Coronado faucets wear on two fronts: salt air corrodes outdoor spigots and shower fittings, and hard, chloraminated water ages indoor cartridges and seals. Most indoor faucets can be rebuilt, while corroded outdoor ones are usually replaced. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Coronado.
Coronado at a glance
Coronado gets its water through a City contract with California American Water. Cal Am's Coronado system buys all of its water already treated from the City of San Diego's Alvarado and Otay plants, and the water is chloraminated in distribution. Cal Am's report lists hardness at those source plants of 145 to 280 ppm, roughly 8.5 to 16.4 grains per gallon. On a tied island surrounded by the bay and the ocean, salt air is a constant for anything mounted outside.
What to do now
- Close the stops. Turn the valves under the sink clockwise. If they will not close, use the main shutoff.
- Check outside fixtures too. Outdoor showers and hose bibs often fail at the same time as indoor faucets in beach homes.
- Look for the source. Spout, handle, base or connections below tell you which part failed.
- Note the brand. Higher-end and imported faucets may need specific parts, so a photo of the logo helps.
- Call Cal Am for meter problems. It lists (888) 237-1333 for customer service and emergencies.
Symptom and likely cause
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Green crust or pitting on an outdoor spigot | Salt-air corrosion |
| Outdoor shower handle will not turn | Corroded stem or scale-bound cartridge |
| Indoor spout drips | Worn cartridge or washer |
| Leak at the handle | Dried or swollen O-rings |
| Weak, splattering stream | Scale in the aerator |
Cost factors
- Parts for premium fixtures: designer and imported faucets can need brand-specific cartridges that take time to order.
- Corrosion: salt-damaged fittings may have to be cut out rather than unscrewed.
- Outdoor showers: valves set into walls take more work than a hose bib.
- Number of fixtures: doing several faucets in one visit is usually more efficient.
The City of Coronado Building Services Division handles permits, including over-the-counter emailed permits for some plumbing work such as residential interior re-pipes; ask at 619-522-7331 if your project goes beyond a straight repair. Cal Am reports that its completed inventory found no lead service lines in any of its systems, including customer-owned lines. The number on this page is a referral line, not a plumbing company; it connects you with an independent plumber who works on the island, and you settle the job and price with that plumber directly.
Faucet Repair questions in Coronado
Does salt air near the coast affect faucets and outdoor spigots?
Can the chloramine in our tap water wear out faucet seals?
Can a pull-down or touch-activated kitchen faucet be repaired?
Could an old faucet or the service line add lead to my drinking water?
More plumbing services in Coronado
Faucet Repair nearby
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