A very common, and very annoying problem many people have with bathroom sinks, in particular older bathroom sinks, is that of loud, squeaky faucets. Considering your bathroom sink is often one of the first places you visit when you wake up in the morning, as well as one of the last stops before getting a good night’s sleep, having a stubborn, annoying, squeaky bathroom sink faucet is a real drag. Certainly there are bigger issues to be concerned with the world today… nonetheless, if this article can give you just a little bit of respite from this minor inconvenience, it will be well worth the few minutes you spend reading it. When talking about squeaky bathroom sink faucets (or kitchen sink faucets for that matter), we’re really talking about two different possibilities. The first is the handles themselves. Sometimes, over time, they become less and less cooperative and start to get really difficult to turn. In addition, as you turn them, they squeak and grind. The second “squeaking” noise that can occur is the result of water running through the faucet. Actually, the word “squeaking” is more of an understatement than anything with this particular problem. Many people refer to it as “squealing”, “screaming”, “a shrill, high-pitched whistle”… you get the idea. Bottom line, it’s not pleasant.

Let’s take a look at the first situation.

Surprisingly, one possibility that you should check out first (though honestly, this probably will not be your issue, but it’s worth checking…), is the screws on the faucet handles themselves. Often times a simple tightening of these screws is enough to put an end to this squeaking. If this quick fix doesn’t do the trick, many people will reach for the WD-40. It’s understandable; it’s quick, convenient, and usually helps the problem at hand… for a while. The thing is, WD-40 does work for a little while, but eventually (in fact, usually sooner than later), it dries out. And when it does, you will be worse off than you were before. A much better bet is to make a quick trip to your local hardware store or Home Depot. There you can pick up a bit of silicone grease, which is what a plumber would use on internal parts like this.

If in the process of taking a closer look at your bathroom faucet you find that it is really very old and starting to corrode (especially if it is any kind of pewter metal), chances are you’re going to need to replace it. This is just a simple case of things wearing out with time. Once again, your friendly Home Depot, Lowe’s or local hardware store should have a good selection of faucets to choose from in a wide range of prices. But remember, you get what you pay for. If you’re not planning on getting the bargain basement variety, taking a look at Danze faucets would be well worth your while. A brand that is quickly establishing itself in the plumbing world for the value, quality, and aesthetic attractiveness.

Now let’s take a good look at the other “squeaky faucet” situation.

Here, I’m afraid, you might need a plumber’s intervention. However, there are a few things you can check before making that call and spending that money. One possible reason your sink might be shrieking is that you have air in the lines. You can pick up a thing called an ‘air arrestor’ in the plumbing section of your home improvement store. Installation is usually quite simple and any of the sales staff should be able to give you a quick explanation of how to do it.

The second possibility that you might be able to address is that the stem may be loose where it goes into the faucet body. If this is the case, the noise is coming from water rushing past it causing it to vibrate quickly. Simply tightening up the stem should eliminate the noise if this is the problem.

While it’s true that sometimes a professional plumber is absolutely needed in these situations, other times there are simple fixes that you can take care of yourself. This isn’t rocket science. If you’ve been pulling your hair out because your sink is squeaking or shrieking at you, hopefully now you can do something to put an end to it once and for all.