Kitchen Faucet advice

[TravelGal]

The current single handle model has decided to give up the ghost after only 17 years of continuous, arduous use. Sheesh. (j/k). Plumber said 5 years ago that it could never be fixed again. TravelGuy has kept it working since then but no amount of replacing O rings or any other thing is gonna do it now.

Advice needed: Moen? Price Pfister? Delta? That's about all my budget can handle at this point of the year. Or should I just pick the pretty one because they are all made in the same factory in China anyway?

I've read it's better not to go to the big box stores, given that their pricing requirements necessitate lower standards. Anything else I should know?

[chop456]

Our single-handle PF bathroom faucets have been great. The double-handle PF in the other bathroom goes through o-rings about every 2 years. If you're willing to shop around, you can get a Grohe (or similar) for substantially less than what retailers charge. I got ours for about half of what Expo wanted for it. It's been great through almost 7 years of abuse.

[cameraman]

Since you are keeping the sink you are going to be limited to the hole pattern of your current sink. I'd just measure it up and go manufacturer web sites to see what they have. They styles are all over the place as are the prices. I'd probably stick with Price Pfister or Grohe myself. Delta seems to be all caught up with electronic faucets and the Moens that I have had have not lasted.

[Napoleon]

Moen since 1) I have had great experience with them and 2) my brother works there. For the kitchen I have one that is like this:

http://www.moen.com/extensa/stainless-one-handle-low-arc-pullout-kitchen-faucet/_/R-CONSUMER%3A7560CSL

I love it.

[Don Quixote]

I don't think you can go wrong with Moen, PF, or Delta. I have had good luck with all three.

[KLang]

No Kohler love here? They were a Road America sponsor.

We had our latest house done with Kohler. No problems so far..

[Methanolandbrats]

Whatever you get, make sure it has a ceramic cartridge, much better idea than the old metal put an O-ring around it and shove it in kind. :D

[opinionated ow]

Nothing beats the original tap :rofl:

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/4400/4470/tap_1_md.gif

[dando]

No Kohler love here? They were a Road America sponsor.

We had our latest house done with Kohler. No problems so far..

Same here. 9 years and all is fine. Have also used Delta in the past as well w/o issue.

-Kevin

[TKGAngel]

The contractor that redid my bathroom installed a Kohler faucet in both the shower & vanity. Both are working well. The only problem is that the initial plumbing work on my house back in the day was done by idiots and my hot and cold are opposite of where the faucet says they should be.

[Methanolandbrats]

The contractor that redid my bathroom installed a Kohler faucet in both the shower & vanity. Both are working well. The only problem is that the initial plumbing work on my house back in the day was done by idiots and my hot and cold are opposite of where the faucet says they should be.

Those "back in the day idiots" sometimes did not install shutoff valves either. At least they didn't in my house. I also had one hot/cold feed on the wrong side. I sweated on shutoff valves and used braided stainless lines to switch sides on the faucet.

[Andrew Longman]

Those "back in the day idiots" sometimes did not install shutoff valves either. At least they didn't in my house. I also had one hot/cold feed on the wrong side. I sweated on shutoff valves and used braided stainless lines to switch sides on the faucet.Elmo would likely agree that is a good safety precaution. And if you sell the house your prospective buyers won't wonder about your crap plumbing work. ;)

Moen and Kohler in my house. Done three baths and a kitchen with happy results. Ceramic filter is a must.

As said, regardless of brand name it is best to stay away from Loews or the Depot for this stuff. The good manufacturers are forced to make crap for them. That IS beginning to change though as the stores realize they are losing share. Still need some inside info from the mfr. to know what isn't crap.

[TKGAngel]

Those "back in the day idiots" sometimes did not install shutoff valves either. At least they didn't in my house. I also had one hot/cold feed on the wrong side. I sweated on shutoff valves and used braided stainless lines to switch sides on the faucet.

I've found the shutoff valves for both my toilet, sink & kitchen sink, so we're all good there.

The same back in the day idiots also wired the electricity for my living room to run off the circuit breaker in my parents apartment downstairs.

[Methanolandbrats]

I've found the shutoff valves for both my toilet, sink & kitchen sink, so we're all good there.

The same back in the day idiots also wired the electricity for my living room to run off the circuit breaker in my parents apartment downstairs.

Yikes, that's dangerous. You do find interesting things when you begin to inspect houses. I put new drywall in my living room and found two studs that were spliced. That's right, two pieces butted together and another one nailed on the side. :saywhat:

[G.]

