Understanding The Most Common Water Faucet Problems
A typical household uses its faucets more than 50 times per day, and the larger the family, the more often the faucets are used. From washing hands and rinsing food to giving the doggo or baby a bath, faucets are essential for our everyday needs. Unfortunately, being such a staple plumbing accessory in our homes, faucets are bound to have problems of their own, for example:
Rust or buildup
The most common issue that arises from a faucet is buildup on the fixture. In most instances,
small deposits should not be cause for concern; however, rust or excessive calcium crusting on a faucet may cause unwanted plumbing problems or water flow concerns. Rust impacts the quality of water coming from the tap, as does scale buildup. Cleaning is the best first step, but the problem may make a replacement faucet necessary.
Pressure issues
Faucets with an aerator often have clogs. Aerators are the screens that control the water flow out of a faucet. The small holes may become blocked, which results in a change in the water pressure. Though this is common for a single faucet to experience, non-isolated pressure issues are a sign of another matter throughout the home plumbing system and may require attention.
No water
If one sink in the home has no water flow, but there is water in the rest of the home, the water is working. Therefore, it is possible that the valves inside the faucet may be restricting water flow and causing there to be no water. Older faucets tend to experience this more than newer faucet designs. Remove the tap and clean each chamber to rectify the lack of water.
Leaky faucet
Leaky faucets land at the top of the list of potential problems. A drippy faucet can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year by dripping just one drop per second. That amount of water accounts for nearly 200 showers of wasted water per year. A leaking faucet is usually attributed to a torn or dislodged washer inside the faucet. Washers are plastic rings seals within a faucet designed to prevent water from leaking. Unfortunately, these plastic pieces wear and stiffen over time. The best course of action is to replace a corroded, leaky washer before the issue grows to something more significant.
Noisy when in use
If a howling, whistling, or banging sound emanates from the faucet when in use, the problem may be a loose washer or an issue with the water supply valves. Loud noises emitting from plumbing require attention from a plumbing expert who will inspect and repair the problem. You might need to install a water hammer arrestor to alleviate the sounds.
Every person in a home is responsible for roughly 20 gallons of water use per day. Therefore, keeping faucets clean and functioning properly is easier and less wasteful than the alternative. Though faucet issues can start small, they will also grow to much larger future problems if ignored.
No Worries Rooter of Gilbert offers residential and commercial drain cleaning, leak detection and repair. We recommend Bio-Green drain care for customers who have slow drains caused by buildup in their pipes. Call us at (480) 405-4497.
