Faucet repair is an essential service. However, this is not a realization that all homeowners have right away.
Some may mistakenly think that a leaky faucet is no big deal. They think that the issue can fade into the background if they ignore the constant sound of dripping water.
It’s obviously up to you to decide how you approach your leaky faucet but do know that ignoring it can be problematic for your home and your bank account.
Learn more about how a broken faucet impacts your home and find out how to tackle this problem by reading on.
Why You Need to Fix Your Leaky Faucet
When you look at a leaky faucet, it’s easy to dismiss it as a minor issue that’s not worth addressing. After all, what harm could a few droplets of water do?
Well, the thing is that it’s not only a few droplets of water that are going to waste.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you could be wasting a significant amount of water if your faucet is losing droplets of water every second. To be more specific, the government agency notes that a faucet leaking at the rate of one drip per second can waste up to 3000 gallons of water per year.
To put that number into a better context, understand that 3000 gallons of water is enough for more than 180 showers.
And again, this is assuming that your leak is minor.
If the leak has gotten worse, you could be wasting more than 3000 gallons of water every year.
Another thing to note here is the cost of that wasted water. Those droplets of water going down the drain represent the money you are losing because you are not fixing this problem.
Sure, in the grand scheme of things, a few bucks added to your water bill is not going to cripple you financially. Even so, that’s money that you could be saving or using to improve your home.
Whether it’s saving water or saving money, it sure seems like homeowners have plenty of incentive to seek professional faucet repair as soon as possible.
Reasons Why Faucets Leak
Leaking faucets can be frustrating to deal with, but it can be an inevitable issue for homeowners.
Included below are some of the leading reasons why your faucet is leaking.
Wear and Tear
Fixtures can last for a long time, but they aren’t going to last forever. At some point, you’ll need to replace those light bulbs, and you may even need to purchase a new TV mount or ceiling fan if you have those items installed at home.
You will need to replace faucets eventually.
Even if you take care of your faucets, they will still succumb to corrosion. The most durable faucets available today will last for 15 to 20 years.
Components of the Faucet Are Damaged
If you’re lucky, you will only need to repair or replace your faucets after 20 years. As you’ve guessed, though, that’s not always the case since many components can be damaged.
Specific components of a faucet that can cause leaking includes the valve seat, the seals, and the O-ring. Gradual wear and tear contribute to those components sustaining damage. It’s also possible they did not get installed properly.
High Water Pressure
You may have noticed your faucets are only leaking during certain times of the day. If that’s what you’re seeing, then your faucets are leaking because of high water pressure.
Excessive water pressure can force water to come out of your faucets.
On one hand, water pressure being the cause of leaking is good because your faucets may be in good condition. On the other hand, you may need more extensive repairs if water pressure is the problem.
How to Tell if Your Faucet Is Leaking
One would think that leaking faucets are easy to spot. You stand there and wait to see if water drips out even if the faucet is off.
Do note, however, that not all leaks are easy to spot. According to The Spruce, some leaks could originate from the base of the faucet or even under the sink.
To see if leaks are coming from the base of the faucet or under the sink, turn the faucet on and watch those areas. If you’re having trouble telling if there’s water or not, place some paper towels near the potential problem areas.
Another method of leak detection you can try involves the water meter.
Go to your water meter and take a reading. After that, refrain from using any water in your home for an extended period of time. Once a few hours have passed, go back to the meter and take another reading.
The two readings you took should be identical or at least close to that. If there’s a significant discrepancy, you have a leak.
Is It Better to Repair or Replace a Leaky Faucet?
So, how should you go about addressing your leaky faucet? At this point, you have two options. You can either repair the faucet or replace it.
There are some important factors to consider when trying to answer that question.
First, is the status of the faucet itself. Check how old the faucet is and see if it can stay in service for a long time after it’s repaired.
Next is the value of the faucet. Homeowners who purchased expensive faucets may want to consider repairing it first to salvage their investment.
Lastly, you also want to consider the cost of either action. As this article from Angie’s List notes, some faucets may cost more to repair than to replace.
The decision of repairing or replacing the faucet will be up to you but do note that there are scenarios where replacement is clearly the better move.
Regardless of which option you choose, consider leaving the work to the professionals. By bringing the professionals in, we guarantee the faucet repair or replacement to go smoothly, and you won’t need to risk other plumbing-related issues popping up.
