Ever notice differences in repair parts availability between brands? That’s tripped me up more than actual failures.
Totally get what you mean—finding parts for some brands is a nightmare. I’ve had to wait weeks for a weird Kohler flush valve, but with American Standard, the local hardware store always seems to have what I need. Do you think it’s worth paying extra for brands with better parts support, or is it just luck of the draw?
Honestly, I think parts support is almost more important than the initial quality sometimes. I’ve had clients totally fed up with gorgeous faucets that needed some obscure cartridge you can only get online—super frustrating. American Standard and Delta usually save the day for me, just because you can find their stuff everywhere. Paying extra upfront seems worth it if it saves you headaches (and plumber bills) down the road, but I’ve been burned by “reliable” brands too. Maybe it’s a bit of both—planning and a little luck?
I hear you on the parts support. My house is pushing 110 years old, and I swear some of the plumbing is original—at least it feels like it when I’m crawling under the sink. I’ve had a Kohler faucet from the 80s that’s still going strong, but when the handle broke, finding the right part was like a scavenger hunt. Ended up at a local hardware store where the owner had a whole drawer of “maybe this’ll fit” bits. I’ve started leaning toward Delta for replacements just because I know I can get parts at the big box stores. Still, sometimes I wonder if the old stuff just lasted longer because it was overbuilt in the first place...
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve seen plenty of those “overbuilt” old fixtures that still managed to leak or seize up after a couple decades. Sometimes it’s less about the brand and more about how the water in your area treats the internals. I’ve swapped out ancient American Standard stuff that looked bombproof but was corroded beyond saving. Delta’s great for parts, sure, but I’ve had decent luck with Moen too—at least their cartridges are everywhere. The real trick is finding something you won’t have to crawl under again for a while...
Sometimes it’s less about the brand and more about how the water in your area treats the internals.
Totally agree—hard water around here just eats up anything, no matter how “indestructible” it looks. I’ve had Moen cartridges last forever in one house, then seize up in another just a few miles away. Anyone tried those newer ceramic disc faucets? Wondering if they really hold up better long-term or if it’s just marketing.