Proactive is always better than reactive when it comes to home repairs. If you have thought to yourself, “How should I know if I need to replace my kitchen faucet,” read on!
The faucet in your kitchen is perhaps the hardest working appliance you have. This faucet is responsible for cleaning your dishes, whether as a full wash or prewash before loading the dishwasher. The faucet also helps you clean vegetables and fruits, and in most homes, hands are also washed with the kitchen faucet.
If the kitchen faucet in your home isn’t working properly, it can be quite disruptive. Without the faucet your dishes will start to pile up, it’ll be more difficult to wash your hands, and other activities will be more difficult to complete. When your kitchen faucet starts to wear out, you want to replace it right away before you find yourself without one.
How to Know If I Need to Replace My Kitchen Faucet
1. The Age of the Faucet
How long your kitchen faucet will last depends on the model and make you have. Even though your faucet may be similar to others you’ve seen, how they are made inside is quite different. Different manufacturers use different stems that vary in length with multiple splines on top of the stem or cartridge. To identify which kitchen faucet you have if it should need repair:
- Locate the logo identification
- Model number
Knowing the manufacturer of your faucet will help diagnose the type you have and help determine the lifespan. If you are not able to locate this information, you can expect your kitchen faucet to last approximately fifteen years, as this is considered an average length for this type of appliance.
2. Faucet Begins Leaking
There are times a leaking faucet can be fixed by replacing the cartridge inside of the unit. There are other times no matter what is done or replaced, it continues to leak. If your faucet continues to leak, even after replacing the cartridge, you should consider replacing it. While you might think a leaking faucet is not a big inconvenience, it can lead to mold growth, which is a risk to your health.
3. Mineral Deposits Begin to Appear
Mineral deposits can begin to build on the inside of your faucet, which makes its performance inadequate. These deposits will appear like old toothpaste around the base and inside the spigot. These deposits are the result of processing hard water and are unavoidable not only in the kitchen faucet but other appliances as well if your home uses hard water.
4. Rust and Corrosion Develop Inside the Faucet
If the handle on your kitchen faucet is cracked, beginning to stick, or the water is taking longer to come through, it may be corroded or rusted inside. Once this happens to your faucet there is not much you can do except replace it.
Rust will build up inside of the faucet before it becomes visible. It will then begin spreading to external areas such as the spigot and base. If the rust is left it will result in your faucet leaking and being less efficient.
Where to Learn More About Kitchen Faucets
So if you’re saying, “How should I know if I need to replace my kitchen faucet,” B&L Plumbing Service can help. B&L Plumbing Service provides a variety of commercial and residential plumbing services. Our business is family-owned and run and has more than twenty years of experience in the plumbing industry. When you call, a skilled technician will help answer all your questions and schedule an appointment quickly to resolve any plumbing issues you’ve encountered. If you have questions about your kitchen faucet performance or need to purchase a new one, contact our office today.
