[ad_1]
Your faucet is one of the hardest working appliances in your home. It keeps your dishes from going into your dishwasher with too much grime. It also helps wash off your fresh fruits and vegetables. However, if your kitchen faucet isn’t working properly, it can cause a big mess. So, how long does the kitchen faucet last?
Kitchen and bathroom faucets can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. A faucet’s lifespan depends mostly on how well the faucet is made and the water quality. Proper maintenance can prolong the lifespan of your faucet.
Faucets encounter many problems. The most common is a leaky faucet, although many people don’t pay much attention to this issue. Keep reading to understand more about the lifespan of your kitchen faucets.
Factors Affecting the Average Lifespan of a Kitchen Faucet
Frequency of Use
The more often you use your kitchen faucet, the shorter its lifespan will be. This is because each time you turn on your faucet, it experiences wear and tear. Over time, this wear and tear can lead to leaks or other problems.
Faucet Make and Model
The make and model of your kitchen faucet will also affect its lifespan. Some brands are known for making high-quality, long-lasting products, while others are not. Do your research to find a brand that makes reliable products.
Type of Water in Your Home
If you have hard water, it can cause mineral buildup on your kitchen faucet. This mineral buildup can lead to leaks and other problems. Although installing a water softener can help with mineral buildup, once these minerals become visible, they can be difficult to remove, and you may need to replace your faucet.
Plumbing Maintenance
Proper plumbing maintenance is important to the longevity of your kitchen faucet. Have your plumbing inspected regularly to ensure there are no leaks or other problems. If you do have a leak, have it repaired as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
Proper Installation
If your kitchen faucet is not installed properly, it will not function correctly and could cause problems down the road. Make sure to hire a qualified professional to install your kitchen faucet.
How to Know if Your Faucet Cartridge is Bad
Older faucets have valves with rubber seals that anyone can replace. The problem is that these seals tend to degrade over time, allowing water to slowly seep through and cause mineral buildup around the valve seat. If you have an older faucet, it might be a good idea to have the valves replaced before they become an issue.
You can tell if your cartridge needs to be replaced if you notice any of the following:
- Your faucet is leaking
- Water flow pressure is low
- The handle is hard to turn
- The water temperature is inconsistent
If you notice any of these issues, it’s time to replace your cartridge. Make sure to shut off the water supply before beginning any work on your faucet. The cartridge’s primary purpose is to mix hot and cold water streams and regulate their supply’s intensity and ensure sanitary equipment’s uninterrupted operation.
How Long Does a Faucet Last?
The lifespan of your faucet depends on how well you maintain it. With regular cleaning and descaling, your faucet can last for many years. However, if you don’t maintain it properly, your faucet will start to show signs of wear and tear much sooner. When having your faucet installed, make sure you find an experienced and qualified plumber.
Never leave cement or adhesives on surfaces to avoid damaging their protective coatings. Don’t use too much force when opening the tap, as the water flow pressure is far greater than the tap can withstand. In case of a leak, repair the faucet immediately. Quality faucets seal well when put in place.
However, since the ceramic seal is sensitive to hard impurities such as sand and gravel in the water, the sealing surface easily becomes worn out and scratches. Hard water can quickly lead to dripping and leaking. Once a drip starts, it will continue to increase, creating a flow line, which means you need to fix a leaking faucet as soon as you notice the leak.
Also, it’s ideal for installing an automatic water saving device with constant pressure and flow. After installing the water saving device, the faucet can maintain an optimal and stable flow rate under high water pressure. You should also clean the faucet regularly to prevent the buildup of lime and dirt, which can cause a lot of damage.
Clean your faucet’s surface with a soft cotton cloth, gentle wiping removes most contaminants without damaging the material. Do not use aggressive sponges, brushes, and even microfiber cloths. Limescale mostly builds up in the corners and on the joints.
Use a mild citric acid based cleaner to remove limescale buildup. Do not apply the concentration directly to the tap but onto the cloth, you use to wipe the tap. You can also remove the aerator for cleaning. Cleaning the aerator is necessary when the water jet is irregular. In most cases, you’ll only need to clean the aerator cartridge before replacing it.
Will Replacing a Faucet Stop it from Leaking?
