Kitchen faucets are an integral part for any kitchen either in a household usage or in a commercial kitchen. After purchasing the best kitchen faucet, maintaining the water faucets is a necessary practice to follow. There is a myriad of things to consider while maintaining and installing these kitchen faucets. In a family of four, the kitchen water faucet accounts for 18% of total water usage in the home. This extensive usage of kitchen faucets makes it necessary to always stay in good shape and functioning as well.
Installing a new Kitchen Faucet
Whether you are remodelling your kitchen or just replacing your old kitchen faucet, installing with a proper plumbing system is essential to avoid any leakage or wastage of water.
- The first and foremost step while installing your kitchen faucet is to check whether all the water valves under the sink is turned off. In some kitchen, they have a provision for garbage disposal unit, in that case, make sure the power source is disconnected.
- In case you are replacing an old faucet for a new one, use the wrenches, like a regular one or adjustable wrenches to remove the old faucet. After cleaning all the grime and creases from the sink, place the trim ring in the place where you will be installing the new faucet. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, use putty or chalk to seal the new faucet and fix it firmly.
- Most of the manufacturers provide the customer with a step by step guide to easily install the new faucets. Next, attach the nuts and bolts in correct place and if needed use a drilling machine. After fixing the new faucet in place, turn on the main valve and check for any water leakage.
- Initially after installing a new kitchen faucet, let the water flow freely for few minutes, it will further ensure if there are any leaks or any water dripping from the base of the tap. If there is no water leakage, it is ready for usage.
Maintenance tips for Kitchen Sink and Faucets
- Sink drain clogs are one of the most common plumbing problems found in any kitchen. The reason is due to the disposal of solid food waste into the sink which in turn clogs the drain. Remember the sink is designed for liquid waste only, which freely flows to the draining pipes. This can be avoided by cautiously removing solid food waste before placing your dinner plates in the sink. Also investing in a sink drain cover or a filter will be useful to eliminate any left-out food waste.
- Always keep handy a kitchen plunger. Before calling for a professional plumber, with the use of a plunger you can easily unclog your drain in no time. It is one of the essential plumbing tools that every household must have in their kitchen. It can be purchased from any local hardware store or online. The sucking and releasing technique are used in dislodging the clog. To use it, place the base rubber part of the plunger firmly above the sink drain and pump it up and down a few times until you see all the waters are draining into the sink.
- Regular maintenance of the kitchen sink and faucet is essential for long durability. If you are using an aerated kitchen faucet, remove the lower part located at the bottom of the tap which is usually a circular disc-shaped part. Soak it in hot water for a few minutes and brush it gently to remove the residue and any hard water build-ups for smooth water flow. Also, pour boiling water inside the drainage pipes. This will help to remove the tough grease, oil or dish detergent residue which may be accumulated over the years. Thus, cloggy muck can be prevented by regular use of pouring boiling water into the drain pipes.
- Baking soda and vinegar solution is also an effective method to clear any clog in the drain and is generally used to maintain the sanity of the kitchen sink. It also removes any foul odour and keeps the kitchen sink smelling fresh and removes any mould formation. Take an equal quantity of vinegar and baking soda in a bowl and pour these mixtures into the sink drain, it will unclog the pipe and also kills any bacterial growth.
- In general, cleaning the kitchen faucet with mild dish detergent is sufficient. However, special care instructions need to be practiced when maintaining copper faucets or brass where abrasive chemicals will ruin the texture and shine coatings on these faucets.
- Like plunger, snake drain which is a long wire is a type of plumbing accessory used in removing the clog. In general, use these snakes drain to clear any debris or food particles that may get stuck in the drain pipe. It can regularly be used once a month in a household to maintain the sanity of the kitchen sink. In commercial restaurants, these types of cleaning drain pipes are used often to remove any food wastage.
- There are also commercial drain cleaners which clean the drain clog almost instantly as soon as you pour the mixture into the sink drain. But extra care should be taken as some chemical present in the cleaners may affect the kitchen faucet finishing if it is spilled on it accidentally. To maintain the coatings of the kitchen faucet, place a bowl covering the tap or cover the kitchen tap with a towel.
Thus, every household must do a regular check of their kitchen faucet for any leakage and if there is a leakage and cannot be fixed, then replacing with a new faucet is essential. As bad faucets will not only increase the water wastage but also damage the piping system in your kitchen. With all of the innovative technologies that are evolving in the water faucet industry, it is an excellent time to research and buy a best kitchen faucet. Give your old kitchen faucet a new makeover and see what’s your kitchen is missing not only in aesthetic look but in water saving technology as well.