Bathroom Faucet Problems

FAUCET - basin/lavatory, bathtub and shower

Faucets get used every day many times over. They can become a health concern if not kept clean. Faucets can cost a lot of money to replace if abused. They can burn you badly if not working properly. The faucet that drips slowly will waste a lot of water and can cause a lot of damage to the cabinet and other parts of the home. A large leak will be taken care of immediately and so will likely cause minimal damage. A slow leak will not seem serious and so will not get fixed right away. It is this slow leak that will cause the most damage because it never dries out.

Problem: Surface defects. Chips, cracks or lifting of the surface covering. These may be a manufacturing defect or the result of an impact. In may cases these are simply cosmetic defects but may also be easy to cut your hand. Rust may also develop.

Problem: Damage. You may not be able to operate the valves. It's very easy to cut your hand on a damaged faucet handle.

Problem: Leaks or drips. Faucets may leak water out through the body of the faucet, at their connection to the plumbing system, out through the spout and/or at connections to flexible hoses. The implications of dripping faucets are usually not severe, since the water ends up in the fixture. Leaks through the body of the faucet are usually more dangerous because of the water damage they can do to countertops.

Problem: Loose. Loose faucets may be caused by an installation issue, components working loose through vibration and/or mechanical damage. Loose faucets are prone to leakage as a result of strain on fittings.

Problem: Noisy. Water hammer is usually the result of quick closing fixtures at the end of long, relatively straight lines where water has a considerable momentum. Where water hammer exists valves must either be closed slowly or have some kind of cushion. Valve chatter is usually a worn valve or seat on a compression type faucet. Valves that whistle are usually defective and have to be replaced. The implications of chatter and whistle are valve failure.

Problem: Excess pressure. Where the water supply exceeds 80 psi a pressure regulator should be installed. Excess pressure is the result of a strong city supply system. The implications of excess pressure are leaking valves and faucets, as well as solenoid valve failures.

Problem: Low pressure or flow. Some of the most common causes for poor pressure or flow are rusted galvanized steel piping, undersized or excessively long pipe runs, a weak water source (well and pump system or poor municipal distribution grid). A partially closed valve or valves, crimped or obstructed piping, silt in the water meter, plugged aerators at faucets. Sludge in the water heater, water softeners or water treatment equipment , undersized, crimped or deteriorated water service piping and/or tall homes well above the water source. The implications are less water at each fixture than is desirable.

Problem: Shower diverter inoperative or defective. This can be a problem with the diverter itself, or it can be that the water pressure is so low that the diverter won't be held open. People can't take a shower.

Problem: Shut off valve is missing. All facets should have a shutoff valve located under the basin. The water can't be shutoff in an emergency.