Fix the Flow: Cleaning Up Hard Water

Hard water is an common dilemma for renters across the country. It produces spots and crusty buildup that can look practically impossible to remove. It restricts the flow of water through faucets and showerheads, making problems with water pressure amongst other things. Some tenants just don’t bother attending to it, which ultimately ends in faucet damage and replacement. This is an overpriced alternative and not one we’d endorse. Cleaning hard water buildup off a sink faucet, inside and out, is not difficult, but it can be a little cumbersome. With good information and materials, it is easy to keep the faucets in your Cape Coral rental property running like new.

Water that is high in calcium and other minerals, acknowledged as hard water, can make your sink faucets seem hideous. Calcium buildup, commonly called limescale, can also form water flow issues. Just in case you are undergoing water flow problems, the cause of your trouble is with the faucet aerator, placed within the fixture. A faucet aerator is a hollow metal cylinder that screws over the end of a faucet. Inside the aerator is a tiny screen, a rubber washer, a mixer disc, and perhaps a flow restrictor or an inner plastic housing. When these get blocked with mineral deposits, the fixture will cause water pressure problems, apparently making an uneven or erratic flow.

To repair these difficulties, regularly make an effort in cleaning your faucet’s aerator. Scrubbing a blocked aerator is a simple thing to do, but one that must be completed carefully to avoid harming any of the many parts that are located internally. Most aerators can be loosened with your hand or a pair of pliers, enabling you to inspect the faucet spout for any deposits or blockages inside. After taking the aerator apart, just soak the pieces in a bowl of white vinegar overnight. This will slacken the mineral buildup and let you rub off any debris. Re-assemble the aerator and replace it on the fixture, then check your water flow. You should observe considerable difference instantly.

White vinegar functions as a means to clear up hard water buildup on the outermost parts of a sink faucet, too. It is needless to purchase expensive household cleaners if you employ the method recommended by the experts at Mr. Rooter. Their website has complete directions on how to clean hard water buildup on faucets, but the method is straightforward. Just soak some paper towels or strips of rags in white vinegar and wrap the base of the faucet with them. Fasten the rags to the faucet with rubber bands and let the vinegar sit for at least an hour, then scrub clean.

For an even breezier kind of procedure, you can try the plastic bag method. To employ this method, you should fill a plastic sandwich bag with vinegar and tie it to the end of the faucet with a rubber band, making sure that the end of the fixture is completely submerged in the vinegar. Allow the faucet soak for an hour or two, and then remove the bag and scrub it clean. Then, test your water flow: if the hindrance is still present, you should try cleaning the aerator as described above.

Are you contemplating transferring to a brand new leasing house? If so, go inspect our available property listings. We might have a property that operates well for you. If you’re a property owner curious about our management services, contact us online or call us at 239-240-8111 today.