The company suggests single-handle faucets for kids these aren’t likely to be in the full-hot position. You hope it’s the cold one,” says Dale Archer, technical service manager for Hansgrohe, a Cumming, Georgia-based faucet manufacturer. “When children step up to the sink, they usually reach for one handle or the other. If you opt for round knobs, look for ones with rotational limit stops, which take just a quarter turn to open and close the valve inside. Also look for an “ADA Approved” (Americans With Disabilities Act) label. Look for a single-handle faucet or one with lever handles for older users or anyone who has trouble turning round knobs. Next, consider who will use the faucet this factor determines the style you choose as well as the inner workings you opt for. spreads have separate handles and offer more replacement options. The same holds for single-handle faucets and some two-handle units mounted in a single hole. Your new faucet must be configured the same way. they accommodate faucets that consist of a spout and separate handles connected by an escutcheon plate. Small lavs often have three holes that span 4 in. Start by removing the existing faucet and measuring the distance, or spread, between the holes in the lavatory. If you’re replacing only the faucets and not the sink, you have to know which size unit to buy. The Fast Tub Filler from Gerber (about $205) features elliptical-shaped handles that comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act and a ceramic-disk cartridge valve system. Save them for less-used powder rooms and guest baths.įAUCETS MOUNTED directly to the bathtub deck are an elegant addition. But because most of these finishes aren’t bonded to the metal like plating, they chip and scratch relatively easily. With a spectrum of colors available, going with painted or enamel finishes is the easiest way to individualize a faucet and coordinate it with the rest of the bath. Chrome and combination chrome-and-brass finishes are popular for baths but require frequent cleaning to maintain their shine. They also match door and cabinet handles more easily than brass. Their muted tones hide water spots, scratches and fingerprints. Pewter, nickel and satin finishes are also easy to maintain. Examples of these finishes include Delta Brilliance, Moen LifeShine and Jado Diamond. If you opt for the warmth of natural brass, you’ll avoid frequent cleanings with one of the proprietary lifetime finishes that block out oxidation. An electroplated chrome finish on a brass or zinc faucet looks good and lasts. Finish is another crucial choice that determines not only how a faucet looks but also how easy it is to maintain. Though their $50 entry price might be appealing, plastic simply doesn’t hold up. Stay away from low-end faucets with plastic bodies. Because zinc corrodes when it contacts water, these faucets must be replaced when the plating wears off. Zinc is the metal beneath most brass- and chrome-plated fittings. Faucets with die-cast zinc-alloy bodies cost less (typically starting at about $70) and deliver good durability. Often, the box will read “all-brass body” versus “ZMACK” for brass- or chrome-plated fittings. If you aren’t sure whether a fitting is solid brass, pick it up. At $150 or so to start, these faucets also cost the most. Solid-brass bodies last longest and require the least care, especially with hard water, which corrodes lesser metals. Start by checking out the body, which encompasses the spout and controls. The harder questions are: What material and finish were used in the faucet you like? Will they last and still be easy to clean? If there is a problem, how difficult and expensive are repairs? In other words, which faucet will give you the style and service for what you want to spend? TESTING THEIR METALSĪside from style and features, what separates good lav, tub or shower faucets from the not-so-good is the material they’re made of. Picking a style you like is the easy part of buying a new faucet. Making things tougher is that you’ll also find poor-quality pretenders that glitter as brightly as top-of-the-line models. Stores are filled with quality $100 lav faucets with five-year warranties and others that take care of the needs of older users, tub faucets tough enough for a house full of teens and multihead shower walls that make you feel like you just stepped under a tropical waterfall. If that describes your faucets, get ready for a sea of replacement options. Or, their style looks dated with the bath remodel you’re planning. They still drip even after you repair them. Three signs that your old bath faucets are treading water: Their finish is dull or pitted.
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