Most good trustworthy plumber will recommend replacing a gate valve regardless of its condition. The time to discover if it will work is not during a flood in your bathroom. If you have it replaced with a ball valve then check your water heater and laundry valves, too. Have them replaced at the same time with premium ball valves. Ball valve laundry bibbs make it easy to shut off the water to the washer after each use which may help to prevent floods in the future.
To find a plumber, all one has to do is flip and run through the Yellow Pages or do a search on the Internet. From there you will see loads of plumber whom are advertising to get your job. The next thing you should do as a consumer is to take remember that there some plumbers whom advertise 2 different ads in the same place. Thus it is important to not water line repair make a rush decision. Look through the list of plumbers available and call a few (minimum of 3).
After you have the stems out you should be able to find the washer on the "inside" end. If it is nicked, torn or brittle it is likely the cause of your drip. Even if it looks brand new, go ahead and replace it. You've already come this far. You can get replacement washers at almost any hardware store. Sometimes you may want to replace the whole stem, especially if the handle end is stripped out. It's best to just take the stem with you to the store and see if you can match it up. Most Do It Yourself stores have replacement stems for many popular brands. If your valve has a center diverter valve to switch the waterfrom the tub spout to the shower head the same process applies. Many times it is easier to replace the diverter stem than to repair it. This really depends on the design of the stem.
OR, you can think about developing a group, where relationships prevail, your time and efforts come with great rewards, and you can multiply your efforts through helping others succeed, as they help you with introductions and referrals. So with much less time and effort, you can benefit from creating your own referral group.
Remove the cap of the faucet using slip-joint pliers. Tape the teeth of the pliers to prevent damage of the surface. Remove the faucet cam washer and water line repair the rotating ball.
To avoid this, make sure your toilets screws are always tight and repair any leaks right away. A new wax ring should also be installed any time the toilet is removed such as if you happen to be replacing an old toilet with a newer model that you liked such as a more modern KOHLER brand. Replacing your toilets wax ring is pretty simple to do and can pretty much be done in less than an hour by the average person.
Plumbers can help keep small problems from becoming large problems. Do your homework before choosing a plumber and you can help to ensure that the job is done correctly and for a good competitive price.