First of all, do you fix it or ditch it?
Modern kitchen and bath faucets are generally well-engineered and can easily last a decade or more depending on what type you have and factors such as how hard your water is.
- Bing: Shop for new faucets
Many people choose to replace faucets as a design decision when remodeling, but there are more practical reasons that may lead you to replace a faucet. These include:
- Its finish is worn away and its handle discolored or cracked.
- The threads on the aerator or spout are worn or corroded, making aerator replacement difficult.
- Its internal parts are so worn that replacement washers, O rings, screws, clips and valve assemblies simply don’t solve the problem any longer.
Out of tune
Every time you go for a glass of water, you have to deal with a screeching faucet.
The quick fix
It’s a matter of rubber. Rubber washers age and harden and can make a particular sound when water passes over them in a hurry. If your faucet is making a screeching sound, it’s most likely an older version with washers. Replace the washers with an inexpensive kit from a hardware store, or replace the whole faucet if it’s time to update.
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Sound plumbing
A clanking faucet has you wondering if your water supply is safe.
The quick fix
A clanking, clicking or mechanical sound signals a problem that needs to be investigated. Although it could be coming from the pipes, if it sounds distinctly like it is coming from the faucet itself, you’ll need to take the faucet apart and reassemble, looking for cracks in any of the pieces and making sure that the entire assembly has been tightened well.
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Squeaky handle
The guest bathroom has a squeaky faucet that’s starting to draw comments.
The quick fix
Sometimes the threads of the faucet stem become worn. The easy way to correct this is to remove the faucet handle and coat the threads of the handle stem with plumber’s grease and then reassemble the faucet. This will usually make the handle easier to use and make the whole structure as quiet as it should be.
Free flow
Your friends are on their way over for a cocktail party, and the powder room faucet spits rather than streams.
The quick fix
The most likely culprit of an inconsistent water stream from a faucet is a clogged aerator — the screw-on screen that covers the mouth of the faucet. Remove the aerator and flush any lime or mineral deposits until the screen is clear, then reattach it. In cases where the aerator is entirely blocked or crusted, it’s easier to just swap the aerator with an inexpensive replacement available from hardware stores and home centers.
Squirt alert
The kitchen sink sprayer offers a dribble where once there was a spray.
The quick fix
Low flow in a kitchen sink sprayer is often associated with the diverter, a small valve in the stem of the faucet. Take the handle assembly apart, pop out the diverter with a screwdriver and soak it in a bath of equal parts white vinegar and boiling hot water. Reassemble the faucet with the diverter in place, and the sprayer stream should be as strong as ever.
