BC Bathroom Faucets

Archive for the ‘Choosing Help’ Category

Bathroom fixtures can add a period touch to any sink, tub or even toilet.

Numerous companies now cater to this niche market, offering reconditioned fixtures from different eras. No matter what the look you want to achieve, fixtures are available from that time period.

Very little has changed in the standards of fixtures over the years. Most vintage faucets and hardware will fit modern sinks and tubs without any modification to the surfaces. Many manufactures make tubs, toilets and sinks reminiscence of different time periods, making the job of achieving a certain look simple and easy.

When choosing true vintage fixtures for your bath, there are a number of things to look at. The first thing to look at is the construction of the fixture itself. Are there any visible cracks where water could leak? Look closely at any threading; are the treads worn down? Are the fixtures complete; i.e., do they have the proper handles or knobs?

While reputable companies sell only working fixtures, often the homeowner uses items that have been purchased from friends, an auction or some other source. By careful inspection of the fixtures, major plumbing headaches can be averted. A simple hairline crack can mean a constant leak that can often be difficult to locate.

Before installing the fixtures, make sure you have an ample supply of rubber washers and plumbing connectors. Lay out the fixtures and look at the available plumbing. Measure both the inside and outside diameters of both the fixtures and the pipes, they will attach to.

Take notes on what items you will need in what quantity. If you are unsure what is needed, take the fixture with you to the hardware store or home center. Someone there should be able to help you determine what parts you will need.

Replacing modern fixtures with vintage faucets can easily be accomplished in less than a day by being prepared beforehand. When you are ready to start, be sure to turn off the main water supply to your house. Once the switch has been turned off, open the cold water tap in the bathroom sink to allow any remaining water in the pipes to drain.

Vintage faucets, whether they are chrome from the 50s, art deco from the 20s or Victorian brass from the last century will add elegance and style to any modern bathroom.

Here are some tips to know how to make the right choice for your bathroom – and leave that lasting impression.

Time to give the bathroom a new look? You’ve remodeled and now you want to pick out just the right bathroom faucets to add the finishing touches and give your bathroom just the right elegance it needs. While bathrooms are not the focal point of any house, they certainly can make quite an impression. Here are some tips to know how to make the right choice for your bathroom – and leave that lasting impression.

Buy Major Brands

Those unique looking faucets may look just the way that you wanted, or, really cool, but they may end up being more trouble than they are worth. While it is not my intention to speak against new companies, there still remains a real good possibility that it may not be around five years from now – when you are going to need parts for it. So, if you are intending to keep your faucets for awhile, you need to think long-term.

Choose Single-Handle Faucets

These kinds of faucets are so much easier to use and adjust than the individual handled varieties. Besides, how many times have you had to turn on the water, and you had something in your hand, that you had to set down before you could even turn the water on? This should especially be the case if you have either a child or an elderly person who is going to use that bathroom with any regularity.

Match Your Handles

When you change the bathroom faucets you should also change the shower handles and the showerhead too, so that they all match. This gives a much more uniform appearance. But you will not want to stop there, you will also want the towel racks, and the soap dishes to match, too.

Choose The Style

There are certainly many different styles available, but you may not want to choose just one of the models in the store. Many other models of bathroom faucets are manufactured by the major brands that are not on display in most stores. A catalog, however, will enable you to see other models. By looking carefully at the colors of your bathroom, you can then choose whether to get chrome, gold, white, almond, or any other color.

Before heading off to the home improvement store to buy your new bathroom faucet you should make sure you have accurate measurements.

Do-it-yourself home improvement centers are loaded with options for upgrading and beautifying your bathroom. In fact, there are so many options when it comes to bathroom faucets, you might feel overwhelmed by the choices.

Bathroom faucets are available in an incredible variety of styles, sizes, colors, and price points. And unlike in years past, where bathroom faucets were little more than tools to direct and control the flow of water, today’s faucets should be carefully chosen reflections of your taste and the style of your bathroom. The right bathroom faucet can actually take your bathroom from ordinary to exquisite.

When you are shopping for bathroom faucets, it is important to take measurements before you leave! Most design centers and home improvement stores are huge in scale, and without measuring, you could easily be tricked into buying a bathroom faucet that is much too large for your space. Not only could it look wrong proportionally, your faucet may not fit at all.

Bathroom faucets styles include: spread-fit faucets (those that do not have to have the handles and spout close together); close-fit faucets (handles and spout are located together); single-lever faucets (single handle controls the flow and temperature of water, and is usually attached to the spout); and, wall-mounted faucets (useful for accommodating unusually shaped sinks or tight quarters).

Basic bathroom faucets generally cost less than $100, but the price can rise quickly when you add extra features such as solid-brass construction or a designer name. You should always invest in high-quality bathroom faucets and fixture, but it’s not necessary to shell out $1500 for an imported or name-associated faucet. Rather, look for a reputable manufacturer who offers a comprehensive product warranty. To save even more money, you could install the faucet yourself, following the instructions that come with your faucet and a few extra supplies, or you could play it safe and hire a handy man or plumber to do the job for you.

When choosing a faucet for a bathroom that children use, safety and function are important factors.

You want to prevent scaling accidents which usually happens when a child turns on the hot water faucet handle instead of the cold. It can also happen if your hot water heater settings are too high.

You can help prevent hot water burns in the bathroom by installing a “temperature limit stop.” Temperature limit stops are not available on duel handled faucets but can be adjusted by removing the handle on a single handled faucet. Expect to pay $75 or more for a faucet with a temperature limit stop.

In addition to the temperature limit stop feature available in some single handled models, there is an ease of use that comes with just a single lever. Single handles are a popular choice because you can tilt it forward for on and off use and sideways for hot and cold.

