Most faucet problems are a drip you can live with for a day. A few are not: a valve that will not shut off, a split supply line, or a shower valve leaking inside a wall. For those, close your main shutoff, then call our 24/7 emergency line at (617) 752-0573.
Emergency faucet repair in Dedham, MA means a licensed plumber stops the flow, then repairs or replaces the faucet, the shutoff valve or the supply line that failed.
Start here: which fixture is failing?.
| What you are seeing | Most likely part | Urgency. |
|---|---|---|
| Water sprays from under the sink | Split supply line or loose compression nut | Urgent, close the main if the stop valve fails. |
| Handle turned off but water keeps running | Worn cartridge, washer or seat | Same day if it will not slow down. |
| Stop valve under the sink will not turn | Corroded or seized valve | Urgent when you cannot isolate the fixture. |
| Slow drip from the spout | Worn washer or O-ring | Book a daytime visit. |
| Tub or shower drips when off | Failed cartridge or valve stem | Soon, since the wall may be wet. |
| Outdoor spigot leaks inside the house | Cracked body or frozen stem | Urgent in a freeze. |
Valve will not shut off or a supply line is leaking right now.
This is the situation that sends people to the phone at 2 a.m. Every fixture should have its own stop valve. When the valve turns and the water stops, you have bought time. When the valve spins freely, leaks at the stem, or will not move, you need the main shutoff and a plumber.
Closing the main valve is the right call whether the line is a burst flexible supply or a faucet body that cracked. Then open the lowest faucet in the house to drain pressure, and put a bucket under the damage. If the trouble is out at the street or the meter, the DWWD after-hours water emergency line is 781-326-1250. For a burst pipe inside the walls, see burst pipe repair.
Valve will not close? Shut the main and call for a plumber now.
Call (617) 752-0573How we find the real fault.
A plumber starts by turning the fixture off and on and watching where water appears. A drip at the spout points to the cartridge or seat. Water around the base of the faucet points to O-rings or a cracked body.
Water below the sink points to supply lines, stop valves or the drain. We pull the cartridge and look at the seat before quoting, because a pitted seat means the cartridge alone will not cure the drip.
A plumber cannot see inside a plaster or tile wall, so a shower valve leak sometimes needs a small access opening. Ask whether the plumber will test for pressure loss before cutting, and whether the opening will be sized for a patch. Slow wall leaks that continue after the valve is fixed may need leak detection.
Old homes, hard water and what wears out first.
About 74 percent of Dedham houses were built before 1978, according to the Town's Master Plan. Fixtures from several decades of remodels often sit side by side with original stop valves that have not been turned in years. Those valves are the weak link. A seized valve is the usual reason a simple faucet swap becomes a longer job, and replacing it is the cheapest time to do it.
DWWD reports average hardness around 6.0 grains per gallon in 2025, from 4.3 to 7.8 across samples. That is enough to crust aerators and slow cartridge movement. If your faucet sputters or the handle feels gritty, the first test is cleaning the aerator and checking the cartridge for scale.
DWWD also says lead in water comes mainly from service lines and home plumbing, so if you are replacing old fixtures, ask the plumber to note any old lines they see.
Cold weather and outdoor spigots.
The Boston-area January normal low is 23.1 F (NOAA 1991-2020, Boston Logan), so hose bibs freeze every winter. A frozen spigot can crack inside the wall and only show itself in spring. Disconnect the hose by October, and shut and drain the interior stop valve if the house has one.
DWWD recommends a vacuum breaker on hose connections, and the state code asks for backflow protection on sillcocks. If a spigot drips inside after a freeze, call us before you turn it on again.
Repair, replace or upgrade: how to decide.
Repair makes sense when the faucet is under about ten years old, the body is clean, and a cartridge or washer fixes the leak. Replacement is better when the finish is flaking, parts are no longer sold, or you have repaired the same faucet twice. Replacing a faucet is a fixture replacement, and the Massachusetts plumbers fact sheet says that work can need a permit. A leaky-faucet repair does not.
Three questions to ask on the phone:
- Does the quote include new supply lines and a new stop valve?.
- Will the plumber test the shutoff before leaving?.
- Who supplies the faucet, and what warranty does the maker offer?.
Tubs, showers and drains that go with it.
Shower valve leaks and tub faucet drips are the same family of repair, only the cartridge is behind a trim plate. If the water is slow to leave the tub or shower floor, the drain may be partly blocked with hair and soap. We clear that during the same visit when needed. If clogs return, look at drain cleaning as the longer fix.
What a faucet repair costs.
Quotes depend on a handful of factors, so we ask questions before giving a number:
- The fixture: kitchen, bath, tub-shower valve or outdoor spigot..
- Whether the stop valve and supply line must also be replaced..
- Access, since a wall opening or a second-floor bathroom adds time..
- Parts: a standard cartridge versus a specialty or discontinued one..
- Time of day and the urgency of the dispatch..
Homeowner policies generally cover sudden and accidental damage, such as a supply line that bursts, rather than wear and tear, so ask your insurer before you clean up. Want your real number? Call (617) 752-0573.
While you wait for the plumber.
- Close the stop valve under the fixture, or the main shutoff if the stop will not turn..
- Switch off power to outlets near standing water only if you can reach the panel safely and dry..
- Move valuables and photograph the damage..
- Run towels along the wall to keep water off finished floors..
- Do not keep forcing a stuck handle. Torque breaks the stem and makes the repair larger..
Frequently asked questions.
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Yes. Our 24/7 dispatch line handles calls at night and on weekends for uncontrolled water, such as a valve that will not close or a burst supply line. We do not promise a set arrival time on the phone, because it depends on the plumber's location. We tell you what to do in the meantime.
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A slow trickle can wait for a daytime visit if you close the stop valve. If the flow is steady or the stop valve will not close, treat it as urgent and shut the main.
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It is usually near where the water line enters the house, often in the basement or utility area, close to the meter. Find it before you need it and test that it turns. If you cannot locate it, call DWWD at 781-329-7090 during office hours.
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A handy homeowner can swap a basic faucet, but stuck stop valves, corroded nuts and hidden shower cartridges stop many jobs. If the stop valve does not close fully, call us before you start. Permit rules still apply to fixture replacement.
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Air in the lines after a repair is common and clears after a minute of running. Mineral scale can also clog an aerator, which fits Dedham's moderately hard water.
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Notify your landlord right away in writing. For a burst line or a valve that will not close, call us first so water damage does not spread, then tell the landlord what was done.
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We can open the wall access, replace the valve or cartridge and tell you what repair the wall needs. Tile or plaster repair is usually a separate trade. Neighbors in Needham ask the same question.
Codes, standards and sources.
Plumbing work in Massachusetts is governed by 248 CMR 10.00, the Uniform State Plumbing Code, and plumbers are licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters. You can read the state's consumer fact sheet on plumbers and gas fitters before you hire anyone.
Local facts on this page come from the Dedham-Westwood Water District, the Town of Dedham, the other towns named and Mass.gov, and were checked in October 2026. Where a fact could not be confirmed, the page says to ask the utility or the town.