Calling all plumbers - need advice quickly

[Chefguy]

I need professional opinions on plumbing fixtures. Specifically, kitchen faucets. Not all brands are created equal, and I'm out of touch with that market now. I need to replace my kitchen faucet because it's old and starting to leak. I would take it apart and replace the O-ring, but can't figure out how to get the damned valve apart (it's a Moen). Recommendations as to brand is what I'm looking for: which, in your experience, hold up the best, are easiest to work on, etc. Price is not an issue. I'm calling the plumber today, but need to buy a new faucet by the time he can get here. Thanks, all.

[thelabdude]

Most of them you pry the cap off, unscrew the screw, pull the top off, and pull out the cartridge. they only make a few, and most are easily foundat anyhardward store. Replace it and leak, gone.

For ease of parts, I would stick to Moen. I recently had to go through replacing an old Price Phister shower control because I couldn't buy a replacement cartridge. That meant tearing up the wall.

[FordPrefect]

Being Moen, you should be able to replace the parts you need for free.
Lifetime warranty and all that.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by thelabdude

Most of them you pry the cap off, unscrew the screw, pull the top off, and pull out the cartridge. they only make a few, and most are easily foundat anyhardward store. Replace it and leak, gone.

For ease of parts, I would stick to Moen. I recently had to go through replacing an old Price Phister shower control because I couldn't buy a replacement cartridge. That meant tearing up the wall.

Most, but not this one. I took the cap off last night and there was the screw, right where it should be. However, when I tried to unscrew it, it just turned without loosening, which tells me that there must be a nut on the other end, which means disassembling the entire fixture (from under the sink) in order to replace the $#C&ing O-ring. My back won't allow for that anymore. To add to the joy, I note that even with the valves shut off, the drip continues, which means new valves are needed, which means instead of a $100 service call, we're talking several hundred dollars. I'm going to have him put in ball valves as replacements.

I seem to remember that we put in Kohler fixtures when we renovated in our last home, and that Price-Pfister didn't rate too highly.

[loshan]

I had an old Moen faucet that was leaking and called the Moen customer service line for a replacement part. The guy on the phone walked me through taking it apart and when we found out the copper had cracked, they sent me a whole new faucet! Free of charge.

After that, I'm not sure I'll ever buy anything but a Moen again.

You can go to the Moen website to see which faucet you have and get the customer service number.

[GaryM]

Another plus for Moen. But that aside, I'd check the local home centers and hardware stores to see what makers they stock parts for. They'll probably have Moen and Delta.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by loshan

I had an old Moen faucet that was leaking and called the Moen customer service line for a replacement part. The guy on the phone walked me through taking it apart and when we found out the copper had cracked, they sent me a whole new faucet! Free of charge.

After that, I'm not sure I'll ever buy anything but a Moen again.

You can go to the Moen website to see which faucet you have and get the customer service number.

Unfortunately, they require a copy of the bill of sale for warranty issues. Since the faucet was here when we bought the place, that's not an option. It would appear that Moen may have proprietary parts, so we may have to fork out big bucks for a replacement faucet rather than a repair.

[KneadToKnow]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

However, when I tried to unscrew it, it just turned without loosening, which tells me that there must be a nut on the other end

Interesting. What that suggests to me is that it's stripped. I can't think of a part in a faucet that has a screw-head at one end and a nut at the other. Note that I am *not* a plumber: I'm just going by what I remember seeing in doing faucet repairs of my own.

[Dewey Finn]

I'm not a plumber but there are ranges of quality even within a brand like Moen. The big box stores like Home Depot may have Moen faucets that are cheap but are largely plastic, while they or a dedicated plumbing store may have Moen faucets that are entirely chromed brass or brushed nickel.

[loshan]

I didn't have a copy of the receipt, the faucet was one that was in the house when we bought it and probably dated from the early 80s.

This was two years ago that they replaced that faucet. Maybe I just got lucky and got the right CS guy on the phone?

Last year, for a different faucet, they sent me a diverter valve for the sprayer, complete with removal tool and instructions, free of charge, and did not require a receipt.

[KneadToKnow]

Originally Posted by loshan

I didn't have a copy of the receipt, the faucet was one that was in the house when we bought it and probably dated from the early 80s.

This was two years ago that they replaced that faucet. Maybe I just got lucky and got the right CS guy on the phone?

Last year, for a different faucet, they sent me a diverter valve for the sprayer, complete with removal tool and instructions, free of charge, and did not require a receipt.

You're a Hot Chick, aren't you? They get everything.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by loshan

I didn't have a copy of the receipt, the faucet was one that was in the house when we bought it and probably dated from the early 80s.

This was two years ago that they replaced that faucet. Maybe I just got lucky and got the right CS guy on the phone?

Last year, for a different faucet, they sent me a diverter valve for the sprayer, complete with removal tool and instructions, free of charge, and did not require a receipt.

Impressive service, I must say. The problem still stands that I can't get underneath the sink to remove the bloody thing, but I'll keep this in mind if we buy a new one.

[nivlac]

If money's no object, then go for a top-of-the line brand, like Grohe. Pricer for sure, but it's considered higher end vs. Moen. I used all Grohe fixtures (bathrooms too) when I remodeled. More important than the brand are considerations like how high you want the kitchen faucet, frills like a built-in spray, etc. Decide on those features, then go to the store and tell them you want the best one with those features.

[Chefguy]

Originally Posted by nivlac

If money's no object, then go for a top-of-the line brand, like Grohe. Pricer for sure, but it's considered higher end vs. Moen. I used all Grohe fixtures (bathrooms too) when I remodeled. More important than the brand are considerations like how high you want the kitchen faucet, frills like a built-in spray, etc. Decide on those features, then go to the store and tell them you want the best one with those features.

Seems to me I looked at a Grohe shower head for our remodel and thought $1200to spray water on my head? Also, we were planning to sell. At this point, I just wish the damn plumber would call me back.

[ralph124c]

Moen is good-good quality, and parts are readily available.
Grohe is VERY good, bt pricey.
Avoid the cheap brands that are on sale at the "big box" stores-many times they are not made of brass, and will corrode rapidly.
I'd also avoid "Price Pfister"-it is very hard to get replacement parts.

[KneadToKnow]

Originally Posted by ralph124c

I'd also avoid "Price Pfister"-it is very hard to get replacement parts.

I've never understood the appeal of that brand. They always feel like cheaply-made rickety crap to me.

[MikeG]

I've had the same Grohe Europlus faucet and Grohe shower head for well over 15 years. Each apt I've moved into I have taken out the crappy ones and put mine in their place. When I leave, I swap them back.

They both work just as perfectly as the day I bought them. 5 years ago I bought a replacement quick connect for the pull out spray thinking it would go bad but it hasn't so far.

As a kitchen designer, I tell people to spend as much money as they can on a faucet, it gets the MOST use and abuse of anything in the kitchen aside from the range knobs.

[ethelbert]

I have heard (but have no direct evidence for) that the big plumbing manufacturers have separate, somewhat cheaper lines that they sell through the big box stores. Unless I am just going for cheap, I go to a plumbing supply house.

For the kitchen faucet, you should make sure you enjoy using it, since, as MikeG says, it gets used a lot. It helps if you can actually use it with running water. Some plumbing supply places will let you do this (you might not get to try your exact model, but something similar).

[Chefguy]

Thanks all. We're off to a local plumbing supply today that carries both Grohe and Moen fixtures.