Manual faucets just hold up better in my experience, especially if you’re not around to keep an eye on things. I swapped out a bunch of touchless ones in a duplex after tenants kept complaining about dead batteries and random shutoffs. Honestly, the old-school Delta and American Standard models have lasted me years with barely any issues. Less tech, less to break.
I hear you on the manual faucets. I tried those fancy touchless ones in a couple of my rentals, thinking they'd be a cool upgrade, but tenants kept calling about weird malfunctions or batteries dying at the worst times. Ended up switching back to basic Moen and Delta models—haven't had a single call since. Sometimes simple just works better, especially when you’re not on-site all the time.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I tried touchless faucets in my own house, thinking it’d save water and be more hygienic, but honestly, the battery thing drove me nuts. I’d forget about them until they died—always at the most inconvenient times, like when I had guests over. I ended up swapping back to a regular lever-style faucet (Kohler, I think?) and haven’t looked back.
Have you noticed any difference in water usage with the manual models? I’m always trying to balance durability with eco-friendliness, but sometimes those “smart” upgrades just add stress. Also curious if you’ve tried any of the WaterSense-labeled fixtures—are they actually holding up for you? I’ve had decent luck with Toto toilets, but I’m still hunting for a faucet brand that’s both sturdy and efficient. Sometimes I wonder if all the tech is worth it when the basics just keep working.
I hear you on the battery thing—mine always died when my hands were covered in dough or something. I’ve got a Moen WaterSense faucet now, and honestly, it’s been solid. Not sure I see a huge water savings, but at least it’s one less thing to maintain. The Toto toilets are tanks, though. Never had a clog yet, knock on wood. Sometimes I think the “smart” stuff just adds more things to break.
I get what you mean about “smart” fixtures—sometimes it feels like they’re just another thing to troubleshoot. I’ve had decent luck with Moen too, though I do think the WaterSense models help a bit with water bills over time, especially if you’ve got a few in the house. As for Toto, those things are practically indestructible. I do wish more brands would focus on durability and easy repairs instead of adding features most folks don’t really need.