Why Faucets Fail
Wear and Tear
Faucets get used dozens of times a day. Every turn of the handle, every temperature adjustment, puts stress on internal seals, springs, and cartridges. After years of daily use, these parts simply wear down. The rubber washers that create a watertight seal harden and crack. The valve seat can develop pits and corrosion. This is normal and unavoidable, but it is fixable.
Hard Water and Mineral Buildup
Vandalia water can be hard, meaning it contains dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium. Over time, these minerals build up inside your faucet, especially in the aerator and valve seats. The deposits restrict water flow, create weird spray patterns, and eventually clog the works. We clean out the buildup or replace the affected parts so everything flows smoothly again.
Manufacturing Defects
Sometimes a faucet just isn't built well. Even new fixtures can have weak points, poor seals, or substandard internal components. When a newer faucet fails, we can often identify the defect, fix it, or replace the faucet if it's still under warranty.
Accidents and Impact Damage
Dropped items, bumped handles, and pressure from plumbing work nearby can crack the faucet body or bend internal parts. Impact damage sometimes shows up right away, and sometimes takes a while to manifest as a leak or loss of function.
Wrong Repair Attempts
DIY fixes and amateur plumbing can make faucet problems worse. Overtightening, mixing up part numbers, or using the wrong washers creates new leaks and damages seats. When you've tried something and it didn't work, give us a call. We'll fix the original problem and any damage from the attempted repair.