Unfortunately, our faucets aren’t invincible. Over time, they begin to succumb to the wear and tear of everyday use and exposure to the elements – yes, even inside faucets have to deal with exposure issues, albeit to a noticeably smaller degree than an outdoor faucet. Eventually, the moisture and air will cause a chemical reaction that corrodes, or eats into the metal faucet. On top of this, minerals in the water can build up and leave behind corrosive deposits.
As the rust and build up accumulate on the faucet, they can eventually fuse moving parts together which will make it noticeably harder to turn the faucet handle or remove both water line connections and retaining nuts. Before you start worrying about buying a brand-new faucet, try these quick fixes to your problem.
The Supplies You Need:
- Hammer
- Penetrating Oil
- Hairdryer
- Wrench
- Center Punch
- Wire Brush
Now that you’ve collected your supplies, it’s time to get to work.
- Shut off the sink’s water supply. If you can, turn on your faucet to allow the water drain out of the pipes.
- Use the wire brush to scrape away as much of the corrosion as possible. Once you’ve cleared it off, use the wrench to see if you can turn the part that’s stuck.
- Use the hairdryer to heat up the corroded area if it’s still suck. The heat may be able to break or loosen the bonds as the metal swells. Use the wrench again to see if the area has loosened enough to turn.
- If your faucet is still stuck, let the metal cool down before moving on to the next step. This is incredibly important. Penetrating oil is incredibly flammable and you don’t want to add to your problems. Once it’s cooled off, squirt some penetrating oil into the corroded area. Give it some time to works its way into the joint, and reapply oil every couple of hours if it remains stuck. As the corroded bits come loose, use the wire brush to scrape them away.
- If your faucet is still giving you trouble, give it a few light taps with the hammer to help out the oil. Depending on the size and delicacy of your faucet, you may want to use the center punch rather than tapping on the faucet directly.
If none of these steps work, then it may be time to head to the hardware store and pick up a new faucet. Whether or not you feel comfortable tackling this work by yourself, you may want to call in the professionals to give you a hand. At bluefrog Plumbing + Drain, our team are ready to come by any time of the day, any day of the year. Just give us a call at 888-794-0341 to schedule a free home consultation, or find your nearest bluefrog Plumbing + Drain location by entering your address into our ‘Find My Location’ map.
Related Posts:
- How Do I Unstick A Plumbing Valve?
- Signs That It’s Time To Replace Your Toilet
- How Long Will It Take My Water Heater to Heat Up?
