Enjoy Clean, Clear Water with Faucet Repair and Installation
Faucets are found in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room and other parts of your home. Wherever they are, they provide a steady supply of potable water. When something breaks, tasks such as cooking and cleaning can become more difficult.
Luckily, faucet repair might be something you can perform on your own. But when it’s beyond your skill to fix, a trained plumber can identify what the problem is and what part of the faucet is broken so repairs can begin. When you don’t feel comfortable attempting this kind of home improvement by yourself, don’t hesitate to contact a professional plumber, like those at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. With specialized tools and years of training, they can provide a long-term solution to your faucet problem.
We’d like to share some of the most common problems you might come across with your faucets. We’ll also share information on finding the source of the problem and what may be needed to complete repairs.
Common Faucet Problems
Your faucets are connected to your home’s water supply lines. When they break or malfunction, you might not be able to get the water you need. Or worse, the water is no longer safe or healthy to use.
Leaky Faucet
Leaky faucets are one of the most common problems you will experience with your home plumbing. Whether it’s a leaky faucet or a constant stream of water, leaks will often increase your monthly water bill. Depending on how much water is leaking, it may even result in water damage!
Leaky faucet repair is usually simple and inexpensive. A professional plumber will identify the part causing the leak before either fixing or replacing it for proper water flow.
Missing Hot or Cold Water
Your faucets deliver both hot and cold water. Choosing the temperature is typically dependent on the faucet’s design, with models featuring either one or two handles. Fixing the handle can often resolve the issue.
But if your problem is lacking hot water, there may be a more serious problem. This can be a sign your water heater is damaged, in which case a professional plumber should be notified.
Poor Water Pressure
The opposite of a leak, a damaged or clogged faucet can decrease water pressure or even stop the flow of water entirely. Not only is this frustrating, but the additional pressure can cause other problems deeper in your plumbing system.
How your plumber resolves water flow problems will require knowing what type of faucet you’re using. Sometimes resolving the issue is as easy as cleaning the affected part. Other issues can be traced to the seal that separates your faucet from the water supply.
Keep in mind that this doesn’t happen too often. So when the faucet isn’t to blame, your plumber will look for other issues like corroded pipes and clogs (as these also cause the water pressure to fall). Even partially closed valves will drop the water pressure, resulting in weak flow.
What to Know About Faucet Repair
Once it’s verified there’s a problem with your faucet, there’s a few more pieces of information that could simplify repairs. Keep in mind that serious or extensive damage may make new faucet installation the superior option. Otherwise, it won’t be long before you’re forced to deal with another plumbing problem.
1. Determine the Type of Faucet
Quality repairs begin with knowing the type of faucet you use. This doesn’t mean whether it’s a kitchen faucet or a bathroom faucet, but what internal components are used to deliver potable water. Our plumbers have enough experience with different faucet types that they can recognize yours quickly, starting repairs sooner.
- Compression Faucet: This design is the oldest type of faucet still in common use today. It relies on a rubber washer and two handles to provide adequate water of the desired temperature.
- Cartridge Faucet: Manufactured with both one- and two-handle designs. A single-lever design controls water flow by raising and lowering the valve inside the handle.
- Ball Faucet: The most common type of single-lever faucet. As the lever is moved, a plastic or metal ball moves within the faucet, allowing water to flow. Small chambers within the ball blend hot and cold water to provide the desired temperature.
- Ceramic Disk Faucet: Another single-lever design often confused for a ball faucet. These models use a valve a little similar to a cartridge faucet, raised and lowered to create water flow. By comparison, a ball faucet moves in any direction.
2. Shut Off the Water Before Finding the Affected Part
Once they know what type of faucet you have, the plumber’s next step is to locate where the problem is coming from. Most designs are split into two sections, the faucet body and one or two faucet handles. Knowing the type of problem they’re dealing with can make things easier.
Whatever the problem may be, disassembling the faucet is often a part of repairs. A quality repair kit should possess tools like slip joint pliers or a basin wrench for reaching the internal components.
3. Determine Whether a Part Needs Cleaning or Replacement
Sometimes a problem can be taken care of by simply reaching the affected component and cleaning it thoroughly. But if the component is cracked or broken, replacing it is usually best. These small pieces aren’t expensive, so don’t worry about the cost of replacing a broken part like the spout, O-ring or any washers.
This may be more complicated for special faucets, such as an outdoor garden hose.
Consider a Professional for Faucet Installation
Sometimes the damage is too severe, or maybe you just don’t trust your DIY skills. Whatever the reason, there’s nothing wrong with choosing a professional. They can remove the old faucet and seamlessly install your choice of replacement.
Whether you need faucet repair or faucet installation, the pros at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning can help. We’ll ensure an affordable solution that doesn’t cost you everything but the kitchen sink.
Request an appointment or free estimate by getting in touch online or over the phone at 305-440-1505 today!