| Kitchens and bathrooms have become the sole | | | | with the other inherent problems are more the |
| largest selling point in houses today. It is not | | | | reason to shop for better quality. |
| uncommon for the simplest tract home to have a | | | | Cartridge valves, invented by Moen Faucets, enabled |
| $60,000 kitchen remodel and the surprising thing for | | | | the invention of that single lever faucet I mentioned |
| us old timers is that this investment returns dollar for | | | | earlier.The cartridge controls the mixing of water |
| dollar(if not multiples above) in appraised value of the | | | | temperatures. Cartridge valves last a long time, but |
| home as well as esthetic influence to the new buyer. | | | | will have to be replaced. How long they last depends |
| In this remodel the current trend is to stainless steel | | | | on what kinds of materials are used in the cartridge. |
| appliances, granite or at least solid surface counter | | | | They may be plastic, metal. plaster , or ceramic which |
| tops and the ultimate in style, design and finish in | | | | will last a long time. |
| fixtures. | | | | The ball valve is an innovation of Delta Faucet. It is |
| There a literally hundreds of choices when it comes | | | | also used in Peerless and Brizo faucets and works like |
| to bathroom and kitchen faucets . These choices | | | | a cartridge. Current ball valves are stainless steel and |
| can range in cost from below $100 to into the | | | | nearly indestructible. |
| $1000’s with the emphasis invariably being on | | | | Ceramic valves are a European innovation. It's actually |
| style or design as opposed to function. In past days | | | | two slotted ceramic disks that rest against each |
| if you turned the faucet and you got water then you | | | | other. One rotates to control temperature and raises |
| considered it was better than going out to the well | | | | and lowers to control volume of water. This valve |
| and pumping. If the water got hot it was a miracle. | | | | eliminates the rubber entirely. The water-tight seal is |
| Yes folks I’m just about old enough to | | | | provided by the disks that are polished to near |
| remember those days.Today is it the latest style? | | | | perfect flatness. Look for these on Price Pfister |
| Polished nickle, stainless steel or oil rubbed bronze? | | | | faucets as well as most European brands such as |
| Does the soap dispenser match? Soap dispenser? | | | | Grohe. Faucets with ceramic discs are reliable and |
| How does a faucet match the bar of Ivory soap | | | | easy to use. Faucets that use ceramic disc valves are |
| laying on the drainer? | | | | used in mid-range and high-end styles-faucets. If |
| Then there was the leaking. If you had enough | | | | repair is ever needed, the entire ceramic-disc |
| strength to turn the knobs hard enough then you | | | | cartridge is replaced. A faucet with a washer less |
| got no leaks. Good news, today, is that all, except | | | | ceramic disk valve cartridge will be drip free. In fact, |
| the cheapest faucets, can last a lifetime and rarely | | | | look for the words 'washer less" on the faucet |
| leak and many come with lifetime replacement | | | | packaging. How do I decide which to buy? Here are |
| guarantees either for parts or sometime even for full | | | | the things to consider in making your choice |
| replacement of the faucet. I read in a discussion | | | | .Choose your budget. Remember there are wide |
| forum, 2 weeks ago, that a customer had called | | | | variables to consider when it comes to cost. Even |
| Moen to hopefully get some replacement parts for a | | | | if you go for a more expensive European faucet, |
| faucet that was 17 years old. The customer service | | | | such as Grohe, my personal favorite (I drive a |
| person regretted to inform him that the parts for | | | | Mercedes why wouldn’t I want the equivolent in |
| that faucet had long since become unavailable so | | | | my kitchen?) you'll find many deeply discounted on |
| they were just going to send him a brand new | | | | the internet websites. No matter how much you |
| faucet. Take a little time and find a faucet that you | | | | decide to spend, look for the following things in a |
| like since it's going to be with you for a long time. So | | | | faucet |
| we CAN take less time worrying about leaks and | | | | A). Ceramic or Metal Cartridge |
| more about quality finish, style etc. | | | | Look for a ceramic cartridge, ball or disk valve faucet |
| Even with this newly found carefree attitude you still | | | | if it is in your budget. If not, look for stainless steel |
| need to understand what to look for to get the best | | | | and brass since they also last a long time. |
| product and to understand the function of a faucet | | | | If in doubt about a faucet, go to the manufacturer's |
| so that if and when something does go wrong you | | | | web site and find the replacement parts list for your |
| can understand and not panic and head for the | | | | faucet. It will usually tell you the actual materials used |
| closest big orange box. A faucet consists of three | | | | in the valve. If not, use the toll-free number and call |
| parts, a valve that controls and directs the flow of | | | | the manufacturer's customer service department. If |
| water, a handle(s) or knob(s) and a spout. You can | | | | you do buy a faucet with a plastic cartridge, go |
| choose a faucet that gives you hot and cold water | | | | ahead and get the replacement cartridge now — |
| separately or in the single faucet models easily mix | | | | you'll need it eventually. |
| the two to give you the optimum temperature. | | | | B). How easily does the faucet operate?I have found |
| These faucets contain a mixing valve that blends | | | | that in my older age some faucets just arent as |
| the hot and cold water before it ever reaches your | | | | easy for me to push or pull. The same can apply if |
| hands. | | | | you have small children at home. |
| There are four kinds of valves: compression, | | | | C).Ease of cleaning |
| cartridge, ball, and ceramic disc. The last three are | | | | Nooks and crannies are great on English muffins but |
| referred to as "washerless" valves. If you are buying | | | | can make them difficult to clean |
| a modern bathroom or kitchen fixtures , you'll be | | | | D). Say no to Plastic |
| buying a faucet with one of these three valves. How | | | | Look for brass or some metal construction and |
| come? Because most manufacturers are building | | | | avoid a plastic on handle. Good faucets feel heavy |
| washer less valves that are reliable and don't drip. If | | | | and very solid. A Grohe sprayer, as an example feels |
| you are into the look or feel that you need older | | | | heavy enough to be used as a weapon...LOL |
| style/designed kitchen and bathroom faucets, you will | | | | E). Pay careful attention to the finish |
| find it more difficult because they use compression | | | | Better quality faucets will have a more even finish |
| valves that latter leak over time and have to be | | | | and in many cases more layers of plating which adds |
| replaced. Thes e valves are the oldest technology | | | | years to the look of your kitchen or bathroom. |
| and the least expensive. Turning the handle raises | | | | D). Guarantee? |
| and lowers a stem. At the base of the stem is a | | | | What type of promises of warranty or guarantee |
| rubber or plastic washer. It usually wears out over | | | | comes with the fixture, many today do offer some |
| time and the faucet will leak. Special tools are needed | | | | form of “lifetime” guarantee at least for |
| to effect repairs on these types of faucets an along | | | | replacement parts. |