Here on our plumbing blog, we often talk about the many different components making up one’s plumbing system. First and foremost, you have the plumbing fixtures, which I think their purpose is rather straightforward. Toilets, faucets, water heaters, showers, bathtubs, the list goes on! Secondly though, you can’t ignore the plumbing lines that tie everything together. Delivering clean water, removing waste and even supplying gas. Not hard to see how those serve an important role as well. Long story short, we have plenty of things to talk about when it comes to plumbing blog posts!
With that all being said, this week’s blog post is going to tackle a component from the first of those two categories and that would be faucets. As a plumbing business, we certainly tackle quite a few faucet-related projects throughout the year. Whether that be installing new faucets (which is always fun given the many different styles available nowadays), repairing existing faucets or even providing maintenance tips, faucets are definitely in the everyday vocabulary of any plumbing professional. As we just mentioned, maintenance is something worth taking into account with any plumbing fixture (including faucets). Throughout this week’s blog post, we’ll talk about a few of the reasons as to why faucets may fail (and even give some advice on how you can get the best return on your faucet investment).
Before getting into all of that faucet talk, we would like to welcome any first-time visitors to our plumbing blog. Welcome to Stine-Nichols Plumbing! In addition to faucet projects, our team of plumbing pros possesses the experience needed to tackle any other plumbing jobs as well. Installing water heaters, replacing sewer lines, you name it. If you live in or near the Kansas City area and need a go-to plumbing company, you’re always welcome to give us a call at (816) 348-3481 or fill out the form HERE. Now…let’s talk about what causes faucets to fail!
Clogged aerator
If you’ve read any of our previous blog posts, you may recall seeing the term “hard water” mentioned at one time or another. Given that the Kansas City area experiences above average levels of hard water, chances are you may have lived with hard water before as well, which helps show why we’ve discussed it here on our plumbing blog. Nonetheless, even though hard water is safe to consume and wash with, there’s a reason why many homeowners choose to invest in a water softener. Hard water comes with its fair share of annoying issues, which prompts homeowners to look into having a water softener system installed. In any case, the reason why it finds its way into this blog post is because it can help result in clogged aerators on your faucets. The mineral buildup that occurs as a result of hard water can impact your faucet’s performance with the aerator getting clogged up. This not only creates an unpleasant physical appearance for the faucet, but also can give the illusion that your faucet doesn’t have the normal water pressure. Fortunately, with some routine maintenance (soaking the aerator in vinegar), you can prevent this mineral buildup from wreaking havoc. Nonetheless, we couldn’t have a blog post about faucets failing without mentioning the possibility of a clogged aerator!
Wear and tear
Along with several other plumbing fixtures, faucets are going to be used on a daily basis. As a result, this daily wear and tear can start to lead to a faucet’s deterioration. This is especially true on the commercial side of things where people may not always be as gentle with the faucets. Having said that, for those commercial facility managers out there, be sure to emphasize durability with your faucet selection, as well as consider the advantages of touchless faucets. Nonetheless, back to the original point. Wear and tear can lead to different pieces within the faucet experiencing issues. Some of the time, these can be repaired. However, it doesn’t hurt to evaluate the current state of the faucet to determine whether or not a replacement may make more sense.
What are some of the faucet pieces that can become damaged over time from the daily wear and tear? Cartridges, valve seats, washers and o-rings are a few examples! Likewise, as we mentioned above, commercial faucets can suffer from wear and tear quickly, especially in a setting where they’re used frequently. With this being the case, you may also see issues arise from the handles, which helps explain why we encourage facility managers to consider the hands-free models. Not to mention, these will also help prevent the spread of germs too!
Remember to purchase faucets from reliable brands
When you begin the faucet purchasing process, you’ll quickly notice there are more than a few possibilities out there. Whether that be in reference to the styles, finishes or even the brands, it can seem a little overwhelming at first. Given that this blog post has been centered on the idea of discussing what causes faucets to fail, we had to also mention why it’s so important to buy faucets made by reliable brands. Not only will this improve their chances of withstanding the daily wear and tear, but it will also make it much easier to find repair parts if issues do arise. There are a number of reliable brands out there that have been producing quality faucets for years. Think of names like Delta, Moen, American Standard, Kohler and so on! If you purchase a faucet from a name brand and stay on top of your cleaning/maintenance, you’ll be in great shape to get a solid return on your investment.
Need some recommendations for faucets to consider? Our team has installed hundreds of faucets over the years and would be happy to provide you with a few options worth considering. With so many styles and finishes available nowadays, customers will have no issues finding something that aligns with their bathroom or kitchen setting seamlessly. Fill out the form HERE to speak with a member of our team.
Need Help With a Faucet Project? Give Stine-Nichols a Call!
Are you experiencing some faucet problems at your home or commercial facility? As evidenced throughout this week’s blog post, there are several things that can affect your faucet’s performance (with some requiring a complete replacement). Nonetheless, it’s always a smart move for homeowners and facility managers to evaluate the difference between a repair and a replacement. After all, if your faucet has already been in use for quite some time, there is definitely a case to be made for replacing it, rather than investing in constant repairs. In any case, your local plumbing professional should be helpful in comparing the cost differences between the two and helping you find an effective solution.
Do you live near the KC area and need a plumber for your faucet project? No matter if that be a repair or a replacement, we feel confident in our team’s ability to tackle any faucet project. To learn more and speak with a member of our team, give us a call at (816) 348-3481. Thanks for stopping by our plumbing blog!