This problem is common in many homes. Many factors affect the lifespan of a kitchen faucet. Among them are product quality and installation quality.
With the right tools, a plumber can solve this problem in 30 to 60 minutes. It all depends on the skills they have and the size of the area that must be repaired.
For information, complete installation takes up to 7 hours. This includes preparatory work and protecting the area, removing old faucets and installing new ones, and installing plumbing if there are discrepancies from previous installations. However, if the plumbing system only requires minor modifications, the work will be faster.
Table of Contents
Do You Need a Plumber to Replace the Faucet?
A plumber can be very useful if you want to complete a faucet replacement without any hard work. They can replace or repair the leaky faucet within one working day. You might think that this job looks easy and fast. This job is quite difficult and can take a long time if you try it for the first time.
However, a new faucet can mean a DIY job if you want to give it a try. There are tutorials scattered all over the place. You will get a new experience and maybe later, you can fix the faucet without the help of others.
To help seal a kitchen faucet, you can use caulk. Some faucets come with rubber gaskets to prevent leaks. But if they are not included in the sales package or are accidentally lost, seal the faucet with caulk.
Professional plumber rates range from $45 to $100 per hour. Quite expensive isn’t it? In some cases, the price can be cheap. High-priced kitchen faucets (above $100 for example) have quite complicated piping. With the help of a plumber, you don’t have to worry about the product being damaged.
How Long Do Kitchen Faucets Last?
All products can last between 15 to 20 years. If yours is approaching its lifespan, we recommend replacing it with a new one immediately. They will leak, no matter how many times you try to fix them.
If your faucet needs constant repair, it’s time to replace it. There is no point in repairing an item that is near or beyond its service life.
Another sign is the smell of your kitchen water. If the kitchen water smells and is nowhere else, your pipes or faucet may be worn. Over time, they can rust. This rust will mix with the water and make it smell bad.
In addition to rust, mineral deposits can clog the flow of water so you will get slower water. If it has accumulated in large quantities, you can see mineral deposits piling up. They will form over time. They can be cleaned but will take a while. The practical solution is to replace it with a new one.
Choosing The Best Kitchen Faucet
You get what you pay for. This applies when you buy products, including faucets. For less than $100, you get a plastic product, with a chrome finish, valves, and seals. They may wear out easily and are sufficient for light-duty use. However, they may not last long in high-use kitchen sinks.
Faucets priced over $100 generally have solid brass with a durable finish. At this price range, you can get washerless control which will provide a leak-free capability that will last for many years.
If you want a balance between finish and style, go for those over $200. You will find many popular brands with many replacement parts available. Although very rarely you will use it.
Conclusion
Everything depends on your needs. You can repair or install a kitchen faucet yourself. But if you run into trouble, you will need help. So, plumber services will be useful if you have high-priced products to install. For cheap products, we recommend that you try to install them yourself. If it fails, you can still get a little experience out of it.