Fix the Flow: Cleaning Up Hard Water

Hard water is a shared problem for renters across the country. It produces spots and crusty buildup that can give the impression that it is impossible to remove. It restricts the flow of water through faucets and showerheads, generating issues with water pressure amongst other things. Some tenants merely avoid dealing with it, which will then lead to faucet damage and replacement. This is a costly option, and not one we’d want you to take. Cleaning hard water buildup off a sink faucet, inside and out, is not difficult, but it does take a little time. With the appropriate information and materials, it is not impossible to get the faucets in your St. Clair Shores rental property working like new.

Water that is high in calcium and other minerals, identified as hard water, can make your sink faucets look dreadful. Calcium buildup, or most commonly known as limescale, can also create water flow issues. If you are going through water flow problems, the origin of your problem is with the faucet aerator, found inside 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 rudiments get congested with mineral deposits, the fixture will start to have water pressure problems, probably forming an uneven or erratic flow.

To clear these glitches, try cleaning your faucet’s aerator. Cleaning a blocked aerator is not a complicated process, but one that ought to be performed cautiously to circumvent the possibilities of damaging any of the many parts that are found in the interior. Most aerators can be detached with your hand or a pair of pliers, allowing you to check the faucet spout for any deposits or blockages inside. After taking the aerator apart, simply soak the pieces in a bowl of white vinegar overnight. This will loosen 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 see substantial improvement almost immediately.

White vinegar will work to clear-out hard water buildup on the external surfaces of a sink faucet, too. There is no need for expensive household cleaners if you use the method recommended by the pros at Mr. Rooter. Their website has specific instructions on how to clean hard water buildup on faucets, but the process is simple. 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 more familiar version of this method, you can try the plastic bag method. To practice this method, you need to 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 covered 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 problem is still there, you’ll want to try cleaning the aerator as described above.

Are you contemplating about moving to a new rental house? If so, be sure to check out our available property listings. We might have a property that works well for you. If you’re a property owner curious about our management services, contact us online or call us at 586-992-6419 today