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I've needed to replace the kitchen faucet in the house for a while now. It's not repairable, it's just worn from 20 years of daily use.

I'm looking at things, seems like all of them leak or quit or are just crap. Those built-in spray head units are popular right now, I haven't found a one of those that doesn't have reviews like "pretty much lasts a year." The handles on the selector break off. The spray heads quit. They're partially plastic and the finish just comes off.

The old two handle units? Leaks, cheap ass metals corroding away quickly, even ones where the cartridges just snap and you can turn the handle 360°. Most put cheap-ass plastic lines directly on the units, so if you get a bad crimp or a hose that's bad, you throw it away.

The only ones I've found so far that won't break the bank are mid-grade commercial units. They're not pretty, but they're made from brass just like the old ones. That's probably going to be the one.

I've needed to replace the kitchen faucet in the house for a while now. It's not repairable, it's just worn from 20 years of daily use. I'm looking at things, seems like all of them leak or quit or are just crap. Those built-in spray head units are popular right now, I haven't found a one of those that doesn't have reviews like "pretty much lasts a year." The handles on the selector break off. The spray heads quit. They're partially plastic and the finish just comes off. The old two handle units? Leaks, cheap ass metals corroding away quickly, even ones where the cartridges just snap and you can turn the handle 360°. Most put cheap-ass plastic lines directly on the units, so if you get a bad crimp or a hose that's bad, you throw it away. The only ones I've found so far that won't break the bank are mid-grade commercial units. They're not pretty, but they're made from brass just like the old ones. That's probably going to be the one.

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[–] • 1 pt (edited )

I agree. The only solution I have come up with (begrudgingly) is to just have a Moen pull down faucet. At the very least, (unless they have changed it on me and I don't find out until my next replacement) all of their parts are compatible. I was able to replace the faucet head for less than $20 with stuff they had in stock at Home Despot.

That cross compatibility thing is huge for me. When I moved into my house, the previous owners had a shower faucet by Gerber (yes the baby food company briefly made shower faucets) and their scheme was to use proprietary sized washers and other parts, so you had to go to them for replacement parts. Gerber stopped making these faucets years before my unit went, and it was impossible to find any replacement parts, so I had to hire a plumber to come open the wall and get all of their fittings out, and replace it with something that uses standard parts.

That is my only suggestion with all of this rambling that I have done. Whatever you decide on, make sure that it will ALWAYS have standard replacement parts, even if those parts are from someone else.

[–] • 0 pt

The one I am looking at is literally a standard cartridge that has been made for years.

I understand about the proprietary shit...my house has a Chrysler furnace when I moved in, and it (and the AC unit) were completely unserviceable 20 years later.

[–] • 1 pt

Well shit, a new AC and heater are much bigger problems than having to walk to another part of the house to shower. I'm sure you are just as weary now as I am about any company making anything you want to buy, wondering if that manufacturer will be around to make needed parts.

[–] • 1 pt

I should have written that differently - the unit was 20ish when I moved in and was completely obsolete, seeing as how Chrysler hadn't made furnaces in a long time.