A dripping faucet doesn’t always require replacement, so it’s not necessary to replace your entire faucet just because it’s leaking. You may only need to replace a seal or washer. A thorough understanding of the problem can save you a lot of money.
For instance, if your newly installed bathtub faucet is malfunctioning, it may be of low quality. If the installed faucet has started to leak or stopped diverting the water from the tub spout to the shower after it was acquired and installed, it is likely that the washer assembly or O-ring within the diverter valve is defective and will need to be replaced.
Your best option is to replace it with the best faucet. If you have older faucets, then the parts and materials are obsolete. This is because older faucets have failed rubber seals. These seals fail quicker than those made from silicone, though water quality can directly impact the faucet’s lifespan.
If you’re handy and well researched the topic, you can try to repair the faucet yourself. A new kitchen faucet will last you anywhere from 15-20 years with proper care and maintenance. Some higher-end models have a lifetime warranty, so that’s something to consider when making your purchase.
Types of Faucets
There is a diverse range of faucets, but the majority vary only in external specifications. All can be divided into several larger groups: purpose, type of construction, method of attachment, material, and performance. Kitchen faucets are designed for installation above the sink.
The specificity of the room places unique demands on the quality of the plumbing. Because the kitchen faucet is used regularly, plumbing fixtures must be durable and reliable, made from wear resistant materials. Bathroom faucets are designed to be placed above the bathtub or sink.
Structurally, bathroom faucets are more complex and more expensive. Plumbing fixtures in the bathroom are also used regularly but have an additional factor affecting the wear rate. Increased humidity levels in the room. Therefore, the possibilities that arise in designing bathroom faucets are more expensive than kitchen sink faucets.
Shower faucets are substantially different from common faucets. They have complex devices and capabilities that come with high prices. There are also variations of the standard hand shower with flexible hose and interchangeable nozzles as with other faucets. These require a high quality cartridge that directs water to the desired element with one turn of the regulator.
Bidet taps are part of the restroom for intimate health. Intense pressure is not required here, but it’s important to regulate the water temperature accurately and quickly. This device is defined by a smooth adjustment of the head, the ability to change the jet’s direction from the spout, and an aerator’s major presence. The function of the aerator is to spray water. Therefore, you need to install faucet aerators to improve your water flow, among other things.
Faucets can also be divided according to their exterior design. There are classic faucets with one or two separate handles, but hot and cold water comes from the same faucet. Some taps contain a cap for cold water only, such faucets do not heat and do not consume hot water.
Modern sensor faucets contain a sensor that activates with movements. Such taps may also include a handle for mixing hot and cold water. Thermostatic faucets have become very popular for installation in shower enclosures, as they maintain the same temperature during the shower and thus save water and energy. Such a faucet limits the water temperature, thus avoiding potential damage to the body due to too hot water.
FAQs on How Long a Kitchen Faucet Lasts
How long do Moen kitchen faucets last?
If you’re looking for a kitchen faucet packed with technology and defined in its design, Moen kitchen faucet is the brand for you. This is another best kitchen faucet with a sprayer, making it easier to rinse and clean those stubborn dirt. But then, how long do Moen kitchen faucets last?
According to the brand’s website, Moen kitchen faucets have a limited lifetime warranty which means that as long as you own your home, they will back their products. This means that they can last over 20 years if properly maintained.
How long should kitchen faucets last?
The best kitchen faucet should last at least 15 years or more if properly maintained. If you have a lower quality kitchen faucet, it may last only 5 – 10 years.
Should you fix or change a broken faucet?
You can solve many issues with faucets, often in a cost effective manner, by replacing individual parts. If you have a leaking faucet, then you may have worn out internal parts. In this case, you don’t have to replace the faucet but that part. If you have irregular water flow, there might be a problem with the aerator or the cartridge. Just replace it. Low water pressure in the kitchen sink can also indicate a problem with the aerator or cartridge.
Final Thought on How Long a Kitchen Faucet Last
Kitchen faucets are very important fixtures at home. However, maintaining and replacing them can be costly. In order to avoid these costs, it is important to know how long kitchen faucets last. With the proper care and maintenance, your kitchen faucet can last for a very long time.
The post How Long Do Kitchen Faucets Last appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.
[ad_2]
kitcheninfinity.com
