While it’s easy to forget about your plumbing system (especially when everything is working like normal), there’s no denying that maintenance plays an important role in keeping everything functioning correctly! Fortunately, as we’ve referenced with several prior blog posts, the responsibilities associated with maintenance are rather minimal for certain plumbing components. Take the sump pump for example. One of the main times when you think about your sump pump is when there’s a heavy rainfall and your primary concern will likely be to ensure it kicks on to prevent any emergencies. Well…when it comes to maintenance with the sump pump, one of the best things you can do is periodically test it. By pouring water into the pit, you can double check that everything kicks on and disperses the water outside away from the foundation. Now there are obviously additional items to consider (having a battery backup on-site, inspecting the condition of the pump, etc), but a routine test is definitely worth it and an easy task to complete as well.
This same emphasis on maintenance can be applied to many other plumbing components, including water heaters, showerheads, drain lines and as we’ll discuss today, faucets too. Given that faucets undoubtedly receive their fair share of wear and tear throughout the year, they also tend to be a frequent topic of discussion here on our plumbing blog. You can probably guess this based on the opening paragraph, but we’ll be talking about ways in which you can maintain your faucets and keep them operating at an optimal level. While they certainly aren’t as expensive to replace as other plumbing pieces (like a water heater), you probably don’t want to find yourself repairing or replacing them more often than you have to!
Carefully Select the Finish
We’ve said it many times before, but the faucet purchasing process is certainly one that can be affected by appearance. No matter if you’re remodeling a kitchen/bathroom or simply modernizing some of the faucets, you’ll likely want to find a faucet that matches the overall look you have established in the room. Style and brand will be a couple of characteristics that will help influence this selection. One more to add to your list is the finish. From the modern look of matte black to the always-popular chrome and even gold, the finish provides some of the uniqueness to the faucet.
Now…the reason why we’re mentioning it in this particular blog post is because certain finishes are more prone to showing fingerprints and water spots, thus requiring more cleaning along the way. In the paragraph above, we mentioned one of the more popular faucet finishes, which you’ll see in plenty of residential and commercial settings, and that is chrome. It’s generally an affordable finish, offers solid durability and can certainly create a professional appearance. However, despite these many advantages, it does tend to show fingerprints and water spots. It obviously isn’t the worst thing to deal with and if you regularly clean it, the faucet will sustain that shiny appearance from the original installation. A quick clean and dry will keep it looking top-notch! On the other hand, another finish that has continued to maintain its popularity is matte black. Faucets with a matte black finish do have the ability to serve as a statement piece, as well as being able to fit both modern and contemporary aesthetics. An added bonus provided by matte black faucets is the fact that they don’t show fingerprints or water spots as easily. While it’s by no means a bad idea to still clean these types of faucets, it does help to know that blemishes won’t show up nearly as frequently as some of the other finishes.
Long story short, a faucet’s finish will definitely be something that plays a role in the particular faucet that you end up purchasing, so it doesn’t hurt to weigh any advantages/disadvantages associated with the different finishes.
Hard Water Causing Issues for Faucets
While you will have a say in which faucet finish you select, hard water is something that’s largely dependent on where you live. Granted you can invest in a water softener to help alleviate some of the troubles caused by hard water, it’s important to note that hard water is present here in the Kansas City area. Although it’s safe to drink and wash with, I’m sure many of you are aware of the annoying side effects that come with it. The dryness it can cause to your skin/hair, along with the ‘cloudiness’ look it can leave on dishes, are a couple of examples that will likely instantly come to mind. Nonetheless, in addition to those items, hard water can also be troublesome on your plumbing system too. After all, the mineral build-up that can accumulate in your water heater is why it’s so important to flush your water heater at least once a year!
How does hard water impact your home’s faucets? Have you ever noticed a white and almost chalky appearance on the end of your faucet (where the water comes out)? This is called limescale and is the result of hard water. Given that we just discussed the role appearance plays in purchasing a new faucet, you can safely say this limescale is definitely not going to improve the look of your faucet. Aside from the lackluster appearance that it creates, hard water is also capable of negatively affecting your faucet’s performance. On the end of the faucet, there is a piece called the aerator. It looks like a screen and is installed to control the stream of water, as well as how much water actually comes out of the faucet. Well, when that aerator gets clogged up from calcium deposits, it’s not hard to see how this could affect the faucet’s ability to work properly! In fact, it may even lead you to believe that you’re experiencing water pressure issues, when it’s actually just a clogged aerator.
Luckily, this important maintenance task of cleaning your faucet aerator is pretty straightforward and simply involves letting the pieces sit in vinegar. After letting them sit there for a few hours, you should be able to poke the deposits out with a toothpick. Keep in mind that this same logic also holds true for cleaning your showerhead, which can be susceptible to mineral deposits too!
Professional Faucet Repair/Installation Services in Kansas City
Along with many other plumbing components, faucets are a plumbing fixture that we use each and every day. With that being the case, it’s important to not only keep them looking great, but also ensure their performance isn’t negatively affected due to a lack of cleaning. Luckily, the cleaning is relatively straightforward, no matter what type of faucet you have installed.
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, our team of experienced plumbers have more than a few years of experience working with faucets. From repairing and replacing faucets to providing insight on recommended brands worth considering, we’re here to help with all of your faucet needs. For those new to our business, we offer residential, commercial and new construction plumbing services throughout the Kansas City area. If you’re interested in receiving a free estimate for a plumbing project, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (816) 348-3481.