Just gotta say, when they go, tracking down the right sensor or part can be a pain.
You nailed it there. Those touchless ones look slick, but when the sensor acts up, it’s a whole project just to figure out what’s wrong. I’ve swapped out way more Moen and Delta manual faucets than I can count, and they’re usually still kicking after years of tenant abuse. Kohler toilets—same deal, barely ever get a call about those. If it ain’t broke, right?
Swapping out old faucets and toilets—what brands actually last?
Those touchless ones look slick, but when the sensor acts up, it’s a whole project just to figure out what’s wrong.
Right? I tried those motion-activated faucets in a couple of my rentals thinking they’d cut down on water waste and maintenance calls. Joke’s on me—ended up getting texts at 10pm because the thing wouldn’t shut off or, worse, wouldn’t turn on at all. Tenants get frustrated, I get frustrated, and then I’m on YouTube trying to figure out if it’s the solenoid or the battery or who knows what. Give me a good old-fashioned handle any day.
I’ve noticed the same as you with Moen and Delta. They’re not fancy, but they survive just about anything. I swear, one of my units still has a Delta from the late ‘90s and it’s outlasted three tenants who thought it was a towel rack. I will say, though, I’ve had a couple of Kohler toilets where the flapper started leaking after a few years. Not a huge deal, but it’s always the little things that sneak up on you.
Ever tried American Standard for toilets? I’ve had decent luck with them, but I’ve heard mixed reviews. Some folks swear by them, others say they’re more trouble than they’re worth. I guess it depends on the model. Honestly, I’m starting to think the secret is just sticking with the classics and avoiding anything that needs batteries or a manual thicker than a phone book.
Anyone else ever get burned by those “lifetime warranty” claims? I tried cashing in on one once and it felt like more paperwork than it was worth. At this point, I’d rather just buy a new part and be done with it.
Curious if anyone’s found a sensor faucet that actually holds up, though. I keep hoping someone’s cracked the code, but so far, I haven’t seen it.
I hear you on the sensor faucets—every time I’ve tried one, it’s been more hassle than it’s worth. Even the “commercial grade” ones at my buddy’s restaurant needed constant fiddling. As for American Standard toilets, I’ve had mixed luck too. One model worked great, another had a weird flush valve issue that drove me nuts. Anyone else notice that even with “lifetime warranties,” you end up jumping through hoops just to get a $10 part? Sometimes I wonder if it’s just easier to stick with what’s proven, even if it’s not the fanciest option.
Had a similar experience with sensor faucets—honestly, the water savings just weren’t worth the constant resets and battery swaps. For toilets, I’ve had better luck with Toto. Not the cheapest, but their eco models have been surprisingly reliable over the years.
Toto’s a solid pick—can’t really argue with their track record. I’ve put in a bunch of their eco models for clients, and honestly, they just keep working. Not the cheapest up front, but you save yourself headaches down the line. Sensor faucets, though... yeah, I hear you. They sound great on paper, but between the batteries and random malfunctions, it’s more hassle than it should be. Sometimes the old-school manual stuff just wins out for reliability.
If you’re looking at faucets, I’ve had decent luck with Moen and Delta—parts are easy to find if anything goes wrong. Not perfect, but less finicky than most of the “smart” options out there. It’s always a balance between features and long-term maintenance. You’re not alone in getting frustrated with all the tech that’s supposed to make life easier but ends up being another thing to fix.