At first, that constant drip, drip, drip from the bathroom might not seem like a major issue. But the reality of faucet problems is that they rarely stay minor.
This subconsciously gets learned by many families through experience. Just a few drops of water hitting the tub turn into a steady stream of water, careful observation reveals stains on the fixtures and increasingly higher water bills, and a nasty surprise of hidden water damage behind the bathroom walls can happen.
The Symptoms People Fail to Recognise
Most bathroom faucets don’t fail all of a sudden. They give you plenty of heads-up that something is wrong. The most obvious symptom of a bad faucet is a dripping one, but other symptoms require attention. A handle that feels suspiciously sloppy when you turn it, an unusually low flow rate of water (especially if you notice a change), and if the faucet is making noise (grinding and squeaking); the scariest noise is the whistle that it makes (whistling is often going to happen at the most inopportune times). Closer inspection, one additional symptom to watch for is around the base of the faucet; lots of water stains can be seen (light brown or greenish stains around the base of the faucet) that catch your eye – these distributions may not seem like major issues, but are important symptoms indicating that water is escaping the faucet oil receiving area. Having a plumber who knows how to fix a leaky bathtub faucet can prevent most of these from becoming an issue.
What Happens With the Faucet
Just being aware of what goes wrong with bathroom faucets helps with catching issues before they become major – most issues are a simple act of a few common issues. Worn-out washers are typically the biggest culprit. These tiny rubber pieces create a seal when you turn off the water, but they won’t last forever. After pulling and releasing for years, they start to crack or lose their original form, and that’s when water starts leaking.
Corroded valve seats are also a common problem. The valve seat is where the washer sticks when the faucet is off, and over time, wear and mineral deposits create a surface where neither the washer nor the valve creates a seal. And even a new washer will not seal if the valve seat is damaged.
At times, the problem is with the O-rings, or packing, around the stem. These items can dry, crack, or wear away with continued use. After they fail, you may notice water getting out around the handle rather than out of the spout.
When small problems become big problems
This is the expensive part. That drip may not seem damaging, but it can waste large amounts of water. In some cases, thousands of gallons per year! The unseen damage is often just as dangerous, if not worse!
Water doesn’t just disappear when it leaks from loose connections or worn seals. Water can leak into walls, under flooring, behind tiles, etc. and create ideal growth conditions for mould. Numerous families have encountered severe water damage when they renovated their bathrooms, damage they could have avoided by fixing faucet leaks earlier.
The costs also add up rapidly. Higher water bills are only the beginning. Many bathroom problems cause damage so severe that thousands of dollars are needed to replace water-damaged drywall, pay for mould remediation or structural repairs after months or years of leaks.
Taking Action Before It’s Too Late
Many faucet problems can be repaired before they spiral out of control, however. Homeowners attempt to take on some of the simpler repairs by themselves, but many opt to hire professionals regardless.
If you are thinking of doing the repairs, you can save a lot of potential headaches and money by determining what work you can do. Determining how skilled you feel about the project and having the correct tools is the first step.
Replacing simple washers is usually an easy problem for someone with some DIY skills. If it is the valve seat or the internals, it might require special tools and knowledge that makes the rental of a plumber well worth it.
If You Need to Call for Help
Not every faucet problem is good for the weekend warrior treatment. If there are several leaks or if you have consistent water pressure issues throughout the house, it is probably time to bring in a plumber.
Some constructions are signals that the faucet may need the attention of a professional. If you turn off the main water valve and you still see a leak, if there are soft spots in the wall around the faucet, or if you begin smelling musty or mildewy smells near the faucet, then definitely call in a plumber.
Prevention Makes All The Difference
Preventative measures make life much easier when a faucet begins to leak. The best way to prevent any heavy hassle would be to recognise leaks earlier, before they cause real water damage. Just observe how the faucet looks and sounds when it is used. Regular checking does not require any skills.
Take a look at the base rings and handles every month and double-check for any mineral build-up. Remove the build-up while it is only annoying, and before it causes issues with the seals and moving parts. Likewise, if you hear noises changing while water is flowing through the faucet, or there are new stains or discolouration, point these out to the plumber sooner rather than later.
Instead of waiting for a leak to confirm that a washer or O-ring has worn, consider it more of an act of maintenance for a faucet, so the need to replace inexpensive parts would be the best approach to repair. Preventive measures would certainly reduce potential costs.
That annoying drip may give the perception of not needing a repair, but it adds to the drawn-out repair time. But repair weak points before they become significant issues for your house and your budget. Whether you attempt the repair yourself or hire a professional, ignoring the early signs of failure will make it very likely a small inconvenience, instead of a major renovation project.
