Faucets & Fixtures
Guides on faucets, shower valves and the trim you touch every day. You will find how to stop a dripping kitchen or bathroom faucet, replace a cartridge in a single-handle mixer or a shower valve, clean an aerator to restore flow, fix a diverter that sends water the wrong way, and tighten a base that has worked loose. Sizing and fit articles cover faucet hole counts, pull-down against pull-out sprayers, and shower arm reach. Buying guides cover faucets, cartridges, braided supply lines, aerators, sprayer heads and hose bibb quick connects.
Picks come from hands-on trade experience: which brands still have parts available years later, and which cartridges fail early. That is read alongside manufacturer specifications and fit. There are no paid placements. Some links on these pages are affiliate links, mostly to Amazon; if you buy through one the site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Kitchen Faucet Diverter: Fix a Weak Spout
Spout weak but sprayer still strong? A licensed plumber on the kitchen faucet diverter: how to clean it, when to replace it, and the exact Delta and Moen parts.
Kitchen Faucet Hole Size: How Many Holes Does Yours Need?
A licensed plumber on kitchen faucet hole counts and 8-inch spacing — why you can always cover a hole but rarely add one, and the deck plate that fixes the mismatch.
Read more: Kitchen Faucet Hole Size: How Many Holes Does Yours Need?
Shower Cartridge Replacement: Symptoms, the Right Part, and the Puller
A licensed plumber on shower valve cartridges — why a scalding shower is a cartridge problem, how to identify the right part, and why a puller saves you opening the wall.
Read more: Shower Cartridge Replacement: Symptoms, the Right Part, and the Puller
Pull-Down vs Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet: Which Fits Your Sink?
It is not about looks – it is about what sits above your sink and how deep the bowl is. A licensed plumber on the measurement that decides it, and the docking mechanism that actually fails.
Read more: Pull-Down vs Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet: Which Fits Your Sink?
Cost to Install a Faucet (2026): Kitchen, Bathroom & Labor
Plumbing Picks is reader-supported. Some guides we link to contain affiliate links, and we may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. The cost figures below are not affiliate-driven. Why trust this? A licensed plumber’s breakdown — real install costs, not equipment-only sticker prices. Quick answer Most homeowners pay $150–$400 to have…
Read more: Cost to Install a Faucet (2026): Kitchen, Bathroom & Labor
Loose, Wobbly Faucet Base? How to Tighten It in 15 Minutes
Plumbing Picks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. A faucet that rocks or twists at its base is more than annoying, that movement slowly works the supply connections loose and can crack the seal where the faucet meets the sink, which leads to water…
Read more: Loose, Wobbly Faucet Base? How to Tighten It in 15 Minutes
How to Remove a Shower Head Flow Restrictor (and Should You?)
If your shower feels weak even though the rest of the house has fine pressure, a tiny plastic disc inside the shower head, the flow restrictor, may be the bottleneck. People pull them for a stronger spray, and yes, it usually works. But before you do, it is worth understanding what the restrictor is for…
Read more: How to Remove a Shower Head Flow Restrictor (and Should You?)
How to Replace a Single-Handle Faucet Cartridge
Heads up: some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links — you pay no more, and as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. When a single-handle kitchen or bathroom faucet drips, gets hard to turn, or can no longer hold a steady temperature, the part to blame is almost always the cartridge…
Shower Won’t Stop Dripping? How to Replace the Cartridge
Heads up: some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links — you pay no more, and as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. A shower that drips after you shut it off, or one where you can never quite dial in the temperature, is almost always one part: the cartridge. It is…
Read more: Shower Won’t Stop Dripping? How to Replace the Cartridge
How to Clean a Faucet Aerator (Fix Low Flow Fast)
If one faucet trickles while the rest of the house runs strong, don’t blame your water pressure — blame the aerator. I’ve cleared hundreds of these, and a clogged aerator is the single most common cause of low flow at a single fixture. It’s a five-minute fix with no tools and no plumber. The aerator…
Read more: How to Clean a Faucet Aerator (Fix Low Flow Fast)
How to Fix a Shower Diverter (Tub Spout Leak)
A shower diverter is the little valve that redirects water from the tub spout up to the shower head. When it wears out, you get the classic symptoms: water keeps pouring from the tub spout while the shower dribbles, or you cannot get full pressure up top. As a licensed plumber, here is how to…
Best Bathroom Faucets in 2026 (A Licensed Plumber’s Picks)
A licensed plumber’s picks for the best bathroom faucets in 2026 — reliable, easy-to-install models from Moen, Delta, and Kohler with parts you can actually find.
