- Had the same dilemma with Delta vs. Moen last year—ended up picking Delta for the main bath because the internal parts seemed sturdier (metal instead of plastic in some spots).
- Honestly, both brands have held up fine, but Delta’s finish hasn’t scratched as easily for me.
- Swapped out a 1960s toilet for a Toto Drake water-saver. Was skeptical, but it’s been solid—no clogs, and it actually looks decent. Wouldn’t go back to the old-school ones now.
- If you’re worried about performance, I’d avoid the super low-flow models under 1 gal/flush. The 1.28 GPF range seems like a good compromise.
Delta vs. Moen is like Coke vs. Pepsi in my house—my spouse swears by Moen, but I keep ending up with Delta because, as you said, the metal guts just feel more solid. Haven’t had a handle snap off yet, which is more than I can say for the old builder-grade stuff.
On toilets, I swapped a crusty ‘70s monster for a Toto Drake too.
Same here. I was worried about the “water-saver” label but it flushes like a champ. Only regret is not doing it sooner... those old ones were basically decorative at that point.“Was skeptical, but it’s been solid—no clogs, and it actually looks decent.”
Funny—I had the exact same hesitation with the Toto Drake. Thought for sure the “eco” toilets would just mean I’d be plunging every week, but it’s been a total workhorse. On the faucet front, I lean Delta too. My one Moen started leaking after five years, but the Deltas I put in at the same time are still smooth as butter. Sometimes the classics stick around for a reason, you know?
Toto Drake’s been a tank for me too, honestly. I get the hesitation with “eco” models, but that flush is surprisingly strong. Haven’t needed the plunger once since swapping out the old 3.5 gal clunker.
On faucets, here’s my take after a few remodels:
- Delta: Consistent quality. Cartridges are easy to swap if they ever do drip (rare in my experience). The finish doesn’t seem to pit or spot as much either.
- Moen: Mixed bag. Some of their stuff holds up, but like you said, I’ve had leaks crop up after just a few years. Their warranty is solid, but the hassle of pulling a faucet isn’t worth it.
- Kohler: Decent, but sometimes overpriced for what you get. Had one with a weird handle issue after two years—replaced it with a Delta and haven’t looked back.
One thing I’ll say—installation matters more than most folks realize. If you overtighten or skip on plumber’s putty, even the best brand won’t save you from leaks down the road.
Also, those “lifetime warranties” are nice in theory, but good luck getting quick support when you need it. I’d rather just not have to mess with repairs at all.
If I’m doing it for myself or family, I stick with Delta or Toto every time. Less time crawling under sinks = more time for projects that are actually fun... or at least less annoying.
Funny how some things just work and others make you regret saving a few bucks upfront.
Couldn’t agree more about installation making or breaking even the best faucet. I’ve seen folks blame the brand when it’s really a rushed install or skipping the basics like Teflon tape. I’m with you on Delta—never had a callback on one I put in right. Toto’s flush is wild for how little water it uses. I’ll admit, I used to be a Kohler fan, but after a couple weird failures, I just stick with what works. Sometimes paying a bit more upfront saves a ton of headaches later.
