Although they don’t experience the wear and tear that wastewater and sewer pipes do, the pipes that carry fresh, potable water into your San Jose, CA home aren’t impervious to issues. Problems like leaks, clogs, corrosion, and mineral build-ups can affect their integrity and the quality of what comes out of your taps. Water supply problems can also impact the functionality of your faucets. Fortunately, routine faucet maintenance can ensure the health and viability of your tap water. Regular faucet maintenance can also help you save money, limit water waste, and enjoy many other important benefits.
A Single Faucet Leak Can Waste a Lot of Water
For many homeowners, the worst part of having a leaking faucet is enduring its perpetual dripping sounds. Whether you’re trying to relax or drift off to sleep, a leaky faucet can prove downright maddening. However, the biggest drawback of a leaky faucet is actually its impact on home water bills. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), having just one leaky faucet can result in up to 3,000 gallons of water waste each year.
This is water that flows down drains unused, and yet homeowners still have to pay for it. While some consumers balk at the costs of professional faucet repairs or replacement, most will spend far more by simply neglecting these leaks. With routine faucet maintenance, you can identify and curb these problems before they hit you in the wallet.
Faucet Leaks Can Cause Lingering Problems With Mold and Mildew
Constantly dripping taps add moisture to the indoor air. Whether your faucet is dripping directly into a connected drain or having water pool around its escutcheon or base, much of this moisture will eventually evaporate and increase the humidity in your home. Worse still, leaky faucets are often in poorly ventilated spaces. By adding moisture to already humid areas, faucet leaks set the stage for mildew and mold development.
If you have grimy, mold-ridden tile and grout in your showers or rank, moldering odors in your kitchen or bathrooms, leaky faucets could be why. Part of maintaining your faucets is making sure that all of their connections are watertight. With regular faucet inspections and timely attention to leaks and other issues, you can sidestep mold problems altogether or make them easier to treat.
Dirty Faucet Aerators Could Make You Sick
If you’ve never unscrewed the aerators on your faucets and cleaned them, you may be in for an unfortunate surprise. These components regulate the flow of water as it exits your taps, but they also act as screens. They filter out tiny pebbles that occasionally find their way into water supply lines. In aging pipes, they also capture and retain lead particles. Your faucets’ aerators additionally remove much of the corrosion and sediment that come from your plumbing system and your hot water tank.
Dirty faucet aerators can develop large colonies of bacteria, especially during long periods of dormancy. Both running water and hot water have a cleansing effect, but if you head out for a long vacation or rarely use a specific tap, its aerator could be coated in biofilm and harmful microorganisms. When this happens, drinking water straight from the tap might lead to nausea, diarrhea, and other unpleasant symptoms.
Unchecked Faucet Problems Can Diminish Kitchen and Bathroom Aesthetics
Having a constantly dripping faucet can also make your kitchen and bathroom fixtures look old and worn long before their time. If you have rusty, discolored sinks, tubs, or shower pans, unchecked faucet leaks are the most likely cause.
Although these fixtures can certainly stand up to moisture, they shouldn’t be wet all the time. Leaky faucets also expedite the formation of mineral deposits on faucet spouts or stems, in aerators, and around escutcheon. By increasing overall water flow, leaks gradually diminish the lifespans of both faucets and the fixtures they service.
Spot Serious Water Supply Issues Before They Degrade Your Health and Home
When you take your faucet aerators off to clean them, finding slimy accumulations of biofilm will alert you to potential problems with your water supply. Although it’s not uncommon for aerators to harbor tiny pebbles and minute amounts of silt, visible build-ups of bacteria, especially in frequently used faucets, may indicate problems along your main water supply line or within the many water supply pipes connected to it.
How to Take Care of Your Faucets
Routine faucet maintenance is easy. When cleaning your bathrooms and kitchen, use a mild soap or window cleaner to wipe off any build-ups on your faucets’ stems, handles, and escutcheons. You can get a bright, spot-free shine on these elements by buffing them dry with a soft, microfiber cloth. However, before applying any cleaning solutions to your faucets, check their manufacturers’ instructions for basic care. Abrasive, scouring powders and certain acidic surface sprays could lead to problems like pitting, peeling, or general discoloration.
Before going to bed at night, make sure that your faucets and sinks are clean and completely dry. Not only will this minimize hard water build-ups and discoloration, but it will also limit your risk of pests. Perpetually wet faucets and sinks can attract ants, roaches, rodents, and more.
Clean Your Faucet Aerators Every Four to Six Weeks
Clean your faucet aerators every four to six weeks. This will break down mineral deposits, remove build-ups of silt and rocks, and optimize water pressure. Soaking these components in a mild solution of water, white vinegar, and baking soda typically works best. However, you should check your faucet manufacturer’s recommended cleaning methods for this maintenance task as well.
Check for Corrosion
Look for build-ups of rust and hard water minerals on all faucet components. Even if your faucets don’t currently leak, rust and corrosion are indications that leaks are on their way. Report rapid, severe, and recurring issues with rust and corrosion to your plumber. It may be time to have your water supply lines replaced or you may need a whole-house water softener.
Perform Regular Leak Checks at All Faucet Components
Don’t ignore the annoying dripping sounds caused by faucet leaks. You should also be wary of perpetually wet shower pans, tubs, and sinks. Not all faucet leaks are noisy. For instance, leaks just at the base of faucets or around their escutcheons are often soundless. If you suspect that a faucet is leaking at or near its escutcheon, dry the area and check it one to two hours after later. If you find pooling water again, schedule a faucet repair.
Assess Your Water’s Clarity and Quality
Periodically assess the quality of your tap water. If it’s brown, cloudy, foul-smelling, or foul-tasting, throw it out, turn your tap off, and contact a plumber right away. You may have a single-tap issue or there may be problems with your home’s entire water supply.
You should also schedule water quality testing at least once each year. The EPA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend testing for:
- Coliform bacteria
- Dissolved solids
- Nitrates
- Acceptable pH
In addition to annual water quality testing, schedule these services after major earthquakes and other significant earth-moving events.
Schedule Annual Whole-House Plumbing Inspections
Another great way to identify faucet issues early on is by regularly scheduling whole-house plumbing inspections. These yearly visits give plumbers the chance to spot build-ups of biofilm, slow and hidden leaks, and evidence of excessively hard water.
We help homeowners in San Jose, CA maintain healthy water supply lines and high-functioning faucets. We offer top-notch plumbing fixture installation, maintenance, and repairs. We also provide drain cleaning, hydro-jetting, rooter, water heater, and leak detection services. To schedule an appointment, get in touch with Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter today.
