Dr. Cartridgeby Encano
Dripping taps and showers · open 24/7
Shower and Faucet Cartridge Replacement in Richmond, BC the right part, found and fitted
Dripping tap, a shower that will not shut off or no hot water at the handle? We identify the brand and model, source the right cartridge and fit it.
- 5.0 on Google, 51 reviews
- Free assessment in Richmond
- 1-year workmanship warranty
What is a shower or faucet cartridge, and when does it need replacing?
A cartridge is the small valve inside a single-handle faucet or shower that opens the water and mixes hot and cold when you turn the handle. When its seals wear out, the tap drips, the shower keeps running after you shut it off, the temperature goes wrong or the handle gets stiff. Replacing it with the exact matching cartridge usually fixes the problem without changing the faucet.
Most homeowners never think about the cartridge until the shower drips all night or the kitchen tap will not stop running. It hides behind the handle, and from the outside one chrome faucet looks a lot like another. Inside, though, every manufacturer uses its own cartridges, and the same brand can have dozens of models that look almost identical. A cartridge that is a few millimetres off, or made for a different year of the same faucet, will not seal.
That is the part of the job that turns into a headache, and it is why many plumbers would rather sell you a whole new faucet than chase the right part. We do the opposite. We take the handle off, identify the manufacturer and the exact model, find out where the correct cartridge can be bought, and fit it. When the cartridge or the valve body cannot be saved, we replace the shower valve or the whole shower trim instead, and we tell you which it is before any work starts.
Encano is a family business based in Richmond. You get an assessment (free in Richmond, travel time quoted first elsewhere), one flat price in writing before we start, and a 1-year workmanship warranty on the repair. We speak English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Signs the cartridge is the problem
The faucet keeps dripping
A steady drip from the spout with the handle fully off is the classic sign of worn cartridge seals.
The shower drips or will not shut off
Water keeps coming from the shower head or tub spout after you turn the handle off.
No hot water at the shower, only lukewarm
If the rest of the house has hot water, the cartridge or its mixing part is the usual suspect.
The temperature jumps or is hard to set
Scalding one moment and cold the next, or the hot side never quite comes in.
The handle is stiff or grinds
A handle that is hard to turn, sticks or feels gritty often means a worn or seized cartridge.
Low flow from one faucet only
When every other fixture is fine, debris or wear inside the cartridge can choke the flow.
Water leaks from around the handle
A leak at the base of the handle or behind the trim plate can come from failed cartridge seals.
What cartridge work from Encano includes
The fix is only as good as the part, so most of the work happens before the new cartridge goes in.
- Identifying the brand and model
- We take the handle and trim off and identify the manufacturer and the exact faucet or valve model, even when there is no name on the outside.
- Sourcing the right cartridge
- We find out where the correct replacement can be bought and get it, so you are not left guessing between look-alike parts on a store shelf.
- Replacing the cartridge
- Water shut off, old cartridge out, valve body cleaned and checked, new cartridge seated and the handle set so hot and cold sit where they should.
- Shower valve replacement
- When the valve body itself is cracked, corroded or the part no longer exists, we replace the shower valve in the wall.
- Shower trim replacement
- When the handle, trim plate and spout need to change with the valve, we replace the whole trim so everything matches and seals.
- Testing before we leave
- We run the faucet or shower through hot, cold and off, check for drips and leaks at the handle, and clean up.
How a cartridge repair runs
- 01
Call or text with a photo
Call or text (604) 764-2031. A photo of the handle and trim helps us start narrowing down the brand before we come out.
- 02
Identify the faucet and quote
We open it up, identify the manufacturer and model, and give you one flat price in writing for the cartridge or, if needed, the valve or trim.
- 03
Source the part and fit it
We get the correct cartridge and install it. If a valve or trim replacement is the right call, that is what we do instead.
- 04
Test and walk you through it
Hot, cold and off are tested, the handle is set right, and we show you what was replaced and why.
Cartridge replacement cost in Richmond: how we price it
We do not post a price list, because the price depends on the faucet, the part and how easy it is to reach. A common cartridge and a discontinued one are very different jobs. What we do instead:
| What you pay for | How it is priced | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AssessmentOutside Richmond, travel time is quoted before we come out, with a discount on it if you go ahead with the work. | Free in Richmond | Outside Richmond, travel time is quoted before we come out, with a discount on it if you go ahead with the work. |
| Cartridge replacementOne price for the part and the labour, agreed before any work starts. | Flat price in writing | One price for the part and the labour, agreed before any work starts. |
| Shower valve or trim replacementOnly when the cartridge or valve cannot be saved, and only after you approve it. | Flat price in writing | Only when the cartridge or valve cannot be saved, and only after you approve it. |
What moves the price: the brand and model, whether the cartridge is still made, whether the valve body is damaged, and whether tile or a wall needs opening to reach the valve.
