3 Tips To Fix a Hard-To-Turn Faucet

 

A hard to turn faucet turns a daily requirement into an ongoing struggle. While you turn your faucet several times a day, you will never appreciate a good working oiled faucet until you experience one that does not want to budge. Whether you have been dealing with a struck faucet for a while or seeing the first signs of trouble, you will want to take care of it before it becomes severe and prevents you from getting water.

Luckily, you probably do not spend money to invest in a new spout or a handle. Instead, you can use these handy tips to clean the difficult faucet or replace any troublesome component, especially the cartridge.

Disassembling a Stuck Faucet Handle

• For understanding the problem, you will need to look inside the stuck faucet and understand the necessary repairs you will need to make it work smoothly again.
• Shut off the faucet water supply by turning the valve located beneath the sink.
• If the faucet does not have a dedicated shut-off valve, turn the main water supply attached to the water meter. Now, unscrew the bolt and remove the cartridge for inspection. Pro tip – You can take a picture to remember its correct placement.

Detach the Cartridge

Cleaning and checking the cartridge for any corrosion can help you turn your faucet into a new-like condition. If you find any signs of extensive damage that cannot be clean, changing the cartridge can be the only option. Danco has a wide range of toilet handle replacement parts that can help you change the leaky faucet handle and hard-to-turn faucets.

Clean the cartridge

• If the corrosion is not extensive, you can clean it with simple cleaning products found around the home. You will need an old rag, white vinegar, and a medium-sized bowl. Pour vinegar in a bowl until handles are entirely submerged, and allow them to soak overnight. Next morning, remove the faucet, rinse it with water, and  dry it thoroughly before reinstalling.
• If you find common forms of debris such as minerals, metal shavings, and grit, you can clean them out using a scrub brush and vinegar.   
• You can also scrub the corroded part with a wire brush until the rusty surface smoothens.  
• To check, turn on the water supply and turn on the faucet handle to test its functionality. It should rotate smoothly now.

Knowing the issues, having the right tools, and cleaning the faucet's parts will help you restore your faucet's function. If you still cannot fix your faucet, it's best to replace it. Danco has a wide selection of the necessary repair parts and a wide range of faucets in a variety of colors and finishes to introduce a touch of style to your faucet fixture.

5 Different Ways to Clean Your Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposal maintenance is a crucial part of kitchen upkeep if you want to get the most out of the life of your appliance and garbage disposal accessories. Regular cleaning of different kitchen sink parts is crucial not only for the health of your kitchen devices but also for the health and wellbeing of your family. Food residue can end up stuck or lodged in different components of your garbage disposal, which can cause unpleasant odors to waft from your sink as well as germs from spreading because of the accumulation of spoiling or rotting food. Fortunately, there are easy ways that you can keep your garbage disposal and kitchen sink parts clean including but not limited to:

• Dropping handfuls of ice cubes into the unit and making the garbage disposal work through the cubes while running cold water to help the grinding/cleaning is one way to clean and dislodge food particles off garbage disposal blades and teeth. Adding a cup or two of rock salt into the mix will also give you more scrubbing power, for even more thorough cleaning.

• If you feel like ice cubes and salt might be too harsh for your type of garbage disposal, try a baking soda and vinegar solution instead. Simply sprinkling a good amount of baking soda (about half a cup) into the disposal and then pouring in a cup of vinegar (apple cider or white vinegar will do) will also help clean and disinfect your garbage disposal.

• Citrus peels are good substitutes to chemical cleaning agents. They are also great deodorizers that will leave your garbage disposal smelling fresh and clean. Grapefruit, lime, orange, lemon, and tangerine peels are best for this kind of cleaning job.

• Sometimes, a simple mixture of hot water and some dish soap is enough to slough off food particles and grease from your garbage disposal.

• Finally, pouring boiling water down the disposal once in a while will help melt away hardened grease and oil from food and loosen stubborn food residue.

Just the same, even regular cleaning cannot prevent the regular wear and tear of certain garbage disposal accessories. Because your kitchen appliances won’t last forever, it pays knowing where to get high quality and affordable kitchen sink parts to replace your old and worn accessories with. Danco is a leading provider of superior quality plumbing repair and replacement parts, tools, and accessories for all your kitchen repair and maintenance requirements.