Faucets are small, yet crucial, parts of your
house. When they work typically, you
probably don't believe much about them. If not, the
choice over faucet repair or replacement can be unclear.
Usually, kitchen and bathroom faucets can last 10 years or more, however this
depends upon many
factors. Hard water or more regular use
can decrease a faucet's life-span. If
you're undecided on fixing or replacing a loud,
spouting, or leaking faucet, continue checking out for some
useful assistance.
Should You Repair It?
Many problems are fixable
due to the fact that faucets included
replaceable parts. Common
problem points include O-rings. An O-ring is a
piece of rubber that fits around the valve stem; it can become
loose or damaged through normal wear and tear.
Corroded valve seats can interfere with the seal that
prevents water from leaking. A valve seat connects the
compression system to the cartridge. Damaged or loose
washers can occur with regular usage, while used inlet
and outlet seals in disk cartridge faucets can cause trouble too.
The most common faucet problems requiring
repair work include:
Leaks/Drips: A leak is frequently the first
sign internal parts are wearing down or stopping working. If
a leak occurs from under the handle, a worn O-
ring might need to be changed. If the faucet is
dripping, a corroded valve seat or loose washer might
be the cause. Leaks can also take place internally, which can
trigger an incorrect mix of cold
and hot water. According to the U.S. Epa, a
leaky faucet, at one drip per second, can lose over
3,000 gallons per year.1 This is one reason why leaky
faucet repair is so essential.

Irregular Water Flow: The stream of water from a faucet
must be constant. If the water is rather
spitting, sputtering, or spraying, there may be internal damage. Call a
professional to examine and repair the system.
Irregular flow can be brought on by a
clogged aerator filter or air that has collected in water lines. Waiting on repairs can result in extra
damage that could have been avoided.
Squeaking Sounds: If the handle squeaks when turned, and
using grease does not solve the
issue, a repair is required. Squeaking is
often triggered by worn
threads in the faucet handle, however it can be triggered
by a loose washer too. The valve stem might be broken, triggering loose parts to flap around. High water
pressure can trigger the faucet to screech, or there
may be debris lodged in the pipes or the faucet itself.
Low Water Pressure: While low water pressure can show a
water line break or sewage system line
clog, it may also be triggered
by a clogged aerator or cartridge. Particles and mineral
deposits can reduce water pressure; this is a likely
situation if the issue is limited to
just one faucet. Other causes can consist of crushed or kinked
supply lines under the sink, limiting the circulation of water to
the faucet.
A plumbing technician who has
diagnosed the problem and has the
suitable parts can repair a bathroom faucet in
anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.2 Repair expenses depend on the part, the type of faucet, and the degree of the
damage.
What Sort of Faucet Do You Have?
The type and brand of faucet you have will affect your
choice. High-quality faucets are
frequently ensured for life, with replacement parts
available simply by asking the manufacturer
for them. Upscale brand names like Mohn, GROHE, and
ROHL will change parts for free. The other
factor to consider is the type of faucet you have, which
can be a:
Ball Faucet: Most frequently installed in kitchen areas, it has many parts, making it
susceptible to leaks. An internal ball controls the
circulation of water.

Disk Faucet: A modern design that
mixes cold and hot water in a special
chamber, and controls water volume by means of
two ceramic disks, it does not often require repair work.
Cartridge Faucet: A single- or double-handle faucet used in the
common bathroom sink. Motion is
smooth and consistent with no pressure
needed to turn off the faucet.
Compression Faucet: The handle (and, in turn, the washer) should be tightened up to close the water flow. This
style is utilized in utility sinks and is more
frequently discovered in older homes.
Should You Change It?
This includes not just parts and products but also
labor.3 Faucet replacement frequently costs more than
repairs, however that depends on your
unique situations. In most cases, it is more affordable to change a leaky
faucet, especially if it is old or has been repaired
numerous times.
A few factors to think about replacement over
faucet repair include:
Repairs cost more than replacing the faucet,
particularly if you can pay for a higher
quality brand that provides a
guarantee and/or replacement parts totally free.
Frequent repair work are required, which can
increase the cost enough that changing the faucet is a
more cost-effective
option.
Your fixtures are old and, even if fixed, are most likely to need additional repair work in the
future, without any warranty of enduring efficiency.
You want a more efficient system; older faucets can
perform at 3 to 5 gallons per minute, while modern, effective
ones typically don't exceed 2.5
gallons per minute.
You don't like your components; changing your
faucets can be a valuable upgrade to your
house, particularly if you're
renovating or plan to sell it in the future.

The sink or counter surface area may be damaged;
to restore it, you might need to also replace your
faucet, whether there's something bad with it or not.
It is necessary to know
when to repair or replace a faucet, as tricky as
the choice can be. The right option will
prevent more extreme damage. Talk to a plumbing
professional as soon as possible if you have a leaky or otherwise
damaged faucet.
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