The assessment is free in Richmond. Outside Richmond, travel time is charged, and we quote it before we come out. If you go ahead with the work, you get a discount on that travel time. You always know the price before we go.
New cartridge, or a new valve?
Most dripping faucets and showers only need the cartridge. Sometimes the valve behind it is the real problem, and we will tell you which.
A new cartridge fixes it when
- The faucet drips or the shower will not fully shut off
- The temperature is off but the valve body is sound
- The handle is stiff but turns
- The correct cartridge for your model can still be found
The valve or trim needs replacing when
- The valve body is cracked, corroded or leaking inside the wall
- The cartridge is seized and cannot come out without damaging the valve
- The cartridge for your model is no longer made
- You want a new handle and trim style that needs a matching valve
Faucets and showers in Richmond homes
Richmond has a wide mix of fixtures. Detached houses in Broadmoor, Seafair, Blundell and Thompson built between the 1960s and 1990s often still have their original shower valves, sometimes behind a newer handle someone added later. Newer homes and townhomes in Terra Nova, West Cambie and Hamilton have modern single-handle valves from many different manufacturers. That spread is exactly why identifying the model before buying a part matters.
In condos around Brighouse and Garden City, a shower repair can depend on the building. Some suites have their own shut-off valves and some do not, so turning the water off for one shower may mean coordinating with the strata or building manager. Tell us the building when you call, and we will let you know what to ask for before the visit.
Our base is in Richmond, so the assessment here is free. For the rest of Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Delta and New Westminster, travel time is quoted first, and you get the same flat price in writing before anything is taken apart.
Neighborhoods we work in
- Steveston
- Terra Nova
- Broadmoor
- Seafair
- Thompson
- Blundell
- Garden City
- Brighouse
- West Cambie
- Hamilton
- East Richmond
- Riverdale
Also across Metro Vancouver
Every cartridge, valve and trim job is quoted in writing before work starts and backed by our 1-year workmanship warranty. New parts carry the manufacturer’s warranty.
Ask us anything51 reviews on our Google profile, copied word for word.
Luiz PortellaGoogle review · 7 months ago
Eddie is amazing! Great customer service and attention to details. He helped me with a leaky shower that needed a cartridge replacement and a couple of other minor repairs. 5 stars hands down. I recommend!
Makoto TaniguchiGoogle review · 6 months agoEddie was friendly, gave me a good quote, came in early and explained the tasks prior to starting and did an excellent job. Highly recommended.
gustavo de almeida françaGoogle review · 3 months agoEddie is super friendly, helpful, and transparent! Always making sure his clients understand what needs to be done and how much it will cost ahead of time.
Pam AndrewsLocal Guide · 3 months agoGreat service. Eddie is knowledgeable and informative. Arrived very quickly and did an excellent job.
Trendfashions VTGoogle review · 5 years agoEddie had to re-pipe my entire house due to faulty piping. It was a major job. He advised me to install many safety features too, as well as a new shower tower. I would highly recommend him, not only is he knowledgable but pleasant and professional. You are in good hands with canada place plumbing.
Onilton MacielLocal Guide · 3 months agoEddie is amazing. He is professional and quick in resolving the issues. He has very fair prices. Highly recommend!
Talitha NobregaGoogle review · 7 months agoSecond time using Encano Company, and Ed was amazing once again! He’s reliable, professional, and gets the job done quickly. Really appreciate the great service highly recommend!
BY KGoogle review · 6 months agoReally thankful to Ed for replacing our kitchen sink and garbage disposal. The service was fast,very professional and the quality of work was excellent. Highly recommend!
Shower and Faucet Cartridge Replacement questions
Straight answers. If yours is not here, text it to us.
Open now · 24 hours, 7 days
Pipe burst at 2 a.m.? Call or text. We pick up.
Shut the main water valve if you can, then call or text. The Encano team answers 24/7 and tells you what happens next, including the price, before anyone touches a tool.
Get your shower and faucet cartridge replacement price
Tell us what is going on. We reply with next steps and a time, and the price is agreed before any work starts.