Kitchen faucet troubles can be both annoying and, in some cases, expensive. The older your kitchen faucet is, the more time it's had to develop problems, so it's not surprising when an older faucet starts to act up. Here are some common malfunctions of older kitchen faucets.
1. Dripping Faucet
A dripping faucet can be not only an annoyance to an entire family but also a huge waste of water. You may not think that one drop every so often really makes a difference in your water bill. But a drip can waste as much as 2,082 gallons per year at a rate of just one drop per second.
And that's if you only have one leaky faucet in your home. Multiple leaky faucets or faucets that drip faster could waste even more water.
The cause of a leaky faucet depends on the type of faucet you have. One common reason for a faucet to drip is that it has a washer that's worn out. With a typical kitchen faucet, your plumber may be able to come out and replace a simple washer in the faucet's handle to stop the drip.
2. Leaky Faucet
A faucet that leaks around the base, at the junction of the handle, or at some other location may waste just as much water as a drip, or even more depending on the rate of the leak. But in addition, the leak could cause water damage to your countertop, sink cabinet, and floor if the water escapes the faucet outside the edge of the sink.
In some cases, the faucet may need a simple part replacement. A leak around the base of the faucet could be caused by an O-ring (a type of seal) that's gone bad. In this scenario, a simple disassembly of the faucet to find and replace the offending O-ring can take care of the problem.
These types of leaks are unlikely to mean you need to replace your whole fixture unless they come with other serious damage such as rust. And even if that is the case, many kitchen faucets can be replaced completely for a very affordable price if you have an experienced plumber.
3. Blocked Faucet Flow
The screen on your faucet that water flows through is called an aerator. The aerator provides several benefits such as helping the water to spread more easily over your hands or your dishes when you wash or rinse them. And if you have a low-flow aerator, it saves water as well, which helps you save money on your water bills.
But because the aerator does involve a metal screen on the end of your faucet, it has the potential to become blocked up as time goes on. An older faucet may start to experience some mineral buildup in the aerator, especially if your water is somewhat hard. If your water has any particles in it, those can get caught in the aerator as well.
Fortunately, removing the aerator and cleaning off the deposits is a simple job for your plumber. Some handy homeowners even perform this task on their own.
4. Noisy Faucet
Like doors and windows, plumbing fixtures can sometimes start to squeak as they age. Fortunately, kitchen faucet squeaks are typically quite fixable. With the right tools and knowledge and just a little grease, your plumber can have your squeaky kitchen faucet fixed in practically no time.
These are just some of the woes your kitchen faucet could start to experience as it ages. But whether it ages gracefully or with a lot of squeaking and complaining, your faucet deserves expert care. Dignity Plumbing can provide diagnostics, repairs, and replacements for a variety of plumbing fixtures such as your kitchen faucet. Give us a call today to learn more.