Things to Consider when Buying Faucets

New faucets in the bathroom or kitchen contribute to both the looks and functionality of the room. Of all the different things to consider when choosing and buying faucets, the most important thing is to pick one that is high quality. There is nothing worse than installing a faucet that drips, has loose handles, or even damages the room with a leak.

Even though higher quality faucets may be a bit more expensive, they will save headaches from occurring in the future.

If you’re going to purchase your own faucet, get it from a professional plumbing supply vendor and not a big box retail store. Retail equipment tends to have lower quality plastic parts in the kits. Additionally, make sure that the faucet has a good warranty to back it up. If you choose to purchase a faucet from us at Wisler Plumbing, we will accompany the manufacturer’s warranty with a corresponding labor warranty at no additional charge.

Almost all faucet manufacturers include a lifetime warranty in the cartridge. If the cartridge were to be defective or compromised, it would end up causing the faucet to drip. Because all faucets purchased directly through Wisler Plumbing have our accompanying labor warranty, we will come out to your home and take care of the leak at no charge to you if a leak were ever to occur.

What to Look For

One important characteristic that we look for is a solid cartridge that does not contain any washers and is not made of rubber. Ceramic cartridges are the best choice. The chlorine and other chemicals in municipal water supplies can break down the rubber over time. Ceramic cartridges will resist chemical breakdown and end up lasting much longer.

It’s very important to pay attention to the functionality of the faucet – think about how much you will be using it, along with what you will be using it for. For instance, kitchen sink faucets with large high-rise spouts are very nice for reaching over and into large pots. Pull-out spray nozzles are very nice for washing off plates or the interior of the sink. In the bathroom, a single handle faucet makes it easier to get the water temperature just right.

In older homes, it is fairly common for the bathroom to have a three-handled tub shower faucet. If you would like to modernize the look with a single-handled faucet that doesn’t scald you whenever someone flushes the toilet, a good option is a pressure balanced single handle tub shower faucet. During a bathroom remodel, or if you simply want to upgrade the faucet, they can be retrofitted into an existing tub shower with three handles/holes by simply installing an attractive cover plate. Most importantly, there is a code stating that replacement faucets need to be pressure balanced. The best way to achieve this is by installing a single-handled control valve.

Even though the faucet’s material finish is important, don’t forget about the functional aspect when making your decision. The most popular choices now are brushed nickel or rubbed bronze. Rubbed bronze faucets will show spots more easily, since it is a dark color. The white residue from toothpaste and soap will be much more evident on a dark background as opposed to a grayish silver background.

Polished brass or chrome is attractive, but it will show scuffs, marks, and fingerprints much quicker than a brushed surface. That is probably one reason why brushed nickel or brushed chrome are more popular.

Take advantage of our labor warranty. Contact us and we’ll set up a time to visit that’s convenient for you.