Sinks and Faucets
Some of the most common leaks in a home occur when seals and O-rings inside a faucet become dirty or worn, or when the cartridge or stems in the faucet need to be replaced. Because water from a leaking faucet can run down under the sink, it often seems the sink itself is leaking. It is very rare for a sink to leak, however. So, when you think you have a leak on your sink or faucet, call Atlanta Plumbing Plus at 770-447-0374. We will examine the sink and faucet; the basket strainer; the water lines; the p-trap and drain line; and even the garbage disposal on a kitchen sink. That way we can determine exactly where the leak is coming from and give you the right recommendation for the repair. And, we can fix it the same day in most cases.
Once your current problem is fixed, take the time to read the rest of this page. It is organized to give you great advice on:
- Installation and Connections
- Cleaning
- Basket Strainers
- Repair
- Replacement
- Maintenance
- Water Conservation
If you don’t understand some of the plumbing terminology we use on this page, you can always go to our glossary for the definition. But remember: Safety is Your Responsibility* be careful as you work around your home and if you don’t think you can perform a plumbing task safely, call Atlanta Plumbing Plus to do it for you.
Sinks
The typical home has many sinks: Kitchen sinks, Bathroom sinks (plumbers call these “lavatories”) and Laundry sinks or Mop sinks. Some homes also have Wet Bar sinks and sinks for outdoor kitchens. And, these inks can be made of stainless steel, porcelain, glass, marble or cultured marble, or any one of the dozens of composite materials available. No wonder it is confusing for the homeowner.
Regardless of where they are used, or which materials they are made of, all sinks have basic components: A drain line, a strainer of some sort to catch waste materials that could clog the drain line (such as vegetable peelings in the kitchen or hair and soap chips in the bathroom), a stopper so that you can fill the basin with water, and spaces for your faucet to be installed. Most well-made bathroom sinks (or “lavatories” as plumbers call them) also have an overflow drain built in to them. Other than that over flow drain – and the fancy name – lavatories are really no different than the other sinks in your home and the information below applies to all sinks.
Sink installation and Connections
One of the most popular service requests we get is to connect a sink to the drain and water lines after new counter tops have been installed. Most counter-top installation companies will attach the sink to the counter-top but they won’t re-connect the plumbing because the job is often more complicated than it seems at first sight. This is due to a change in the height of the counter-top in relation to the height of the plumbing, or because a drop-in sink is being replaced with an under-mount sink, or a one-bowl sink is being replaced with a two-bowl sink during a bathroom or kitchen renovation.
Reputable counter-top companies know this work is best left to an experienced, licensed plumber. Unfortunately, some counter-top companies attempt to make the connections themselves or use an unlicensed handyman to do the job. It is heartbreaking for our customers and for us when we must repair the damage done to a newly remodeled kitchen or bathroom because the counter-top company did not make sure that the plumbing reconnection was done right. The best advice we can give you is: Ask the counter-top company if they have included plumbing reconnection in their installation price. Also ask if they will be sending an experienced and licensed plumber to do the work. If they answer “no” to either of these questions, call us. Don’t risk water damage to your new kitchen or bathroom.
Calcium or iron deposits can build-up on your sink over time so it is important to clean it thoroughly on a regular basis. Here are some helpful hints on cleaning your sink.
- You should avoid using cleaners with abrasives in them on vitreous china sinks or cast iron sinks with porcelain finishes as the abrasives will scratch the finish and cause it to lose its shine. Regular non-abrasive bathroom cleaners work best for thoroughly cleaning this type of sink.
- For stainless steel sinks, a rinse and towel drying after each use takes care of most everyday clean-ups. At least once a week the sink should be scoured with a mildly abrasive cleanser. By rubbing back and forth in the direction of the ‘grain’, you will remove stubborn stains and greasy film build-up and also blend usage scratches into the satin finish of the sink. After scouring, rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. Wet sponges, clothes, cleaning pads, and rubber mats left in the sink can lead to discoloration. Steel wool pads should never be used to clean your sink as they leave small iron particles in the grain lines which rust and can damage the sink.
