If you’re like most families, the kitchen is the center of our home. My mother-in-law prepares fancy Filipino dishes while everyone sits around the kitchen table playing card games. Like so many other families, we had our share of problems in our kitchen. First, it was the stove then the vent and recently both the kitchen faucet and garbage disposal needed replacing. Our home is 23 years old; I’m surprised they lasted longer than they did. We look at our kitchen sink and don’t think anything could ever go wrong with them. The fact is, they are a little more complex than we may think. You have your garbage disposal, hot and cold compression valves, faucet with hot and cold water handles, single-handle water dispenser faucet and our kitchen sink itself which has been known to leak.
When Your Faucet Starts To Leak…
Once your faucet starts to leak then it’s time to think about replacing it before you think about repairing it. Give this some thought, a kitchen faucet will last ten to fifteen years if properly installed. Our faucet lasted 20 years. A high-quality faucet can cost $100 to $200, that works out to about 3¢ per day for a fixture that will last 15 years. Additionally, if you’re not an awesome do-it-yourselfer then consider having a plumbing professional install it. You will never regret it.
Replace Your Compression Stop Valves
If you’re replacing an old faucet, you may find that one, if not both, of your compression valves, are either stuck or in bad shape. This is the perfect time to replace them. Also known as a compression stop valve, they are used as a shutoff for a rigid copper pipe with a compression nut to make a watertight seal.
Water Pressure Is Another Problem We May Have With Our Sinks
Low water pressure is another common problem that our old sinks can experience. The water pressure throughout the house may be excellent, but our kitchen sink water pressure is dreadful. What happens is mineral deposits build up in our shutoff valve and our supply hose, causing restrictive water flow. California is notorious for hard water, which can result in mineral deposits. Another reason you may have a drop in water pressure is an aerator that’s clogged with mineral deposits. Unscrew your aerator and clean it out or replace it; a new aerator cost less than ten bucks.
Your Sink And The Garbage Disposal
The number one rule for your garbage disposal is. “Don’t use it as a trash can.” Here is a list of things you should never put down your disposal:
- Never pour grease down the garbage disposal
- Cigarette butts
- Coffee Grounds
- Excessive amounts of pasta, rice or starchy foods
- Fibrous items like celery and banana peels
Starchy foods and coffee grounds can build up in your plumbing system. Fibrous foods like banana peels and celery get wrapped around the blades. Better solution: compost them!
Call your plumbing professional at Big B’s Plumbing
If you need help diagnosing problems with your sink or any other plumbing problem, call your plumbing professional at Big B’s Plumbing. We are an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. Not to mention, our reviews are top-notch on Facebook, Yelp, and Google Business.
