Bathroom faucet simply quit working.

I've done my share of plumbing, and thought I had experienced most of the common problems. Yesterday a bathroom faucet stopped working. It had water flowing normally, then it quit, and only dribbled. I tried the cold side and same thing, just a dribble. A toilet was flushed in another bathroom and while I thought it unusual but maybe the toilet flush stopped the faucet, but no, that was not the case. The faucet will only dribble water out for both hot and cold. No leaks underneath and all other fixtures in that bathroom and the rest of the house work as normal.
The problem faucet is a two handle faucet with standard cold and hot supply lines. There should be nothing inside the faucet that could stop the flow for both sides like this ...as far as I know.
I'm guessing I need a new faucet. The house is 12 years old and I've never replaced this faucet before. Guess it's time ...but just wondering if any of you have ever seen a faucet simply stop flowing water like this. Seems rather weird to me.

Is there an aerator in the faucet? If so, have you tried removing it?

I see this problem once every 2-3 years, especially in older homes, but it does occur in homes as new as 20 years old with high mineral content water. A piece of the washer in the shutoff valve will break off, travel up the supply line, and jam itself in the line. First, turn off the main water supply to the house, as one or the other supply valve under the sink is not going to shut off. Remove the aerator and disconnect the supply lines from the valves. Take a piece of wire like #12 or #14 solid copper, and push it through the faucet to force out the obstruction. Once the obstruction is removed, remove each valve and either replace the washer or replace the entire valve. I usually replace the valves because they are only $6 each, and it's easier and faster than rebuilding.

There is also the possibility that an obstruction has come BEFORE the shutoff valve, in which case the valve must be removed to clear the obstruction.

PBinWA said:

Is there an aerator in the faucet? If so, have you tried removing it?

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Good point and no I have not checked that yet.

JEV said:

I see this problem once every 2-3 years, especially in older homes, but it does occur in homes as new as 20 years old with high mineral content water. A piece of the washer in the shutoff valve will break off, travel up the supply line, and jam itself in the line. First, turn off the main water supply to the house, as one or the other supply valve under the sink is not going to shut off. Remove the aerator and disconnect the supply lines from the valves. Take a piece of wire like #12 or #14 solid copper, and push it through the faucet to force out the obstruction. Once the obstruction is removed, remove each valve and either replace the washer or replace the entire valve. I usually replace the valves because they are only $6 each, and it's easier and faster than rebuilding.

There is also the possibility that an obstruction has come BEFORE the shutoff valve, in which case the valve must be removed to clear the obstruction.

Click to expand...

I was with you until that last thought Joe. Since neither hot nor cold work I don't see how it could be before the shutoff valve. Since each have separate valves (one in the faucet and one in the supply line) chances of two obstructions happening at exactly the same moment in time does not seem likely to me. I suspect it's probably something in the aerator as both you and PB have pointed out. At least that seems the most likely to me.

Now to decide if I want to replace that faucet, as it's a cheapy that came with the house ....or to try to replace the valves (if they can be found). decisions decisions ....

Doc said:

I was with you until that last thought Joe. Since neither hot nor cold work I don't see how it could be before the shutoff valve. Since each have separate valves (one in the faucet and one in the supply line) chances of two obstructions happening at exactly the same moment in time does not seem likely to me. I suspect it's probably something in the aerator as both you and PB have pointed out. At least that seems the most likely to me.

Now to decide if I want to replace that faucet, as it's a cheapy that came with the house ....or to try to replace the valves (if they can be found). decisions decisions ....

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I,d have to say its in the faucet itself . Mine do it all of the time , really hard water & its allways the screen on the faucet plugged . Might try holding a cap full of lime away under the faucet end if you cant remove it . Just a thought .

Replacing the faucet is probably the easiest solution. Once removed, check to see where the obstruction was to determine if you need to repair/replace the shutoff valve(s).

I live in the city, but when we built our house I installed a whole house sediment pre-filter with a clear vial. In 18 years I have not has any problems with aerators, and I replace the 5 micron filter every 3-6 months depending on the amount of sediment I see building up. You would be amazed at what comes into your home from the city lines, and what your body ingests as well. I have seen small stones in the bottom of the filter vial, probably from a break that was repaired upstream of my home.

Unscrew the aerator and soak it in a cup of vinegar. Take the plastic part out of it and clean the holes as well as the screen. If water flows good with it off you have found your problem. I have to clean mine several times a year due to very hard water.

While the aerator angle seems something to check, what are the chances that all of a sudden out of the blue it plugs to a dribble. In my experience it would slowly plug up.

PBinWA said:

Is there an aerator in the faucet? If so, have you tried removing it?

Click to expand...

I bet your right !