You might not think much about your kitchen faucet, but it’s a crucial part of your home. A new faucet can be an exciting way to update the look and functionality of your kitchen without breaking the bank on other renovations.
Kitchen faucets typically last between 5-10 years, depending on how well you take care of them.
Kitchen faucets are expensive to replace, but knowing how long a kitchen faucet will last can make the decision easier. The lifespan of a kitchen faucet is largely dependent on its quality and use.
A standard household may need to repair or replace their kitchen faucet every 2-5 years depending on usage, while other kitchens with higher water pressure or more frequent use may need a replacement in as little as one year.
This article will discuss the Lifespan of a Kitchen Faucet? and Signs that it’s time to upgrade, and what to look out for when purchasing your next kitchen fixture!
Table of Contents
What is the Lifespan of a Kitchen Faucet?
A kitchen faucet can easily last for years and even decades, and even in some cases, generations. But then again, there is a downside, too.
If you plan to use the kitchen faucet for several decades or even centuries, you would need to make sure that it is properly taken care of to extend its lifespan.
The longer you leave your kitchen faucet unattended, the more dirt it will accumulate, thus affecting its quality and function. Aside from that, you also risk the chances of a serious problem developing.
The good news is that cleaning and maintaining your kitchen faucet is very doable. In fact, it can be done even while you are away from home.
You may have to go through some basic procedures in cleaning your faucet, but then again, you can do it by yourself every now and then. In this way, you won’t need to pay a service provider just to maintain your faucet properly.
But then, you have to be careful when using cleaning agents. Sometimes, your favorite kitchen cleaner may not be strong enough to get rid of all the grime and other debris from your faucets.
Thus, your faucet will still not be as durable as before. Cleaning agents also have harsh ingredients that may damage the internal parts of your faucet. And since it has already been used, it is highly susceptible to rusting and deterioration.
If water starts to leak from the faucet, immediately remove the water supply or stop the water flow and call for a plumber. But if the leak originates from the faucet mechanism itself, look for the worn-out parts first before calling a plumber.
Check for worn parts first such as the spout and spray valves, then the handle, lock, and other moving parts. Replace them one by one to see if they are damaged or corroded.
Use only approved products for your faucet. There are many types of cleaners that are not fit for kitchen use that may affect the durability of your faucet. Some of these are acid, chlorine, bleach, drain cleaner, and liquid chlorine.
Proper maintenance can save you time, money, and aggravation. You just have to remember to do some maintenance now and then. Every two months is a good rule of thumb.
If you have the luxury of time, you may want to check on your faucets at least once a year. But if you are too busy to regularly check your faucets, at least have them periodically inspected to give them a thorough cleaning.
Do not let your faucets get too dirty. Use mild soap and water to clean them. Rinse it off thoroughly to make sure there are no particles left. Do not use excessively hot water to clean your kitchen faucets because it can cause serious damage.
What is the longevity of a kitchen faucet? It depends on how well you care for it. You should also consider the type of kitchen you have.
A stainless steel faucet in a natural stone kitchen would need more care than one made of plastic in a kitchen with granite countertops. Keeping your kitchen faucet clean will give it many years of service and make it suitable for use for twenty or thirty years.
What is the longevity of a kitchen faucet? This depends on the type of materials, the parts are made of. The most durable materials include ceramics, stainless steel, brass, and copper. Ceramic parts for faucets are often sold in limited quantities, so they are expensive compared to other materials.
How long do the parts last? Most products will last between fifteen and twenty years. They are also priced depending on the expected life span.
Some parts may require replacement after fifteen years, while others may be usable after only two. If you do not want to replace your kitchen faucets after they become unusable, check them out for warranty information.
What is the longevity of a kitchen faucet? The answer to this question will depend a great deal on the type of kitchen faucets you have.
If you have an older kitchen with cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic sinks, consider replacing your faucets after five to ten years. With newer kitchen sink designs that are made of porcelain or stainless steel, the life expectancy may be longer.
How Can You Know If Your Faucet Is Leaking? – Find Out Now
The most obvious answer to the question of how do you know if your kitchen faucet is faulty is if it stops working. However, that is not always possible or logical.
For instance, you might suspect that the faucet is faulty because it never shuts off. But if you run some water through it turns out that the shut-off switch is actually on, then that is a different story. How can you know if your faucet is faulty without opening it?
There are several ways of testing kitchen faucets and I will outline three here. The first way to know if your kitchen faucet is faulty is to get the dealer to show you how the faucet is made and install it yourself.
If you cannot find any information about the manufacturing process on the package, then you may be out of luck. But this is a pretty simple test.
