Keeping Tallmadge Faucets Working: Maintenance and Repair

Every Few Months: Quick Checks

These take only a few minutes and catch most problems before they become expensive.

• Open each sink cabinet and look for moisture, stains or a musty smell
• Run each faucet hot and cold and watch for drips once it is off
• Wipe down the faucet and check for wobble at the base or handle
• Make sure the pull-down sprayer docks properly and the hose is not kinked
• Run faucets in guest or basement bathrooms that do not get much use

Twice a Year: Aerators and Shutoff Valves

Unscrew the aerator at the tip of each spout, rinse out any grit and soak it in white vinegar if there is white scale. Reinstall it hand-tight. This restores strong, even flow and is the easiest faucet maintenance there is.

At the same time, turn each shutoff valve under your sinks closed and back open. Valves that sit untouched for years can seize, and you do not want to find that out during a leak. If a valve is stiff, leaks at the stem when turned or will not close fully, have it replaced.

Every Few Years: Supply Lines and Cartridges

Braided stainless supply lines are durable, but the rubber hose inside them ages. Many plumbers recommend replacing them periodically, and certainly any time you notice bulging, kinks, rust or a wet fitting. We often replace them when installing a new faucet so everything starts fresh.

Cartridges do not need replacing on a schedule, but if a faucet starts to drip or the handle grows stiff, replacing the cartridge promptly keeps the problem from getting worse.

Pay attention to the hot side in particular. Hot water speeds up the breakdown of rubber parts and carries more sediment from the water heater, so the hot supply line and the hot half of a two-handle faucet often wear out first. If one side drips and the other does not, it is usually the hot one.

Annually: A Professional Inspection

A yearly look by a plumber catches what homeowners often miss: corroded shutoffs, early leaks behind the cabinet back panel, loose drain connections and fixtures nearing the end of their life. Our residential plumbing maintenance agreement includes an annual inspection, priority service and 10% off labor and materials, which adds up when a faucet needs replacing.

If an inspection turns up a worn faucet, we explain whether repair or replacement is the better option and give you a free estimate.

When Maintenance Is Not Enough

Sometimes a faucet is simply worn out. Corrosion, peeling finish and repeated drips are signs it is time for something new. We install kitchen, bathroom and utility faucets, swap shutoffs and supply lines as needed and finish every job with a pressure check and cleanup. If the disposal under your kitchen sink is also aging, our Tallmadge disposal installation can be part of the same visit, and our Tallmadge remodeling services cover larger kitchen and bath updates.

Tallmadge, known for its historic circle at the center of town, is about 23 miles from our East Canton shop. We also serve Munroe Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Silver Lake and Akron. For more on faucet options and materials, see our faucet installation and repair overview.