Simple Tips to Loosen Tight Faucets

Having a tight faucet can add unnecessary stress to your daily activities. This is probably happening because you had a new faucet installed, or something might be budging the pipe. Either way, homeowners often take their smooth taps for granted. They don't take much notice of maintaining their faucets until it acts up and suddenly doesn't want to budge. 

It's distressing to think that you might need to do an all-out plumbing job to get your tight faucet working. However, there's no need to worry about that. There are simple yet effective ways you can loosen a tight faucet. And with luck, you wouldn't even need to spend anything for a new handle, spout, or extra help. 

Before investigating your faucet, you should know that every brand is unique and might require a different kind of procedure. You can research about your faucet, its brand, and style. You can also call a plumbing expert in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle, such as the Jet Blaster Man, for better insight and advice.

First Things First

Before you do anything with your faucet, make sure the water supply is shut off. You can look for the shut-off valve under the sink or on the wall. If you are completely new to this, all you need to do is rotate the valve clockwise. If your sink does not have its own shut-off valve, you can temporarily turn off the main water supply. 

Disassemble The Handle

Search for a screw on the faucet. For most single-handle faucets, you will find a screw at the bottom of the faucet. The screw is located along the side for other brands and faucet models. If you find that the screw is covered with a cap, you can use a flat screwdriver to take it off. 

Now that you have found the screw, get the right screwdriver and unscrew by turning it counterclockwise. You will then see the nut that is holding the valve in place. You can use a wrench to remove the bolt. Make sure to remember the placement so that you won't have trouble replacing the parts.

Detach the Cartridge

With a pair of pliers, take a good grip of the cartridge and pull it up. Make sure not to force anything. If the cartridge doesn't move, take a second glance and see if your grip is right. 

Clean Thoroughly

Once the faucet is detached, look for any signs of corrosion. You can treat it by gently scrubbing it with a stainless steel wire brush. You can finish the cleaning by putting white vinegar on the corroded area and wiping it off with a rag. Reuse the cartridge if the damage was only minimal. You can replace it with a new one if the damage is severe. 

Inspect Further

Check other parts of the faucet for corrosion. Clean these surfaces the same way you did with the cartridges. Once you have finished your inspection and cleaning, you can put every part back to its place. You can turn on the water supply and see if the faucet works. If done correctly, your faucet handle would rotate smoothly.

Get Professional Help

It's not a one-size-fits-all solution, and other homeowners may have a different or more severe case. So, ask for professional help. A reliable team of licensed plumbers in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle, like Jet Blaster Man, is the perfect go-to option. They are not only highly experienced and fully equipped, but they are also the friendliest and most accommodating plumbers you'll ever meet.