Apart from adding ease and convenience to your daily chores, your faucet can also add to your contribution towards the cause of nature. An efficient faucet will help you save water, energy and money without making any compromise on your needs. The next time you decide to invest in a faucet, keep the following things in mind:

Look for the WaterSense label

Switch to WaterSense labeled faucets. These products have a maximum flow rate of 1.5 GPM (gallons per minute), which is well under the 2.75 GPM allowed by the Federal law. WaterSense products provide an adequate flow while they help you save water as well as energy (by reducing demands on your water heater) and are kind on your water bills.

Invest in water saving faucets

Water saving faucets like the GROHE EcoJoy are designed specifically keeping your environmental concerns in mind. It features flow limiting mousseur with the aerator (giving a maximum flow rate of 5.8 liters per minute) to keep a check on water consumption levels.

Making a smart use of technology, GROHE has really taken things to the next level. It features a Water Efficiency Label (WELL) in order to promote responsible water usage. WELL is an evaluation system that assesses usage in terms of volume and temperature. The Digital GROHE faucets help you program the flow rate, temperature, duration and when to ‘stop/start flow’ to prevent wastage of water.

Install water efficient fixtures

In case you don’t wish to do away with your old faucet and switch to a water efficient one, you can still reduce water consumption levels by installing low flow aerators in your existing faucets. Most old faucets have  flow rates as high as  3gpm to 7gpm. Low flow aerators come with a flow rate less than 2.75gpm, are inexpensive and easy to install. These aerators will help cut down water consumption up to 50%! Low flow aerators also offer the conventional aerated and non-aerated spray modes.

Press that Pause button (more often!)

If you wish to reduce wastage/overuse of water without changing any of your existing fixtures, stick to the good old rule: ‘turn off the flow’ when your faucet is not in continuous use. Almost all faucets these days, come with a pause button which, if used smartly can prevent a lot of water wastage. It will help you stop the flow without the hassle of turning the faucet on and off again and again. The pause button is really useful with pull-out or pull-down faucets, where a considerable amount of water gets wasted during retraction.

Most faucets come with a promise of long life. However in order to have years of uneventful service, you need to keep a regular check at the functioning of your faucet.

Watch out for leaks

A leaking faucet should be given prompt attention or else the moisture it releases could corrode the faucet body and also damage other fixtures in addition to affecting your water bills! If noticed well in time these leaks can be fixed using a simple repair.

Install water conditioning systems

If you’re living in an area with hard water supply, your faucet will quickly show lime and minerals buildup. If left unattended, it will not only ruin the looks of your faucet but also lead to clogged drains. It is advisable to use water softeners which condition water by removing unwanted minerals.

Regularly clean the aerator

Hard water deposits in the aerator filter can lower the water pressure and also internally damage your faucet in the long run. Most kitchen faucet aerators come off easily. Soaking in vinegar solution overnight will easily help remove thick deposits. You can also replace your aerator with a new one once in a while as they are inexpensive and readily available.

Be warranty wise

Most quality faucets come with a limited or lifetime warranty. Brands like Moen and Kohler offer a lifetime warranty and readily ship replacement parts, free of cost in case you face any issues. This will prevent you from investing in cheap replacements and ensure the quality of your faucet. Replacing faucet parts at the right time will really add to the life of your faucet.

Have Routine Inspections

It is ideal to have a certified plumber crosscheck the configuration of your kitchen at regular intervals. A professional can quickly spot hidden problems like leaks, clogged drains, corrosion, etc. and save you a lot on trouble in future.

It is always beneficial to keep a repair kit handy at home so that you can do minor maintenance work such as replacement of washers and valves, etc. on your own in case of regular wear and tear.

Maintaining the looks of a faucet throughout is a common concern among customers. While most faucets have a long life, their finish tends to fade away with time. Keeping your faucet new-like is however not a herculean task. Here are some tips that can help you retain its looks forever.

Take Care during Installation

Make sure not to dent your faucet by using pliers, wrenches or other tools on its surface during installation. If possible, avoid using plumber’s putty for fixing it as it might stick to the body and lift off the finish in future.