How can you know if your kitchen faucet is faulty is by trying to turn it on and seeing what happens? This sounds like a lot of work but in reality, it is relatively easy to accomplish.
You need to take apart the faucet. Many companies offer faucet replacement kits that include the parts for the job and instructions on how to install them yourself.
Before you start disassembling the kitchen faucet, make sure that you have all the necessary tools and supplies. That means you will need a drill, adjustable wrench set, measuring tape, and a pair of gloves.
A magnifying glass is also helpful. Remember that you will need to measure the length of the pipe that runs from the faucet to the wall and back.
In order to know if your kitchen faucet is installed properly, you will also need to know how to read its performance indicators.
These gauges usually tell you which temperature the faucet will maintain when turned on and off. You can check this with an infrared thermometer or a temperature detector. How can you know if your faucet is leaking before you actually have a leak? Check the water level indicator to see if it is accurate.
If it is off, you will need to check the gasket closely to make sure that it has not been damaged. You will need to test the spout to make sure that it drains properly.
If it is clogged, you will have to reseal it. And finally, you need to make sure the locking mechanism works properly. Many times it can be damaged if the faucet becomes loose either during installation or when it is being used.
So these are the basic leak detection tools that you will need to conduct a basic inspection on your kitchen faucet. There are more advanced tools that you can use to identify problems with faucets.
For example, some newer models come with a sensor that will help to determine if there is a leak and will alert you automatically by switching on the lights. You can also get a couple of other advanced tools that will help you diagnose the source of a problem and fix it for you.
How can you know if your kitchen faucet leaks if you do not have the proper equipment? As mentioned earlier, the kitchen is very much a work zone for many people, so it is important that you can work in an organized fashion.
Having a reliable device such as the Kitchen Aid Standpipe will ensure that you never end up in the middle of fixing a leak when all you want to do is move on and finish your work.
There are many options available for you when you are looking for the best kitchen aid faucet.
When Should You Replace Your Kitchen Faucet?
When you replace your kitchen faucet, there are some things you will want to take into consideration. These factors include the brand and type of faucet, the size of the new faucet, and the price.
Kitchen faucets are not cheap. They are even more expensive when they are replaced. If you replace them, you need to replace them right away if you want to keep the value of your home.
When you replace your kitchen faucet, you may think that you do not have to replace the hardware but in most cases, this is not true. When you replace your faucets, you will be changing out the seal and valve.
The seal is essential to the faucet working properly so when you replace it, you should check and replace it as needed.
Another thing to consider when you replace your kitchen faucet is where you are putting the sink. When you put the sink under a kitchen faucet, you have to make sure the water is going to the sink first before it goes into the kitchen.
This is because you do not want to get all the water from the kitchen and put it back into the sink. So when you replace your kitchen faucet, you should measure and mark where the sink and the faucet will be.
This will help you when you are putting the new faucet on.
When you buy a new kitchen faucet, you need to know what type you have. This will depend on what style you want your sink to have. There are two types of sinks that can be replaced, a top-mount faucet and an under-mount faucet.
When you replace your kitchen faucet with one of these types, you will want to take off the old faucet and put the new one on. Then you need to use some plumber’s putty to seal the leak that you find.
If your leak is a couple of inches down from where it is now, then you may not need to replace your kitchen faucet. However, if you notice water leaking under the faucet, this could be an indication that you should replace your kitchen faucet.
The first thing you should do when you replace your kitchen faucet has turned the water off and unplug it from the wall. You also want to unplug any hot water pipes that you have connected, including the laundry, dishwashers, and washing machines.
You should empty your sink and replace all of the soap and detergent in it. This is going to remove any built-up grime that might be in the faucet.
Next, you want to clean the sink. Make sure that you don’t miss any spots or areas that need to be scrubbed. If you make a mistake and miss any spots, you can easily clean it up later.
The last step of cleaning your kitchen faucet is to wash it thoroughly. When you clean it, you want to make sure that you use soap and water and that you rinse out the entire faucet.
To clean it, you can take a sponge and wash the entire sink until it looks completely clean. When you are cleaning it, you want to make sure that you don’t miss any of the faucet parts.
As you can see, these are some simple steps that can be taken to find out when you should replace your kitchen faucet. When you are in the kitchen, you need to always have the best products around.
If you use the wrong ones, then you will not only be frustrated with them, but you might find them replaced by the time they are due to be replaced. Instead, make sure that you purchase quality products and use them regularly.
The Benefits of Installing a New Kitchen Faucet
The benefits of installing a new kitchen faucet are many. Your kitchen will have a new look, fresh feel, and you will not be replacing faucets often. There are some disadvantages to a new kitchen faucet though.
