When to Replace Your Kitchen Faucet?

We can agree that the kitchen faucet is the most overused appliance in any home. The faucet comes in handy to make sure that your dishes do not go into the dishwasher with lots of grime. It’s where you wash your fresh vegetables and fruits. The faucet is also centrally placed and acts as the central hand-washing base.

For these reasons, you should ensure that the faucet is functioning properly. When the faucet malfunctions, a lot of kitchen activities will be thrown off balance. Your kitchen and home generally depend on the faucet’s functionality for smooth operations.

However, just like most appliances, it is not designed to last forever, and a kitchen faucet repair will be inevitable. After serving you and your family for a reasonable period, it will begin to wear out, resulting in the need for a repair or replacement.

Signs That the Kitchen Faucet Requires Repair

How do you know that your kitchen faucet requires some repair or replacement? Below are some of the signs you should look out for.

Visible Mineral Deposits

After a long period of use, you will notice mineral deposits building up in the faucet, reducing its performance. These mineral deposits often resemble a build-up of old toothpaste, and they will build up both inside the spigot and around the base.

The mineral deposits are unavoidable due to the hard water we use in our homes. It is, therefore, not uncommon to find your faucet clogged with mineral deposits. However, the presence of the deposits affects the normal functioning of the faucet as well as its appearance. The flanges, gaskets, and filters might clog, blocking the passage of water.

Using a water softener solution could help reduce mineral deposit build-up in the kitchen faucet. This is, however, not a permanent solution, and the deposits will finally show, which is a sign that it is time for a kitchen faucet repair.

Extremely Old Faucet

The lifespan of your kitchen faucet will depend on several factors, among them being its model and make. However, it can be very challenging to find out the type of faucet you have in your kitchen, but there are many ways to find out.

For instance, you can look at the model number, which is often printed on the underside or back of the spout. The manufacturer’s information about the faucet will help you assess the model, and subsequently, its lifespan. If, by all means, you cannot figure out the lifespan of your kitchen faucet, you can replace it after 10-15 years.

Rust

Does your kitchen faucet crack or stick when you move it? Does the water take some time to run through it? If so, these are signs that your faucet is internally corroded or rusted. Once the faucet begins to break down from rust, there is nothing much you can do to repair it. You will have to replace it with a new one.

Rust will have built up internally long before it’s even externally visible. You will start noticing rust around the spigot and the base. If corrosion and rust are not addressed, your kitchen faucet becomes less effective and more leak-prone over time.

Consistent Leaking, Even After Repairs

Minor kitchen faucet malfunctions can usually be repaired with a simple cartridge replacement. However, that alone might not be enough in some cases. If the faucet does not stop leaking after repairing it a couple of times, then it is time to replace it.

You should not waste your resources replacing a faucet that does not respond to repair. A leaking kitchen faucet is not only annoying, but constant leakage might result in mold growth. Replacing a malfunctioning faucet saves you money compared to attempting multiple repairs that yield no results.

Things You Should Know Before Replacing a Kitchen Faucet

You should understand the process and whatever obstacles there may be before you begin disassembling your kitchen faucet to replace it with a new one. Has your faucet witnessed better days? Whether it’s leaking or rusty, you can always replace it with a new and often better model.

However, the process is not always as simple as it may sound. Replacing an old rusty kitchen sink with a new one could go smoothly without any issues, however, you might run into a snag because faucet configuration varies.

This is why you should know what to expect, what might go wrong, the common pitfalls, and when you should hire a professional plumber to do the replacement for you.

D.I.Y. Tips

Below are some of the considerations you should make when doing a kitchen faucet repair.

1. Turn off the water. You will just have to twist the on/off valves at the main water supply point. If your faucet has been in use for years, it’s common that the valves might be rusted, making them difficult to budge. This is why you might need to hire a professional plumber.
2. Removing the old faucet. Once the water is turned off, the nuts need to be loosened for the faucet to dislodge. Since the space under your kitchen faucet is not well-lit, you will require sufficient illumination. Just like the water valves, the nuts might have rusted, rendering them difficult to remove.
3. Know your limit. If you cannot wedge yourself enough to fit under the faucet to reach the bolts, you may want to hire a professional. You might also find out that your faucet system requires more than just a sink replacement. These services are more difficult than your average DIY and should be left to the professionals.
4. Buy the appropriate replacement faucet. There are thousands of kitchen faucet designs and models out there. However, you need to pick the one that best meets the needs of your kitchen.
5. Hire a Professional Plumber. Faucet technologies have advanced over time, which means the traditional faucet design you might be familiar with is no longer in use. Today, we have wall-mount faucets with an extending and rotating faucet arm. Switching from a sink-mount faucet to the modern wall-mount version will mean opening the wall behind the sink to fit the new water supply pipes. If you want this done right, involve the services of a seasoned plumber.

Contact Us

After going through the above-mentioned steps, do you think it’s time you replace your kitchen faucet? If so, you should hire professional plumbing services near you. At Whipple Service Champions, our professionals will help you select the best faucet for your kitchen and have it efficiently installed for you in no time. Call us today at 801-355-4433, and we will help you find the best faucet for your home.