The contractor that redid my bathroom installed a Kohler faucet in both the shower & vanity. Both are working well. The only problem is that the initial plumbing work on my house back in the day was done by idiots and my hot and cold are opposite of where the faucet says they should be.
Check the supply lines to verify if the hot is on the "hot" side.

Some faucets (Moen, for example) can have the valve cartridge installed 180 degrees turned around, which can switch the H&C. In my case the builder put it in backwards and all I got out was HOT. Some versions will swap H&C.

[TravelGal]

Thanks for the suggestions. TravelGuy reminded me that we are replacing a Peerless faucet. The brand never seems to be mentioned but I see they are still sold, at least on the net.

Given what everyone's written, I'm thinking 17 years is a pretty good lifespan. The question is whether they are still made with the same quality they were 17 years ago. Somehow I doubt it.

We got our bathroom Price Pfisters from the last of the ones made here in CA. We heard that when the production moved to Mexico, the quality went to .... One would expect the people here to say that, of course.

Our house is 50+ years old and they didn't know from shut off valves back then. Adding them in 3 different places was literally the first thing TravelGuy did to the house when we moved in. There was no way we could face days of work on the sprinkler system with no water in the house!

[Insomniac]

I feel weird saying this after all the informed opinions, but the faucets I have now (7+ years) are cheap and haven't leaked, I can't even see a brand name on them. I'm surprised that it matters so much given the simplicity of their design/purpose.

With that said, I see those commercials for the faucets you can turn on with a touch (and a couple years ago the European ones that had LEDs to show the temperature (not just red/blue, but shades in the whole range between the 2)) and I want those in my new (future) house.

[Andrew Longman]

I feel weird saying this after all the informed opinions, but the faucets I have now (7+ years) are cheap and haven't leaked...You CAN do well without spending a fortune. Price DOES tend to correlate to fancy and stylish design though. And if you are paying a lot for looks, you should not have to regret that it leaks just a few years down the road.

I do have one faucet that my wife just had to have because it had this bronze finish that matched paint she liked... whatever.

It wasn't a brand name, made special for our plumbing supplier, wasn't too expensive, works great for years now without a hint of problems... except the finish is wearing off (revealing a little at a time a dark nickel finish I like better anyway)

[cameraman]

I see those commercials for the faucets you can turn on with a touch (and a couple years ago the European ones that had LEDs to show the temperature (not just red/blue, but shades in the whole range between the 2)) and I want those in my new (future) house.

Those suckers run about $650. Spendly little widgets...

[mapguy]

Thought that I'd throw my opinion in here. I work for a Lowe's up here in Canada as a Plumbing Specialist.

Totally agree on the ceramic cartridge. Any single lever Delta, Kohler, Grohe and Price Pfister have them. With Moen, if the lever is on top then they use the old 1225B cartridge that has been around since 1920. They are made of plastic, rubber and brass. I have at least one customer a day asking for a replacement cartridge.

What you mainly pay for now is the finish and style. As all the internals are the same across any manufacturer's line. Chrome is the least expensive and oil rubbed bronze is the most. Here are my thoughts on the different manufacturers that I deal with:

Delta: Probably the best bang for the buck. Their new cartridges have a diamond seal technology that make them last longer than most others. Plus their high-arc pull out sprayers have a magnet in there that helps pull the sprayer back into position. Plus they have long pex supply lines that practically guarantee that it will reach your shut off valves.

Grohe: Beautifully made and engineered. The motion of their single levers is so fluid it is not funny. All Grohe's are either made in Germany or Canada. If you are going for a contemporary look then go for a Grohe.

Kohler: Quality and style. It doesn't matter what style you are after, Kohler makes something for you. 90% of their stuff is made in Wisconson.

Moen: Depends on which faucet you buy. A single lever on the top? Garbage. One of their newer ceramic cartridges with the lever on the side? Not too bad. But nowhere near the top three. Their faucets are a bit bland too.

Price Pfister: They have a bit more style than Moen. Kind of a bargain priced Kohler when it comes to style.

Peerless: Don't do it.

Anyway. If you want something that is going to be reliable, perform well and last be prepared to spend at least $250. Anything less than $200 will be crap. With Grohe you are looking at around $400 for their least expensive faucet but well worth it.

