Replacing your bathroom faucet can enhance its look while saving money on water bills. But how can you tell when its time for replacement?
Locate and turn off all the shutoff valves under your sink. Next, remove any mounting hardware and supply lines connected to your old faucet using either pliers or a basin wrench.
Dripping
Dripping faucets are one of the most prevalent plumbing issues. Luckily, their solutions often lie within easy reach for DIYers; oftentimes the issue lies within its valve seat or springs that need to be changed out – this process usually follows these steps:
Turn off the water supply by twisting off the shut-off value under your sink. Ideally, whoever installed your faucet should have included separate valves for hot and cold water in order to avoid flooding; but even if only one valve exists, be sure to turn it off so as to prevent small parts from falling down the drain.
Utilising your cartridge’s maintenance guide or instructions, locate and unscrew the hex screw at the top of its handle. Depending on your faucet type, you may also require unscrewing of its “beauty ring”, using a crescent wrench if necessary. Take apart and clean each component in turn; pay particular attention to cleaning off mineral deposits with white vinegar poured directly on it followed by brushing or sponge scrubbing to restore functionality.
Leaking
Dripping faucets are an annoying yet cost-effective problem for many homeowners. While this issue might appear complicated, with all the appropriate tools and supplies it’s usually straightforward.
Step one of fixing any leak in your faucet should be to turn off its water source at the valves under your sink and isolate its source. Step two will involve dismantling it in order to locate its cause and make repairs accordingly.
Disassembling your faucet will allow you to inspect its components for wear or damage, such as O-rings, washers and valve seats that have worn down or been compromised. In addition, make sure all the parts of your faucet are thoroughly cleaned using white vinegar as this will remove mineral deposits that could lead to leaky faucets.
Once the old parts are taken out, the next step should be replacing them correctly in order to ensure your faucet stops leaking. Use a screwdriver or pry bar to unscrew and pull off the handle button from its position on top of the handle; once this step has been accomplished, use another screwdriver to loosen its set screw from its base, followed by taking care to carefully unthread any other set screws holding onto its base before taking out its handle altogether.
Rust
As with all household appliances and furniture pieces, faucets have an expected lifespan. Depending on their quality and usage patterns, most faucets typically last ten to fifteen years before needing to be upgraded or replaced altogether.
Rust is an all too common problem among homeowners. Small scratches in chrome plating expose metal beneath to oxygen and moisture, leading to its corrosion. One easy way to treat rusted faucets is soaking them for two or three hours in vinegar before cleaning with chemical cleaners that oxidize rust.
Once a new faucet has been installed, it’s essential to follow its manufacturer’s instructions when reconnecting the water supply lines. Be sure to close any valves beneath your sink prior to reconnecting them; use a basin wrench if you can for any hard-to-reach bolts; then turn on your water source to check for leaks or loose connections before turning it back on and testing its performance.
Age
Replacing a bathroom faucet is an economical upgrade that can give your room a brand-new feel. Whether your current faucet is old, leaky, or simply doesn’t suit your tastes – switching it out takes only minimal tools!
Start your job off right by turning off the water supply valves under your sink by turning them clockwise to close them. Put a bucket or towel beneath any supply tube connections for any dripping or spilled liquid while working.
Unscrew the nuts that secure the faucet to the sink with pliers. A typical faucet typically consists of two handles and a spout attached via these connections; handle mounting nuts are generally found behind each handle, while an escutcheon ring may conceal another nut for its mounting nut; loosen them using channel-type pliers in order to pull apart these connections and unconnect all three from their respective positions on the body of the faucet.