Homes & vacation rentals
For homes, faucet repair in Malibu, CA usually means I repair the faucet you already like when the parts are out there, and install a new one when it's worn out or you're ready for a change.
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Trusted Local Faucet Repair in Malibu, CA
Drips, leaks under the sink, stiff handles, crusty fixtures and jammed disposals. Fixed right, priced up front.
Written by Sergio, owner of Malibu Plumbing Pros. Last updated October 2026.
"It's only a drip." I hear that a lot, and I get it. Still, a drip means a part is wearing out, and it only gets worse. I'm Sergio. I do faucet repair in Malibu, CA, plus sinks, garbage disposals and the little shutoff valves under the counter that nobody thinks about until they fail.
Most faucet jobs are small. I'll tell you if it's a cheap repair, a new faucet, or something you can handle with a screwdriver this weekend.
When Faucet & Sink Repair May Be the Right Next Step
Sound familiar? These are the calls we get most.
Faucet drips nonstop
Drip, drip, drip from the spout, even with the handle turned all the way off.
Leak under the sink
A wet cabinet floor, swollen particle board, or a drip from the supply line or the drain trap.
Handle is stiff or loose
Hard to turn, wobbly, or it won't shut off all the way. Usually a worn cartridge inside.
Green or white crust
Corroded or crusty fixtures, mostly on outdoor spigots, beach showers and bathrooms near the ocean.
Disposal hums or jams
The garbage disposal hums but won't spin, leaks from the bottom, or smells bad no matter what.
Shutoff valve won't turn
The valve under the sink is stuck, drips at the stem, or doesn't fully stop the water.
Faucet Repair in Malibu, CA for Homes & Businesses
Shops, restaurants & property managers
For restaurants, shops and rentals, I fix hand sinks, prep sinks and commercial faucets, and swap worn valves so staff can shut water off fast.
Request Commercial QuoteOur Approach
Same four steps on every faucet & sink repair job.
- STEP 01
Check the shutoffs
First I make sure your under-sink valves work. If they don't, I fix those so the job is safe.
- STEP 02
Find the worn part
Washer, O-ring, cartridge or valve seat. I take it apart and show you what failed.
- STEP 03
Repair or replace
If parts are out there and the body is solid, I repair. If it's corroded through, you get a price for new.
- STEP 04
Test and dry it
I run hot and cold, check under the sink with a light, and leave the cabinet dry.
On this page
Salt Air Is Hard on Faucets Near the Beach
Salt air makes faucet repair in Malibu, CA a little different. Homes close to the ocean get a fine salt mist on everything, and it eats at metal. I see it most on outdoor hose bibs, beach showers, and bathroom faucets in rooms where the window stays open. The finish pits. The little set screw that holds the handle rusts in place. The cartridge gets stuck so tight it won't pull out by hand.
Getting a seized cartridge out without cracking the faucet takes patience and a cartridge puller, a tool made for that one job. Sometimes the faucet can't be saved. Then I steer you toward solid brass bodies and finishes that hold up better in salt air, and I'll be honest when a less pricey faucet is fine for an inside bathroom.
Hard water adds to it. District 29's 2025 water report lists hardness up to 280 parts per million from one of its plants, and those minerals crust up aerators and cartridges. If that's your bigger problem, see our water softener page.
What Makes a Faucet Drip
Inside every faucet is a small part that opens and closes the water. Older two-handle faucets use a rubber washer pressed against a valve seat, the metal ring the washer seals against. Most newer faucets use a cartridge, a plastic or brass tube with seals that turns when you move the handle. O-rings, small rubber rings, keep water from leaking around the handle and spout.
When any of those wear out, you get a drip. The EPA says old and worn washers and gaskets are a common cause, and a faucet dripping once per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons a year. That's not a typo. It adds up fast.
Fix It Yourself or Call Me?
Honestly, some of this you can do. Low flow from the spout? Unscrew the aerator, the little screen at the tip, and soak it in vinegar overnight. A dripping single-handle faucet? If you know the brand, the cartridge is often sold at the hardware store, and there are good videos for most models.