All the faucet companies have lifetime warranty on the parts. Moen, Delta, Price Pfister and Peerless give us the common parts to give out for free. I get asked for Moen parts every day. Price Pfister every week and Delta maybe once a month. Kohler and Grohe do not provide me with parts. Then again. I have never been asked by a customer for any... Take that for what it is worth....

When going to buy avoid the specialized plumbing stores. You are going to pay alot more than from a big box store. But at a big box store it will be a special order but it is the same faucet that you would get at a specialized place. Most of the "Off the shelf" faucets that you find in a place like Lowe's or the Depot have most of their parts made in China or Mexico. With the exception of Kohler.

You'll notice that I didn't mention Glacier Bay, Pegasus (Home Depot brands) and AquaSource (Lowe's brand). Absolute garbage. They are all made by Global Union in China.

In closing. Spend a little more money and stick with Delta, Ghrohe or Kohler and you will not be disappointed....

[Napoleon]

Well its time for me now if anyone has an update. :(

[Napoleon]

PS, if just a cartridge was bad, would a faucet ordinarily leak from inside of the body of the faucet (in other words other then from the faucet head itself)?

[TravelGal]

Larry the not-plumber says yes, it would leak from the inside.

[TedN]

Thought that I'd throw my opinion in here. I work for a Lowe's up here in Canada as a Plumbing Specialist.........

Grohe: Beautifully made and engineered. The motion of their single levers is so fluid it is not funny. All Grohe's are either made in Germany or Canada. If you are going for a contemporary look then go for a Grohe.


I recently purchased 2 single-lever Grohe faucets at my local Lowe's store (one kitchen and one bathroom) to replace 12-year old Kohler units that came with my new condo. The Grohe units are fantastic, the motion is beautifully smooth.

Thanks for the tip mapguy!

Ted

[Anteater]

My turn: just bought a lovely Kohler kitchen faucet with pull-out sprayer at Home Depot. This thread was very helpful with making the selection; thanks so much! :thumbup:

[TravelGal]

My turn: just bought a lovely Kohler kitchen faucet with pull-out sprayer at Home Depot. This thread was very helpful with making the selection; thanks so much! :thumbup:

So glad to be of service. It will amuse (or not) everyone to know that I never did buy one. TravelGuy fixed the old one. Several times. So far, so good. ;)

[G.]

Wife did NOT want me to spend Grohe $$, so we got a Kohler.

Now she keeps on mentioning just how "freaking smooth" it is. :thumbup:

Grohe for the next one that needs replacement, I think. If not, Kohler again.

[Kiwifan]

TravelGuy fixed the old one. ;)

I know it's a long shot but do you think he would make a house all......... Downunder?

Had someone around twice to fix our swivel faucet. The last time the plumber came here he caught me standing in the sink and wanted to know what I was up to. Told him I was learning to tap dance. *GROAN* ;-) (Dad joke.)

[indyfan31]

I bought a Danze at half price at a hardware store. The damn thing lasted over 15 years without a leak.

We went with a Moen for our Kitchen remodel last year, seems ok so far. Two minor complaints: contractor installed it per instructions, hoses are clearly marked (red for hot), but the Hot/Cold are backwards. Also, I really hate the low-flow aspect of the faucet, takes forever to fill a large pot. Otherwise it looks good and works well, albeit pricey.

That said, i found this today only at Woot! Kingston Brass Faucet (http://www.woot.com/offers/kingston-brass-faucet-your-choice-1?ref=cnt_dly_img). Looks a bit too commercial for my taste.

[G.]

Also, I really hate the low-flow aspect of the faucet, takes forever to fill a large pot.

Remove it.

Google your model, with the secret words, such as, "How to remove low flow on Moen model xxyyxx". It's probably the spacer before the aerator.
I left it in on the Kohler I got, since it's in the kids bathroom, and who really cares about kids? :gomer:

(I tried it with and without, and the low-flow hits the sink in the right spot - less splashing potential.)

[TravelGal]

I know it's a long shot but do you think he would make a house all......... Downunder?

Had someone around twice to fix our swivel faucet. The last time the plumber came here he caught me standing in the sink and wanted to know what I was up to. Told him I was learning to tap dance. *GROAN* ;-) (Dad joke.)

Ya never know. I hear the Air Tahiti Nui flights are pretty inexpensive. If you can stand to stop over in Tahiti, that is. :laugh:

[Kiwifan]

Air New Zealand Babe! :cool:

Tahiti is one place I'd love to go, James A Michener and all.

Maybe we could have an OC get together there and talk about faucets and bacon, racing not so much. :cry: