subject: Bathroom Faucet [print this page] Bathroom Faucet Bathroom Faucet
Many of us take for granted the plumbing in our bathrooms. It is good to know what really a bathroom faucet is and how it works.
A bathroom faucet refers to the unit that lets you get the hot, cold or mixed water flowing to you to wash your hands, brush your teeth and so forth. There can be many types of these bathroom faucets. Some are configured with three pieces of hardware that protrude through the top of the sink; the spout or handle where the water exits from your inside plumbing, and one or two water turn or pull valves. One, when the hot and cold water can be integrated by the valve handle that swivels to one side or the other. Two, when the controls for hot or cold water or individual, hand-turning valves.
The plumbing is hidden underneath your bathroom sink and includes hoses for the one or two valve configuration that align and engage the faucet fixtures. The plumbing lines come from the wall as part of the structure's interior pipe system. The hoses come off the plumbing line and include seals on the fittings so that the water will not leak under or around the sink. Leaks can occur when the o-ring rubber or plastic seals wear out.
These days there are so many types of bathroom faucets. The array of colors, materials and styles are many for bathroom faucets. Manufactured materials can be made out of ceramic, porcelain, metals such as gold, bronze or silver, steel and more. Most are matched to the bathroom's sink by color and style as sinks too can vary.
One part of the bathroom faucet system that is important to keep clean and free of hard water mineral build up is the exit screen. This part is located at the bottom of the spout or handle of the faucet where the water pours out to your sink. Water hardness causes buildup of minerals due that can block the screen and restrict water flow. The screen assembly is removed without the need for tools by unscrewing the threads between the bathroom faucet spout and the screen assembly using a clockwise turning motion. However, do use care when removing the exit screen assembly to avoid losing other small parts that are a part of it when opened. It is best to remove the exit screen assembly with a towel or similar over the bottom of the sink.
After cleaning the exit screen, you can re-attach it the same way you removed it with opposite tightening motion (counterclockwise). Hand tight pressure should be enough to restore the screen and water flow just fine. If any small leak occurs, the screen assembly should be tightened a bit more but not too tight.
The other parts of maintenance for a bathroom faucet are the cartridge used for each valve. Over time the hot and cold water valves' cartridge will fail due to the buildup of hard water deposits inside of it. The cartridges can be a bit harder to remove and require a tool to do so. You may wish to have a licensed plumber remove the cartridge(s) if you are not inclined to work with water. An amateur in this area can set themselves up for a lot of frustration with leaks that were not there before. Another alternative is to take a photo of the bathroom faucet you have and bring it with you to a reputable hardware or home supply store and get assistance from a clerk on what how to remove and replace the cartridge and which cartridge you need for your bathroom faucet configuration.
