartridge that is worn or packed with debris lets water past even when the handle is off. Replacing the washer or cartridge, along with the O-rings around the spout, normally stops the drip and leaves the rest of the faucet as it was.

How We Repair a Leaking Faucet

1. 01Isolate the faucet. We close the valves under the sink, or the main shut-off if those valves are seized, and make sure the water has actually stopped.
2. 02Identify the parts. We work out whether the faucet uses washers or a cartridge, find the make and model, and check the O-rings and seals around the spout and handles.
3. 03Replace what is worn. Matching parts go in, the aerator and valve seats are cleaned, and the faucet is put back together.
4. 04Test and inspect. With the water back on, we run hot and cold, watch for drips at the spout and handles, and check the supply lines and drain under the sink before we leave.
5. 05Flag a replacement when it is needed. If the faucet body is cracked or corroded, or parts for it are no longer made, we stop and price a new faucet in writing before going further.

Showers, Tubs, Laundry Rooms and Outdoor Taps

Faucets are only part of the fixture work we do in Pickering homes:

• Shower valves: a valve that is stiff, drips from the showerhead or lurches from hot to cold is usually due for a new cartridge. If the valve body itself has to be replaced, we work through the existing wall opening where we can, or hide the old cut-out behind a remodel plate, which lets the tile stay put.
• Tub spouts and diverters: a spout that keeps pouring while the shower is on usually has a worn diverter, and a new spout is often the fix.
• Laundry taps and utility sinks: we replace leaking laundry faucets and install new laundry tubs, reconnecting the drain and the hot and cold lines.
• Bathroom faucets and sinks: a new faucet is matched to the holes and drain already in the sink, or the faucet and vanity sink are replaced together when the top changes.
• Outdoor taps: a tap that froze and now leaks is replaced with a frost-free model. If yours is not frost-free, close its indoor shut-off and drain it before the first hard frost.

Do Fixture Swaps Need a Permit in Pickering?

The City of Pickering says a direct replacement of a toilet or sink fixture with the same kind of CSA-approved fixture is not typically something that needs a building permit, as long as the fixture stays where it is and no pipes are changed. Replacing a bathroom sink or faucet where it already sits usually fits that description.

Relocating a vanity, putting in a new shower or adding a sink where there was none is a different matter. Pickering's list of projects that may require a permit includes any plumbing, as well as installing or modifying plumbing systems, and Building Services can confirm at 905.420.4631. For a remodel of that size, our bathroom renovation team can plan the whole job.

If you are choosing a new faucet or showerhead, the Region of Durham points to the WaterSense label: those fixtures have been performance tested and use at least a fifth less water.

Faucet Repair and Installation Cost in Pickering

Our 2026 Oshawa plumbing cost guide does not publish a range for faucet or fixture work, because the price depends on the part, the fixture and how easy the valves and connections are to reach. A repair is priced once the plumber has opened the faucet and found the worn part. A new fixture is quoted with the fixture itself listed separately if we supply it, and a shower valve that needs the wall opened is quoted once we have seen how it is set in the wall. Estimates are free, and the written price comes before any work.