Why is my faucet dripping in Calgary?

Faucet drips in Calgary homes are caused by: (1) Worn cartridge — single-handle and dual-handle cartridge faucets (the dominant type in post-1990s homes) drip when the cartridge O-rings or ceramic disc surface wear. Calgary's hard water (170-200 mg/L hardness) deposits mineral scale on cartridge surfaces, accelerating wear. (2) Worn compression washer — older two-handle faucets (common in Calgary homes built before 1985) use a rubber washer that compresses against a brass seat when the handle is turned off. The washer wears and starts leaking. (3) Failed O-ring — on the cartridge stem or on the faucet base (causing a drip at the spout base rather than the spout tip). (4) Worn ball assembly — in ball-style faucets (Delta-style single handle), the springs and seats inside the ball assembly wear.

How does Calgary hard water affect faucet cartridges?

Calgary tap water is classified as hard to very hard — 170 to 200 mg/L of dissolved calcium and magnesium carbonates. When hot water runs through the faucet, these minerals precipitate as white or off-white scale on cartridge ceramic surfaces, O-rings, and valve seats. The effect: (1) Scale on ceramic disc cartridges creates micro-abrasions that cause dripping even when the cartridge is nominally in the 'off' position. (2) Scale buildup inside ball-style faucets restricts the valve seat, causing the faucet to require more force to close — and eventually to drip. (3) Hard water accelerates the deterioration of rubber O-rings. In Calgary, cartridge replacement intervals that would be 8-12 years in soft-water cities can shorten to 4-7 years.

Should I repair or replace a dripping Calgary faucet?

Repair vs. replace decision for a dripping Calgary faucet: Repair (cartridge or washer replacement) makes sense when the faucet body is in good condition, the faucet is less than 10-12 years old, and replacement cartridges are readily available (Moen, Delta, Kohler — available at Rona, Home Depot, Lowe's in Calgary). Expect $65-$95 for a handyman to diagnose and replace a cartridge. Replace the entire faucet when: the faucet is over 12 years old and on its second cartridge, the body has significant scale buildup inside, replacement parts are discontinued, or the homeowner wants to update the style or function. A faucet replacement is $150-$350 in parts + $95-$145 labour for a handyman.

What is the difference between a cartridge and a compression faucet?

Compression faucets (older design, common in pre-1985 Calgary homes): two separate handles for hot and cold. Turning the handle compresses a rubber washer against a brass seat to stop the flow. The washer wears and creates a drip. Repair involves removing the packing nut, pulling the stem, and replacing the washer — parts cost under $5. Cartridge faucets (modern design, most Calgary homes post-1990): single-handle or two-handle. A plastic or ceramic cartridge moves to control flow and temperature. The cartridge is the only moving part. Repair involves pulling the cartridge out and replacing it with a new one — cartridge cost $15-$45 depending on brand and type. Ceramic disc faucets: a variant of the cartridge type using two ceramic discs that rotate against each other. Very durable but still affected by Calgary hard water scale on the disc faces.

How much water does a dripping faucet waste in Calgary?

A faucet that drips once per second wastes approximately 30 litres per day — 900 litres per month. At Calgary Water's rate of approximately $1.92 per cubic metre (1,000 litres), a single dripping faucet costs about $1.70 per month. A faster drip (5 per second, which sounds like a thin trickle) wastes 150 litres per day — 4,500 litres per month — at a cost of about $8.60 per month. Beyond water cost, a dripping faucet with hot water on the line also wastes water heating energy. The cartridge replacement cost ($65-$95 with a handyman) is typically recovered in water savings within 3-6 months on a faster drip.