The first disadvantage of a new kitchen faucet is that it is going to cost you money. You may think that replacing your faucets is not that expensive but in most cases, it is actually more expensive than just cleaning them.
The main reason for this is that you need to have someone install the faucet for you and then you will need to pay for the installation labor. You will also pay for the fixture itself, which can cost quite a bit depending on the brand you get.
The next disadvantage of a kitchen faucet is that is not very practical if you have limited space in your kitchen.
The best way to put a kitchen faucet to use is in your sink, but because most people do not have a lot of space in their sinks, the faucet is not very practical.
Another disadvantage is that it looks dated when it is first installed. Sometimes old looks can be very attractive, but in this case, it is not practical at all.
One last disadvantage of a new kitchen faucet is that they do not look as nice as older ones. If you have an older-looking kitchen, then it can be harder to find a nice-looking faucet.
The older-styled kitchen faucets were probably made with lower-quality materials. But even if you do not have an older-looking kitchen, a new kitchen faucet can still look nice.
The benefits of installing a new kitchen faucet outweigh the disadvantages by quite a bit. They are very easy to install. They do not take up a lot of space in your kitchen, and they look nice when they are installed.
The disadvantages of a kitchen faucet should not prevent you from installing one if you want to spruce up your kitchen.
Just think about the amount of time you will save trying to wash your hands with a bottle or sponge instead of with water from the tap.
It will also help to keep your kitchen more germ free because you do not have to touch dirty things with your bare hands. The benefits of installing a new kitchen faucet far outweigh the disadvantages if you have a nice-looking kitchen, to begin with.
You do not have to sacrifice the look of your kitchen in order to get a great-looking faucet either.
Helpful Tips on How to Remove and Install a New Kitchen Faucet
You need to learn some useful tips on how to remove and install a new kitchen faucet. You have probably tried it the last time but somehow failed to complete the job.
It is not very hard to master these simple yet effective tricks. Once you have learned these simple tips on how to remove and install a new kitchen faucet, you will realize that you could actually save a lot of your time, money, and effort if you will ever need to do this job again in the future.
These useful tips on how to remove and install a new kitchen faucet should be given to you so that you will have no trouble at all.
Start by removing the old faucet carefully. This might be difficult for you especially if the faucet is tightly-packed with old plumbing guts and has become really hard to open.
You might need to use a wrench or pliers to help you remove the old one carefully. Take note that the old one must be unscrewed from its hose and the fitting must be taken out first before replacing the faucet.
Then, measure the length of the new kitchen faucet pipe, carefully measuring the inside diameter before buying another pipe for the kitchen.
After taking out the old kitchen faucet, check the length of the pipe correctly before installing the one. If needed, use pliers and a wrench to do this step.
The next step is to place the new kitchen faucet onto the pipe as far as possible. If the old one is longer than the new one, simply adjust the length until they are both the same length.
Be sure that the distance between the two holes is equalized before tightening them completely.
The next step in how to install a new kitchen faucet is to install the new one. Start by attaching the new faucet handle to its corresponding hole on the pipe.
Use water-tight screw hooks to hold the faucet in place, while checking to see if the hose and connection are attached firmly. If need be, re-tighten the screws.
Once the faucet handle is properly installed, turn the water supply back on and turn on the hot water. Turn the back off of the water supply now and wait for the faucet to be fully installed.
If need be, remove the spout from the faucet to see if there is any water left in the pipes. If there is some, flush it down using a hose or sprayer. It should take only a few seconds.
When installing your kitchen faucet, there is nothing wrong with buying a whole set. In fact, this is a very smart move. You can always choose to install one unit in your kitchen and one unit elsewhere in your home.
For instance, in your bathroom, you can install both a kitchen and bathroom faucet, but in your living room, you can just install one.
Conclusion:
After reading this article, you should better understand how to maintain and enjoy your kitchen faucet. Kitchen faucets are durable items that can last for years if properly cared for.
The lifespan of a kitchen faucet varies depending on the quality. If you are looking for an inexpensive, low-quality fixture that will break after only six months to a year, then go ahead and choose one with plastic parts and no brass fittings.
On the other hand, if you want something more durable that can last 10 years or longer (with proper care), invest in a high-quality unit made of brass with ceramic components.
The key remembers the following points about water hardness, mineral buildup, proper maintenance (cleaning), and regular inspections.
You may also want to take advantage of any manufacturer’s warranty by restoring the product or contacting customer service before it expires. To get your money’s worth from this purchase, it is important to maintain your fixtures regularly.
Read more:
Top 10 Best Kitchen Faucets: Reviews & Tips 2021
Top 9 Best Touchless kitchen faucet: Review in 2021
Top 10 Best Kitchen Faucet Brands with Luxury & High end design 2021
