Faucet Repair and Replacement

Faucets like most fixtures in your home will someday need to be repaired and eventually replaced.  Proper care and maintenance will certainly prolong the life of your faucets but knowing when to repair and when to replace older faucets is key to saving money.

Faucet Repair

Replacing worn parts can often extend the life of your faucet.  Faucet parts, such as cartridges, seats and springs, can be replaced to fix a malfunctioning kitchen or lavatory faucet.  Replacing parts is certainly a more cost effective approach to replacing an entire faucet, but sometimes an older faucet can no longer be repaired.  Or the repair may not last more than a few months. 

Faucets like most fixtures in your home will someday need to be repaired and eventually replaced.  Proper care and maintenance will certainly prolong the life of your faucets but knowing when to repair and when to replace older faucets is key to saving money.

Faucet Replacement

Replacing an dated faucet with a newer model can easily update the look of your kitchen or bath.  Replacing an old faucet can also save money by avoiding costly repairs on worn parts and save money on your utility bills with new water saving features.   

New kitchen faucets and lavatory faucets come in many shapes, sizes and finishes.  When choosing new kitchen and bath features there are several things you should consider: 

• Shape and Size - When considering the shape and size of a new faucet, you will need to decide if you want:
  • A two-handled faucet or a single-handled faucet,
  • A center-set faucet or a wide-spread faucet
  • A built-in sprayer, a sprayer on the side, or no sprayer at all
  • A tall “goose neck” faucet or a low profile faucet that does not interfere with a lovely view out of your window or the bar top.
• Longevity - Some faucets are simply made better than others with higher quality materials such as solid brass or chrome-plated with solid brass internal parts, or ceramic cartridges instead of plastic. These faucets are more durable. Although you may pay more for a quality faucet, you will receive a higher value for your money as a result of a longer-lasting and more reliable product.
• Finish: There are so many finishes to choose from: Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel, Polished Brass, Brushed Nickel, Oil Rubbed Bronze, French Gold, Polished Gold, etc. If the faucet is well-made, the finish should not affect the life-span of your faucet, so you should choose a finish that pleases you and matches the rest of your décor.

When choosing a new faucet, you will need to consider whether your choice will fit into the current space or if modifications will be required.  Generally, faucet dimensions and sink openings are standard throughout the plumbing industry. Kitchen sinks typically come pre-drilled with 1 hole, 3 holes, or 4 holes. Lavatory sinks and vanity tops are typically drilled with either 4 or 8 inch centers for lavatory faucets.  There are a few exceptions however, so it is a good idea to check your sink before you make your faucet purchase.