Dripping Faucet Calgary | Steve Balakshii

Faucet types and what causes each to drip

Faucet type	Common in Calgary	Drip cause	Fix
Compression (two handle)	Pre-1985 homes	Worn rubber washer	Replace washer — under $5 in parts
Cartridge (single or dual handle)	Post-1990 homes — most common	Worn O-rings or cartridge body	Replace cartridge ($15-$45 in parts)
Ceramic disc (single lever)	Higher-end fixtures, post-2000	Scale on disc faces or cracked disc	Clean discs or replace cartridge ($30-$65)
Ball-style (Delta-type)	Kitchens, 1985-2005 homes	Worn springs and seats inside ball	Ball rebuild kit ($15-$25) or cartridge swap

Calgary hard water and cartridge wear

Calgary tap water is classified as hard — 170 to 200 mg/L of dissolved calcium and magnesium carbonates. When hot water runs through a faucet cartridge, these dissolved minerals precipitate as scale on the ceramic surfaces and rubber O-rings inside the valve.

The practical effect for Calgary homeowners:

Ceramic disc faucets — scale deposits on the disc faces create micro-gaps in the seal, causing drips even when the cartridge is nominally closed. The first sign is a drip that starts after the faucet was used with hot water and then stops. The solution is cleaning the disc faces with a descaling solution (white vinegar is effective) or, for advanced scale, cartridge replacement.
Ball-style and cartridge faucets — mineral scale inside the faucet body restricts the seat, making the faucet harder to shut off tightly and causing micro-leaks. The seat can be descaled or replaced.
O-ring deterioration — Calgary hard water is slightly alkaline (pH 7.4-7.8), which accelerates rubber O-ring degradation faster than neutral or slightly acidic water.

On a practical timeline: cartridge faucets in Calgary homes commonly need cartridge replacement at 4-7 years on the hot water side (where scale deposits are heaviest) vs. 8-12 years in soft-water cities.

Diagnosing where the drip comes from

Drip from the spout tip when turned off → worn cartridge or washer (the internal valve is not sealing)
Drip from the base of the spout → worn O-ring on the spout body
Drip from the handle → packing nut O-ring or cartridge stem O-ring
Water pooling under the sink → supply line connection, P-trap, or drain connection — not the faucet itself

Repair vs. replace: the Calgary decision

The decision depends on three factors:

Faucet age — a faucet under 8 years old is worth repairing. A faucet over 12 years old on its second cartridge is approaching end of useful life, and a replacement faucet may be more cost-effective than a repair.
Brand and parts availability — Moen, Delta, and Kohler cartridges are stocked at Home Depot, Rona, and Lowe's in Calgary. Budget or discontinued brands may require ordering parts, making repair less practical.
Condition of the body and finish — significant scale buildup visible at the aerator or around the base of a faucet indicates scale may also be present inside the valve. A faucet with visible external scale and a drip may benefit more from replacement than repair.

What a handyman can do vs. plumber for Calgary faucet repairs

Task	Handyman?
Cartridge replacement (single or dual handle)	Yes
Compression washer replacement	Yes
O-ring replacement at spout or handle	Yes
Ball assembly rebuild (Delta-type)	Yes
Aerator descaling and cleaning	Yes
Full faucet replacement (customer-supplied or we source it)	Yes
Supply line replacement under sink	Yes
Hot water shut-off valve replacement	Yes
Main water shut-off valve replacement or repair	Licensed plumber
Re-piping or pipe repair inside walls	Licensed plumber

Calgary faucet repair pricing

Scope	Starting price
Cartridge replacement (customer-supplied cartridge)	From $65
Cartridge replacement (we source cartridge)	From $85
Compression washer replacement	From $65
Full faucet replacement (customer-supplied faucet)	From $95
Full faucet replacement (we source + install)	From $150
Supply line replacement (both hot and cold)	From $65 (add-on)

Dripping faucet repair in Calgary

Tell us the faucet brand and what it is doing — drip from spout, leak at base, or stiff to shut off — and we diagnose and repair in one visit. We carry common Moen, Delta, and Kohler cartridges.

View faucet repair service →Request a dripping faucet repair quote

Steve serves all Calgary areas