At Ezy Fix, we spend a lot of our time helping customers choose the right, easy to install, taps for their home. These decisions can be difficult. Even more important, however, is knowing when it’s time to replace your taps, before catastrophic failure leaves you with extensive water damage, in addition to a simple plumbing project. There are some signs that trouble is on the horizon and paying attention to these symptoms can prevent a plumbing disaster.
Discoloration on the Taps
If you’ve cleaned your tap, but dark colored spots, corrosion, or green film persist, these are signs that the inner workings are not what they should be. As the interior of your tap wears thinner, the finish will reflect damage on the outside.
- Dark spots that show through the finish on the tap indicate the metal may be getting thin or corroding on the inside.
- Discoloration around the tap handles or fasteners, is an indication that seals may be seeping and water is beginning to erode the mechanism.
- Rusty, or green stains at the base of your tap, or tap handles is a clear indication that water has been seeping inside the tap, even if standing water is not present.
Poorly Functioning Taps
When you go to wash up, you want the tap to easily turn on, provide a steady stream of the right temperature of water, and turn off completely when you are finished. Any deviation from this is a sure sign that things are not right inside.
- If your tap is hard to open, this could indicate worn parts or corrosion internally.
- If the water stream is inconsistent, or does not come out in an even, round stream, the valve may be damaged, or corrosion may have changed the interior of the tap.
- Dripping faucets typically indicate bad seals. This can go from a tiny drip to a catastrophic failure over night if not dealt with.
Signs of Water Damage
If your taps are failing, you may see signs in other places on and around your basins. Take the time to regularly inspect areas around your taps for problems.
- Wet spots under the tap inside your vanity cabinet, or on the floor indicate leaking.
- Water pooling at the base of the tap indicates bad seals inside.
- Water from leaking taps can also effect surrounding walls and trim. If you see signs of water damage, investigate until you find the source.
By paying attention to your taps, you can prevent serious water damage in your home, and preserve convenient, quality service. Replacing your taps before they fail can save you money and time. Check our full line of easy to install taps for some great solutions.