3 Tricks to Troubleshoot Touchless Residential Sink Faucets

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Sink faucets, which are in use almost every other hour of the day, are a vital part of the residential plumbing fixtures, both in the kitchen and the bathroom. Shrewd homeowners are moving towards experimenting with hands-free or touchless faucets in their homes due to their elegance and improved functionality. With a touchless faucet, you reduce wastage of water and time. Furthermore, the risk of food contamination in the kitchen is minimized. However, when these ultra-modern faucets malfunction, you need to know how to troubleshoot the problem. Here is a guide to get homeowners started. 

Battery Problem of Direct Current (DC) Powered Faucets -- If the automatic faucet suddenly stops working, the first culprit is the battery compartment. The batteries might have run out of juice, and thus, require immediate replacement. The chamber is usually hooked to the tap under the sink. Pop open the battery compartment and swap the old batteries with new ones. Some hands-free faucet designs will need a reset while others will work automatically after replacing the batteries. For the former, try pushing the reset button, usually located near the battery compartment, before testing the water flow.

Slow Leaks After End of Activation Cycle -- Sometimes hands-free faucets might develop leakage problem after the end of the activation period, that is, when the sensor cannot detect your hands or an object below the faucet). Dirt buildup in the tap might block the valve, leading the sensor to the malfunction that causes water leak. In such a case, try adjusting the sensor dial before dismantling the faucet. If this does not stop the leak, you might have to shut off the water supply to fix the tap. If you are not a DIYer, call your local plumber. Further, the aerator, which is attached to the faucet, would have to be removed to access the filter kit. Therefore, clean debris and grime from the screen and connect the aerator. After that, turn on the water and try the faucet. If unsuccessful, seek the services of a plumber who knows a thing or two about touchless faucets.  

Corrosion and Residue -- Since tap water is usually filled with chemicals, over time, it could corrode your faucets. Besides, the use of harsh abrasives and cleaners to on the automatic valve could expose the tap to oxidation because of the removal of the shiny outer layer. If the corrosion is located near the spout, it could cause the faucet to start turning itself on and off unpredictably. As such, if the surface is already corroded, you could try to scrape off the residue gently or clean it with a combo of warm water and vinegar.      


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