Enjoy Clean, Clear Water with Faucet Repair and Installation

Faucets are found in your bathroom, kitchen, laundry room and other parts of your home. Wherever they are, they ensure a steady stream of potable water. When something goes wrong, tasks like cooking and cleaning can be much more difficult.

Luckily, faucet repair can be something you can handle by yourself. 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 trying this kind of home improvement on your own, don’t hesitate to contact a professional plumber, like those at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. With special tools and years of training, they can provide a long-lasting 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 provide 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 not safe or healthy to drink.

Leaky Faucet

Leaky faucets are one of the most common problems you will experience with your home plumbing. Whether it’s a leaking faucet or a steady stream of water, leaks may increase your monthly water bill. Depending on how much water is leaking, it could even result in water damage!

Leaky faucet repair is generally quick and inexpensive. A professional plumber will identify the part causing the leak before either repairing or replacing it for proper water flow.

Missing Hot or Cold Water

Your faucets deliver both hot and cold water. Adjusting the temperature is generally 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 will sometimes be a sign your water heater is damaged, in which case a professional plumber should be called.

Poor Water Pressure

The opposite of a leak, a faulty faucet can decrease water pressure or even prevent the flow of water entirely. Not only is this frustrating, but the additional pressure can create other problems deeper in your plumbing system.

How your plumber resolves water flow problems will depend on the type of faucet you’re using. Sometimes taking care of the issue is as simple as cleaning the affected part. Other issues stem from 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 confirmed there’s a problem with your faucet, there’s a few additional pieces of information that may simplify repairs. Remember that severe or widespread damage may make new faucet installation a more cost-effective option. Otherwise, it won’t be long before you’re forced to deal with another plumbing problem.

1. Determine the Type of Faucet

Effective repairs start with confirming 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 in place 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 uses a rubber washer and two handles to provide adequate water of the correct temperature.
• Cartridge Faucet: Available in both one- and two-handle designs. A single-lever design adjusts 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 shifts within the faucet, allowing water to flow. Small chambers inside the ball mix hot and cold water to provide the desired temperature.
• Ceramic Disk Faucet: Another single-lever design sometimes confused for a ball faucet. These models use a valve more similar to a cartridge faucet, raised and lowered to create water flow. By comparison, a ball faucet moves in a spherical 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 starts. Most designs can be 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 turns out to be, disassembling the faucet is often a part of repairs. A decent repair kit should possess tools like slip joint pliers or a basin wrench to reach 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 complex for special faucets, like for 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 hiring a professional. They can remove the old faucet and quickly install your choice of replacement.

Whether you need faucet repair or faucet installation, the Experts 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 561-629-1826 today!