Read more: Best Bathroom Faucets in 2026 (A Licensed Plumber’s Picks)
Best Kitchen Faucets in 2026 (A Licensed Plumber’s Picks)
A licensed plumber’s picks for the best kitchen faucets in 2026 — reliable pull-down models from Moen, Delta, and Kohler with easy-to-find replacement parts.
Read more: Best Kitchen Faucets in 2026 (A Licensed Plumber’s Picks)
How to Install a Faucet: A Licensed Plumber’s Step-by-Step Guide
New to this? Start with our complete guide: How to Fix a Dripping Faucet: A Licensed Plumber’s Complete Guide. Quick answer: Installing a faucet takes about 30–60 minutes and the only special tool you really need is a basin wrench. Shut off the water, disconnect the old faucet, set the new one with the supplied…
Read more: How to Install a Faucet: A Licensed Plumber’s Step-by-Step Guide
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Leaky Faucet? (2026 Plumber’s Breakdown)
New to this? Start with our complete guide: How to Fix a Dripping Faucet: A Licensed Plumber’s Complete Guide. Quick answer: A DIY faucet repair costs $5–$20 in parts (cartridge, O-rings, or washers). A plumber typically charges $100–$250. Replacing the whole faucet runs $50–$200+ for the fixture plus install. DIY Cost Breakdown Fix Part cost…
Read more: How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Leaky Faucet? (2026 Plumber’s Breakdown)
Moen vs Delta vs Kohler Faucets: Which Brand Should You Buy? (Plumber’s Verdict)
Moen vs Delta vs Kohler Faucets: a licensed plumber compares cost, durability, and ease of use — which to choose for your job and the mistakes that cause…
Read more: Moen vs Delta vs Kohler Faucets: Which Brand Should You Buy? (Plumber’s Verdict)
How to Fix a Dripping Faucet: A Licensed Plumber’s Complete Guide
How to fix a dripping faucet: a licensed plumber’s step-by-step guide — the tools you need, what to avoid, and when to call a pro.
Read more: How to Fix a Dripping Faucet: A Licensed Plumber’s Complete Guide
Best Braided Faucet Supply Lines in 2026 (Stop Under-Sink Leaks)
Cheap supply lines are a top cause of under-sink flooding. Here are the braided stainless lines a plumber trusts.
Read more: Best Braided Faucet Supply Lines in 2026 (Stop Under-Sink Leaks)
Best Faucet Cartridge Replacements in 2026 (Fix Drips at the Source)
A licensed plumber’s picks for the best faucet cartridge — what actually holds up, what to skip, and how to choose.
Read more: Best Faucet Cartridge Replacements in 2026 (Fix Drips at the Source)
Best Kitchen Faucet Sprayer Replacements in 2026
A licensed plumber’s picks for the best kitchen faucet sprayer — what actually holds up, what to skip, and how to choose.
Best Shower Arms and Extenders in 2026 (Raise Your Shower Head)
A licensed plumber’s picks for the best shower arm extender — what actually holds up, what to skip, and how to choose.
Read more: Best Shower Arms and Extenders in 2026 (Raise Your Shower Head)
Best Faucet Aerators for Kitchen and Bathroom in 2026 (Fix Weak Flow in 2 Minutes)
A plumber reviews the best faucet aerators to save water, improve flow, and fix sputtering faucets. Most take 2 minutes to replace.
Read more: Best Faucet Aerators for Kitchen and Bathroom in 2026 (Fix Weak Flow in 2 Minutes)
Best Hose Bibb Quick Connect Attachments in 2026 (Plumber-Picked)
Stop wasting time screwing your garden hose on by hand. A licensed plumber reviews the best hose bibb quick connect attachments for homeowners.
Read more: Best Hose Bibb Quick Connect Attachments in 2026 (Plumber-Picked)