One of the quickest, easiest ways to improve the looks of a kitchen or bathroom is to update the faucets and shower heads. Faucets and shower heads are no longer just pipes where water comes out. There is beauty and artistry in design never available before. Updated faucets and shower heads can instantly add improvements that set your baths and kitchen apart from your neighbors without major remodeling.
Sensor faucets have been used for years in commercial restrooms. They are now available for home use providing extra energy savings and germ control. Place your hands under the faucet and it detects your presence and turns on the water to a preset temperature.
Newer, higher quality faucets use ceramic disk valves. Water flow is regulated by a ceramic disk with holes in it that turns against another ceramic disk with matching holes. When the holes align the water flows. The ceramic is nearly diamond hard and improves its seat with use. These faucets are maintenance free and should not need replacement in a lifetime of normal use.
Lower quality faucets are available that use compression valves where a rubber washer is screwed against a brass valve seat to control water flow. Each time the valve is turned off the rubber washer is mashed against the seat. Over time washer gets worn and brittle. With normal use the rubber washer will need to be replaced many times and the brass seat will need grinding to keep it smooth and operational. This type of faucet is not as common as they used to be. Lower quality faucets with plastic bodies are most likely to have use this system.
Valves using plastic cartridges or balls are more common. These valves use plastic cylinders, or balls that rotate rubber seals onto brass valve seats. These types of faucet are more reliable and longer lasting than the compression valve, but still need periodic maintenance to replace O-rings, rubber seals and cartridges. Most faucets in use in the average home today use these systems.
New faucets are generally easy to install and can usually be done by an average homeowner. Upgrading faucets can quickly provide increased enjoyment of your home at a relatively modest cost. Upgraded faucets also add an extra touch of quality during remodeling adding buyer appeal in resale houses.
