Faucets are an integral part of any house; they are also the most used tools. Whether installed in the kitchen or your bathroom, they are used daily.
Photo by Aaron Huber on Unsplash
Therefore, it is natural for them to develop some malfunction over the years. According to experts, a faucet should be replaced if used for more than ten years. Faucet replacement is easy if you have the right tools and experience; however, if you are not confident, don’t take a chance as it will only worsen the situation. Following are a couple of reasons that might force you to replace your old faucet.
1. Mineral Deposits
This is a pretty common occurrence in old faucets. Over time, your faucet is vulnerable to these mineral deposits, which affect its functionality. Usually, hard water runs through them; therefore, mineral deposits are unavoidable. If the base or head has a white toothpaste-like substance accumulated, it’s best to replace them.
Unfortunately, they affect the water pressure and damage a faucet’s filters, gaskets, or flanges. Besides the inconvenience, they can also cause serious health issues, therefore, replacing them more of a necessity than choice. Mineral deposits can also affect the durability of your faucet; as a result, they are unable to offer longevity. To avoid the problem, use a water softener filter. This will increase the life of a faucet and help prevent mineral deposits.
2. Rusting
Faucets are generally made of stainless steel, known for their anti-rustic abilities. However, the number of times they are used daily will cause internal rusting. Rusting in faucets is hard to catch because it usually occurs inside. You will have to see the base or the fixture of the tap to determine the level of rustic erosion. Usually, it will not be visible for several years, but it might show some signs if your faucet is getting older. Similarly, excessive rusting can also discolor or make the water pungent. If you don’t see any external rusting, these two factors can help you figure out the situation. Once the rust gets excessive, your faucet might break or get leaky; either way, a replacement is necessary. Besides, rustic water is hazardous for your skin; therefore, you should replace them as soon as the problem appears.
3. Old and Out-Fashioned
Faucets are durable and usually don’t break even after using them for years. However, you should replace them for your safety and health issues when they get older. Older faucets can get leaky or don’t control the water flow. Usually, a new faucet handles around 1.5 gallons of water every minute, but a faulty one might waste 2.2 gallons of water every minute. Besides, their head or base can break at any time, resulting in some form of accident or injury.Therefore, avoid water wastage and replace your old faucet with a new one.
Faucets might not require our daily attention, but if you don’t check them periodically, they can cause significant damage to the house’s interior. If your faucet shows any of the signs mentioned above, then it’s an excellent reason to replace them.