Angi lists the parts as cheap: an O-ring is $1 to $5, a rubber washer $2 to $5, and a cartridge $10 to $100. Where I'd call a pro: the shutoff valves won't turn, the faucet is wall-mounted, the leak is inside the cabinet and you can't find it, or the handle screw is rusted solid.
What I don't do: electrical work. I'll plug a new disposal into an outlet that's already there, but if you need a new outlet or switch, that's an electrician's job.
Garbage Disposals and Septic Systems
A disposal that hums but won't spin is usually jammed. Unplug it, put an Allen wrench in the hole on the bottom, work it back and forth, then press the red reset button and it often starts right back up. If it leaks from the bottom of the unit, the seal inside is gone and it needs replacing.
If your home is on septic, think twice about using a disposal a lot. The City of Malibu says septic systems handle the majority of the city's wastewater, and the EPA says food waste adds solids to the tank, so you'll need to pump more often. Angi puts professional disposal installation at $550 on average nationally, with most people paying $150 to $950.
Shutoff Valves: The Part Nobody Checks
Under every sink there are two small valves, one for hot and one for cold. On older homes they're often the round, many-turn kind that get stiff and crusty. When you finally need them in an emergency, they won't close, or they start leaking the second you touch them. If the faucet is getting work done I'd rather swap them for quarter-turn valves at the same time. It's a small add-on and it saves you a flood later.
Thinking about a new faucet anyway? California law calls any inside faucet that puts out more than 2.2 gallons a minute non-compliant, so new faucets are built to use less. You won't notice much difference at the sink.
Faucet Repair in Malibu, CA: What If It Leaks Again?
If something I fixed isn't right, I come back and make it right. That's Sergio's Done-Right Guarantee. If you're fixing a 20-year-old faucet, I'll tell you up front that the next part may go soon, so you can decide if repair or replace makes more sense.
What to Expect
Time: Most faucet repairs take under an hour. A new faucet or disposal is usually one to two hours, longer if the old one is rusted in.
Mess: I empty the cabinet onto a towel, lay a drop cloth, and put everything back when I'm done. Water is off only at that sink for most jobs.
Permits: Simple faucet and disposal swaps usually don't need one. If yours does, I tell you before we start.
Cost: Angi puts the national average to fix a leaky faucet at $270, with most people paying $100 to $400. Bathroom sink faucets run $60 to $200 and kitchen faucets $100 to $250. Those are national numbers. For faucet repair in Malibu, CA, you get my price before I start.
Last updated October 2026.
Is it worth fixing a dripping faucet or should I replace it?
Fix it if the faucet body is solid and parts are easy to get. A washer or cartridge is cheap next to a new faucet. Replace it if it's corroded, cracked, or parts aren't made anymore. Near the beach, salt air often decides this for you. I'll give you both prices and let you choose.
Why do my faucets get white crust so fast?
That's minerals from hard water. District 29's 2025 report lists hardness up to 280 parts per million from one plant, which counts as very hard. The minerals dry on the metal every time water sits there. Wipe fixtures dry, soak aerators in vinegar, or look at a softener if it really bugs you.
Can I put a garbage disposal on a septic system?
You can, but go easy on it. The EPA says food waste adds solids to the septic tank, so you'll need to pump more often. Scrape plates into the trash or compost first and use the disposal for small bits. If you're on septic and thinking about adding one, ask me first.
Will you install a faucet I already bought?
Yes. Send me the brand and model before I come so I can check it fits your sink holes and supply lines. I'll swap old shutoff valves and supply lines while I'm there if they're worn. If the faucet turns out to be missing parts, I'll tell you before I start.
What should I do if a sink supply line bursts?
Turn the small valve under that sink clockwise until it stops. If it won't turn or the leak is past it, shut off the main water valve to the house. Then call me. Mop up quickly and open the cabinet doors so it dries, since particle board swells fast once it gets wet.