Fix the Flow: Cleaning Up Hard Water

Hard water is a familiar issue for renters across the country. It causes spots and crusty buildup that most people assume, is hopeless to remove. It restricts the flow of water through faucets and showerheads, developing complications with water pressure amongst other things. Some tenants exclusively avoid managing it, which ultimately provokes faucet damage and replacement. This is a pricy solution that we wouldn’t vouch for. Cleaning hard water buildup off a sink faucet, inside and out, is not cumbersome, but it would take some time. With the right amount of information and materials, it is probable to have the faucets in your Leander rental property working like new again.

Water that is high in calcium and other minerals, popularly known as hard water, can make your sink faucets appear horrible. Calcium buildup, habitually also termed limescale, can cultivate water flow issues. If you are having water flow problems, the main source of the problem the faucet aerator, established within the fixture. A faucet aerator is a hollow metal cylinder that screws over the end of a faucet. Within the aerator is a tiny screen, a rubber washer, a mixer disc, and perhaps a flow restrictor or an inner plastic housing. When these essentials get occluded with mineral deposits, the fixture will trigger water pressure problems, doubtlessly making an uneven or erratic flow.

To fix these types of problems, first try to clean your faucet’s aerator. Removing dirt in a blocked aerator is an undemanding means, but one that must be done prudently to avoid blemishing any of the many parts that are inside. Most aerators can be disengaged barehanded or using a pair of pliers, allowing you to confirm if the faucet spout has any deposits or blockages inside. As soon as you take the aerator apart, just soak the pieces in a bowl of white vinegar overnight. This will soften the mineral buildup and allow you to rub off any debris. Re-assemble the aerator and replace it on the fixture, then check your water flow. You should notice noteworthy restoration immediately.

White vinegar can also serve as the solution to remove hard water buildup on the outside parts of a sink faucet, too. It isn’t essential to utilize expensive household cleaners if you adopt the method recommended by the specialists at Mr. Rooter. Their website has meticulous steps on how to clean hard water buildup on faucets, but the methodology 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 easier alternative to this approach, you can try the plastic bag method. To apply this method, you will be required to fill a plastic sandwich bag with vinegar and tie it to the end of the faucet with a rubber band, making certain that the end of the fixture is completely covered in the vinegar. Just let the faucet soak for an hour or two, and then remove the bag and scrub it clean. Then, test your water flow: if the issue is still there, you must try cleaning the aerator as described above.

Do you feel that you need to move to a new rental house? If that’s the case, please check out our available property listings. We might have a property that works fine for you. If you’re a property owner interested in our management amenities, contact us online or phone us at 512-777-2597 today.