There are a number of different styles of single handles. Some have rounded knobs on the end, others are more blade shaped and still others are loops that look a little more stylish than the simpler models. The knobbed model is more difficult for a child to use because they have to grip it and turn it before water flows.

Avoid shiny finishes like polished brass because it will be more difficult to keep clean, especially if children use the sink often. Brushed and satin nickel finishes have less shine than polished surfaces and will hide water spots and fingerprints.

Whether you choose a single handled faucet or a duel handled model, look for one with a low GPM (gallons per minute) flow rate. This will help prevent, or at least slow, a flood if the sink mysteriously becomes plugged and the water left on.

Beyond the basic “one handle or two” decision, you will face all kinds of style and conservation questions when choosing a bathroom faucet.

Before you head out to the home store, become familiar with some of the features you will face in the bathroom faucet aisle.

If you are replacing an existing faucet, you will need the new faucet to have the same number of holes as the old one. A one handled faucet (one hole in the counter top) must replace a one handled faucet; a two handled faucet (three holes in counter top) must replace a two handled one, unless you plan on replacing the countertop as well.

Finishes available include pewter, brushed nickel, chrome, oil rubbed bronze, polished chrome, satin chrome, gold, black and white. Additionally, accents in any of the above are also available. You can familiarize yourself with the look of each of these at kohler.com or by performing an online search for “bathroom faucet finishes”.

If a two handled faucet is what you’re looking for, look for a faucet with an adjustable reach or one that is the correct spread of your current sink. Otherwise, your handles may hit one another.

Anti-scald and heat constraining faucets help prevent metal from becoming dangerously hot when your water is hot.

Roman tub fans might be surprised to find that some manufacturers have added Roman bathroom sink faucets as well. A Roman faucet allows the spout to be pulled out of the sink because it is attached by a flexible metal hose.

Handles for your sink or bathroom faucet come in countless styles, from the plain-Jane to ultra-elaborate. The spouts of faucets can be short and squat to tall, up to 18 inches or more, and curvaceous.

There are faucets with low gallons per minute ratings, to help conserve water, and those with high gallons per minute for those who prefer a more powerful water outpour. Some faucets have been approved for handicapped use when the force to move the handles is no more than five pounds.

When choosing a faucet for your bathroom, remember there’s more to it than just style. Consider who will be using it, the installation process and current set up before purchasing a faucet.

The old bathroom needed to be upgraded to a more modern look and with features you need the most.

The new vanity really looks great in the room, but you don’t care for the faucet it came with. You can easily switch out this faucet for one you would like better.

The number of styles of bathroom faucets from which you can choose from is extensive. There is a style of bathroom faucet to fit every taste and need you have for your bathroom faucet.

Before you set off to the store to buy a different faucet it is a good idea to take a good look at the sink you are purchasing this faucet for. What is the size and design of the sink? Faucet sizes typically come in 3 variations: single-hole, 4in. centered, or 8in. widespread. You can choose whatever style you like best for a bathroom faucet. But it must match the size of the one already in place in order to fit securely and work properly.

Next you will want to think about how you will most likely be using your bathroom sink and faucet and also about the needs of the others who will also be using the sink and faucet. Do you have small children or a handicap that might make using a standard bathroom faucet more difficult? You can find styles that are better suited to small children and those dealing with physical limitations. Easy to reach handles and longer spouts are excellent choices to help make your bathroom faucet more user-friendly.

If the children in your home are older, and no one would have a hard time using a smaller faucet: you might consider a style that is petite, with decorative handles for your bathroom faucet.

You can also choose between washerless styles (ones that don’t require a washer to be installed inside the spigot) and filtered styles designed to take impurities out of your water. Filtered style faucets are more commonly used in kitchens to purify the water used for drinking and cooking. But these do appeal to some people who want to ensure the water they and their families use to brush their teeth with is free of harmful contaminants

The style of bathroom faucet that is appealing to the eye, while meeting all of the demands placed on it, is the best choice for you and your upgraded bathroom.

Resource conservation, especially water conservation, is a very hot item in the news these days.

With a limited amount of water, it is important to only use what is needed. While showering once a week may be one way to conserve, there are many things you can before resorting to such extreme measures. From recycling dish water to purchasing a low output faucet, the options are almost endless.

* Check your faucets for leaks. Check for leaky pipes, fittings and washers as well. One leaky faucet can add up to 5500 gallons of water lost each year.
* Replace leaking faucets, pipes, fittings and washers as soon as possible.
* Call your local water or sewer department and ask if they provide aerators. These simple, easy to install gadgets cut down on the amount of water that comes out of your faucet by up to 60%. Many water and sewer providers will send these to you for free.
* Turn off the faucet when shaving or brushing teeth to save several gallons per minute.

It is likely you will have to replace a faucet at some point. When you go shopping for a new faucet, look for:

* 2.20 gallons per minute (GPM) or less for faucet flow at 60 pounds per square inch (PSI)
* Built in aerator to reduce water flow to .5 – 1.5 GPM or pick one up from the hardware store or your local water district
* Consider purchasing “One Touch Tap Saver” faucet aerator that increases water pressure and reduces water used

Whether trying to reduce your water or sewage bill, or if you just want to conserve this natural resource, keep these things in mind:

* A leaky faucet wastes about 5500 gallons per year and costs an average of $11 per year or $.002 per gallon (the US average though actual costs vary)
* An aerator may be free from your water district or cost about $3 at a home improvement store
* Turning the faucet off when teeth brushing, figuring 3 household members brush twice a day each, saves 13.2 gallons / $9.40 (for standard 2.2 GPM faucets) or 9 gallons / $6.60 (when fitted with 1.5 GPM aerator) per year
* New faucets fitted with an aerator start at about $20 at a home improvement store.