Cleaning and Care of Your Faucets

December 7th, 2012 Posted in Faucet Repairs
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Faucets are seldom chosen simply for their utilitarian function; they are a part of your décor. That is why we have so many different styles and finishes to choose from. Chrome, brass, bronze and copper finishes are all available, as well as designer color choices. Styles come in sleek contemporary forms for the modern home, antique replicas for the period home and plenty of traditional styles for the homeowner to choose from as well.

The faucets always look beautiful when first installed, but keeping them shiny and looking new, does require proper care and cleaning. There is nothing complicated about caring for your faucets, but there are a few do’s and don’ts that need to be kept in mind.

  • Don’t let water droplets dry on your faucet when cleaning. Wipe them dry with a soft cloth to prevent mineral deposit being left behind.
  • If you do get water spots left on the faucet finish, wash off with warm water and buff dry with a soft cloth. For harder mineral deposits, use a half-and-half solution of water and vinegar to remove the deposits, rinse with plain water and buff dry.
  • Don’t use tub & tile cleaners on your faucet or shower fixtures. These have more caustic cleaning agents in them that can dull the finish.
  • Use of gentle household cleaners or window cleaners will leave your faucets shining.
  • The aerator on the spout of your faucet can get clogged with mineral deposits from hard water. To clean the aerator, simply remove it and let it soak in vinegar overnight. In the morning, rinse it with clean water and replace.
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Dealing With Leaky Faucets

May 3rd, 2012 Posted in Faucet Repairs
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Almost every homeowner will eventually be faced with a leaky faucet.  Leaky faucets are a common problem and are not only annoying, but can cost you a lot of money.  According to EPA estimates, a faucet that leaks at the rate of one drip per second wastes over 3,000 gallons of water per year.  If it’s hot water that’s dripping, the problem is even worse because your water heater has to work harder and use more energy to heat the water.

Fixing a leaky faucet can be a problem because there are so many different types and styles of faucets.  Identifying the source of the problem is the first step in faucet repair, and then finding the right parts to fix the leak is next.  There are four basic types of faucets, but within each type there are dozens of different sizes and styles of components.

The oldest style of faucet is a compression faucet.  These have been in use for decades and are very reliable but over time they will invariably start to leak.  Compression faucets have separate hot and cold knobs that use a rubber washer tightened against a valve seat to turn off the water.  When the rubber washer gets old and hard, the faucet will start to drip.

Ball type faucets usually have a single handle and are typically found in kitchen and bathroom sinks.  They have springs and seals that control the flow of water and can leak if the springs weaken or the seals wear out.

Disc faucets usually look like a ball type faucet, but they are a more recent design.  They have a single handle and use ceramic discs that slide against each other to control the water flow.  They don’t leak very often, but when they do it’s usually because a seal has worn out.

Cartridge faucets are a modern design that use a stem that moves up and down to control water flow and left to right to control temperature.  Repairing a leaky cartridge type faucet is a matter of simply replacing the cartridge.

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