On a daily basis, all you need to do is to wipe your faucet using a damp cloth with a mixture of soap and warm water followed by drying it with a soft cloth. Also, go for a deep cleaning once in every month.

How to Remove Deposits

If deposits of lime and minerals (caused due to hard water) start to show up on your faucet, try to get rid of them immediately. Specialized cleaners are available that help in removing stubborn deposits , without damaging the finish.

Avoid harsh cleaners (physically & chemically)

Cleaners that contain ammonia, bleach or acid tend to reduce the effectiveness of the finish. Try to keep the cleaning process as natural as possible and use solutions of alcohol, vinegar or lemon instead. Never use a coarse sponge or bristle scrub pad since they will leave scratches all over the body.

Apply wax

Applying a coat of wax on the faucet body is a great way to protect it against mineral or lime buildup as well as fingerprints! It helps restore shine and works well for all faucets, bronze, matte or chrome.

For faucets with a matte finish

You can also use aerosol or liquid furniture polish while cleaning if your faucet has a matte finish. Silicon oil present in these products will make it water spots and fingerprints resistant.

For faucets with a chrome finish

It is likely that water spots appear rather soon on your faucet if it has a chrome finish. The easiest way to get rid of these is by rubbing wax paper all over the chrome regularly. This will not just remove existing spots but will also prevent them from appearing again.

How to Prevent the Bronze Disease

The bronze finish of your faucet might corrode over time, forming rough light green spots on the surface. It is, therefore, important to treat bronze regularly in order to avoid this. A solution of sodium sesquicarbonate can be used for cleaning to get rid of the bronze disease.

If you don’t make faucet cleaning a regular habit and tend to rely on a rigorous cleaning session once in ages, you shall never get the desired results. When followed regularly, these simple tips will help you retain the shine and finish of your faucet for really long!!

As most manufacturers provide a precise guide and kit to aid the installation of a new faucet, many consumers choose to install their new faucets themselves, instead of calling a plumber.

However, any careless slip here and there during the process could lead to a long-term trouble. The following step by step guide will help you install a faucet properly.

Our Favorite Faucets:

• Kraus KPF 2250
• Delta 9178-AR-DST
• Moen 7594SRS

It would be great if you could clear up space to lie down under the sink during removal/installation. Take a picture of the configuration of your old faucet to use it as a reference.

How to Remove Your Old Kitchen Faucet

Removing the old faucet properly, without damaging the set up from a new one is equally important.

• Turn off the hot and cold water shut-off valves to cut water supply. Turn on the faucet to relieve pressure from the pipes and prevent drips.

In case your earlier faucet was connected directly to the supply lines, turn off the main water supply valve to your house.

• Disconnect the supply lines using an adjustable wrench and a pair of channel locking pliers.
• Using a basin wrench, loosen and remove the nuts holding the faucet in place. If your old faucet nuts refuse to loosen up, try soaking the threads with penetrating oil.
• Clean the sink surface after removing the faucet.

Step-by-Step process of Install a Kitchen Faucet

First of all, carefully go through the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer.

• Seal the new faucet in place. If you are using a rubber or plastic gasket, place it over the faucet holes in the sink. Alternatively, you can also apply plumber’s putty around the base of the faucet and set it in place.
• From below the sink, tighten the wing nuts to secure the faucet to the sink. If you have used plumber’s putty, wipe away the excess from underneath the sink.
• For a pull-down faucet, retract the pullout spray wand and attach weight to it. This will prevent it from getting tangled and will help it retract easily.
• Secure the mounting nuts and washer over the free ends of the supply tubes and the pullout wand.
• Attach the supply lines and shut off valves to the faucet from below. Do not over-tighten and be careful to connect the hot and cold water lines correctly.
• Attach the spray head to the free end of the pullout wand.
• Remove the aerator and turn on the water. Check for leaks and let the water run for a few minutes to clear the lines.
• Put the aerator back in place and your faucet is ready for use.