Most people wash their hands at least eight times per day. Plus, when you’re spending time at home, you’re likely rinsing dishes, foods, and filling containers with water. All this is made possible by one small little plumbing implement: the faucet. Whether it is the faucet on your bathroom sink or the one attached to your kitchen sink, chances are you use these fixtures more than you take the time to realize. However, when something goes wrong with a faucet, you immediately appreciate how much this plumbing implement has been taken for granted.
So, When Is It Time to Replace a Faucet?
Faucet life expectancy is a fickle thing to pin down. So many things can affect how long an individual faucet will last, such as the quality of the faucet and its inner-working components, how often it is used, and even whether you have hard water or water contaminants in your water supply. Nevertheless, there are a few telltale signs it is time to look at investing in a new unit.
1. You have a leaky faucet.
You may not think that a dripping faucet is costing you much, or at least not enough to be concerned about, but a single dripping faucet can generate a lot of waste. A single faucet dripping 60 drops per minute can waste as much as two gallons of water per day and 1,041 gallons of water annually. Some leaky faucets can be fixed by a professional plumber, but when this starts happening, it can be a sign it is time to consider a replacement.
2. You have leaking faucet handles.
Leaking faucet handles can be a bit more concerning than a leaking faucet because it can seem like more water is being expelled and the water may or may not drain into the sink. Faucet handles can leak when the interior seals start to deteriorate. The internal parts can be replaced, but it can sometimes be just as easy to replace the full unit.
3. Your faucet is coated with grime and corrosion.
Modern-day faucets stand up relatively well to rust and corrosion, but older faucets may not. Plus, if you have issues with hard water in your home, the accumulation of sediment can lead to a grimy faucet caked with hard bits of minerals. Trading in a grimy, corroded faucet will make a huge difference in the overall appearance of the room.
4. Your faucet is outdated.
in some situations, it is not that the faucet is failing or dysfunctional at all; it is the fact that the faucet is outdated, unsightly, and just does not align with your design ideas. Many people choose to replace their kitchen or bathroom faucet when they do a remodel, but replacing just the faucet can make a big difference in the designer’s appeal of the space on its own. For example, if you have an older home with a simple faucet, trading the faucet in for something sleek and modern can make a big difference.
Installing a Faucet
Faucet installation can vary depending on the place where the unit is being installed, the type of faucet being installed, and the type of plumbing fixtures you have that connects to the faucet. Here are the general steps our experienced plumbers take in a faucet installation:
- Shut off the water supply to the faucet-connected water lines
- Dismount the old faucet by loosening and removing the securing hardware and handles
- Thoroughly clean the area where the new faucet will be installed, making sure to fully remove the old gasket or sealant material
- Place the new gasket or seal over the openings in the sink
- Thread the base of the faucet through the holes in the sink and secure in place
- Attach the water lines to the base
- Install the knobs and faucet piece if necessary
Key Takeaways:
- Faucets don’t have an easy-to-estimate life expectancy
- Telltale signs can indicate when a faucet should be replaced
- A leaky faucet can cost you a lot over the long term
- Installing a new sink faucet can be more complicated than it appears which is why it is important to leave it up to the experts.
Get the New Faucet You Need with Professional Assistance
It may seem like replacing a faucet is no big deal when it comes to plumbing work, but there are a lot of snags you can hit along the way. Reach out to us at Platinum Plumbing if you have a leaky faucet, you want to do a full-on replacement, or you just need plumbing repairs in Staten Island.