The Basket Strainer is the attachment on the sink that catches any material that might otherwise drop in to the drain line and cause the drain to clog The basket strainer can leak if it has been improperly installed; or, if someone over tightens the tailpiece nut and spins the basket after it has been set in place. It can also leak if you put a drain cleaning solution such as Liquid Fire, Mule Kick , or even Draino or Liquid Plumber in the sink and it sits in the sink for a long period of time. This can cause the sealant between the sink and the the rim of the basket strainer to dissolve. This is one of the reasons Atlanta Plumbing Plus recommends that homeowners use an environmentally safe product such as Drain Maid’s BioSmart instead of products that use strong chemicals to dissolve clogs.
A dripping faucet can waste as much as 15 gallons of water each day, or 450 gallons per month. If you have a leaking faucet, shut it off at the valve underneath the sink so that you can still use the water in the rest of the house. Then, call Atlanta Plumbing Plus at 770-447-0374 for a licensed plumber to diagnose the problem and help you make the decision whether to repair or replace the faucet.
Atlanta Plumbing Plus can often extend the life of your faucet by replacing worn parts. Repairing the faucet this way can save you money compared to replacing the faucet. It can also help you to save water and reduce your water bill. It will even help you to reduce your energy bills if your hot water faucet is repaired; BUT, sometimes an older faucet just cannot be repaired well enough to last more than a few months. If our plumber thinks that might be the case with your faucet, he will recommend a faucet replacement so that the money you would spend on the repair is not wasted but can be put towards a new faucet that should last for years to come.
Replacing your old faucet with a new one can upgrade the look of your kitchen or bathroom. Replacing the faucet may also help you to save money in the long-run by avoiding more costly repairs on the worn out faucet later on. And, because newer faucets have more water saving features, replacing the old one may help you save on your utility bills. However, faucets come in so many shapes, sizes, and finishes nowadays that choosing a new one can be intimidating. Here are some of the things you should consider:
- Form: When thinking about the shape and size of your faucet, think about whether 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
- 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.
You should also consider whether the new faucet will fit in to the current opening on your sink or not. Generally, faucet dimensions and sink openings are standard throughout the plumbing industry. Sinks come pre-drilled with 1 hole, 3 holes, or 4 holes. There are a few exceptions however, so it is a good idea to check your sink before you make your faucet purchase.
Regardless of the type of finish on your faucet, the most important thing to remember is that hot water and a soft cloth are all you usually need to keep the faucets looking like new. Over a period of time, you may see a build-up of calcium, soap, or iron deposits around the handles or aerator. Using a mild household soap with the hot water should remove these deposits. If you have unsoftened water, regular cleaning becomes very important. If calcium deposits build-up on the faucets over a period of time, they will be very difficult to remove without more aggressive and abrasive chemical cleaners; but these types of cleaners will greatly affect the life of the finish and should be avoided if at all possible
Low water pressure in your faucets can be caused by sediment build up in the aerator. Remove the aerator by twisting it off. Rinse any debris out of the aerator, and then replace it. If the aerator does not come off easily, you can remove it with a set of small pliers, but remember to protect the finish on your faucet from damage by wrapping the teeth of the pliers with tape before using the pliers to remove the aerator. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, call Atlanta Plumbing Plus for an appointment with one of our licensed plumbers.
If build-up in the aerator is not the problem, your low pressure could be caused by a faulty shut-off valve on the supply line to the faucet or the faucet itself, in which case, an Atlanta Plumbing Plus licensed plumber can easily diagnose the problem for you and make the necessary repair. However, if the pressure problem is uniform throughout the house, it is possible that there is a build-up of deposits inside the water lines throughout the house, especially if the lines are made of older galvanized steel piping. There is no easy fix for old galvanized piping. In almost all cases, the old galvanized steel piping needs to be completely removed and new copper or PVC piping needs to be installed. With the new pipe installed, you will see a drastic improvement in the pressure throughout the house.
If you want to save water, check to see if your faucet is a water saving model or not. Look at the aerator. Does it have 2.0 gps stamped on it? Take the aerator apart. Are the inner parts still present or have they been removed? If they have been removed, your faucet is no longer a water saver.
Also, check your faucets regularly for drips or leaks. A dripping faucet can waste as much as 15 gallons of water each day, or 450 gallons per month. The drip can also cause an increase in your energy bill if the hot side of the faucet is leaking; so, call Atlanta Plumbing Plus at 770-447-0374 to fix this problem at once. Read more about water and energy conservation on our Conservation page.
