The old saying “You get what you pay for” rings loud and clear in the world of plumbing supplies. It’s not just pipes and fittings that matter but your faucets and fixtures, too.
Paying for quality and performance is money well spent. Here are five reasons why.
1. Testing your metal
While much of what you pay for in a high-end faucet is cutting-edge style and design, there’s actually a huge difference in terms of the materials used to produce quality fixtures compared to the ones you’ll find on the discount rack.
Almost all quality faucets and fixtures are constructed with brass, and it’s easy to tell if the one you’re looking at is the real McCoy. Brass fixtures are much heavier than their lower cost counterparts, and, in this case, heavier is better. Solid brass bodies last longer and require less maintenance, particular in areas where residential water is hard.
Fixtures plated with low-quality material will fade, chip and tarnish more quickly.
2. Eco-friendly?
When it comes to installing environmentally friendly equipment in your home, performance is the name of the game.
Low-cost eco-friendly devices such as cheap low-flow shower heads experience an enormous drop off in functionality compared to higher-end WaterSense approved fixtures. You won’t be saving any water if it takes 15 minutes to rinse shampoo out from a dribble.
The same goes for toilets, too. There’s no point in buying a low gpf (gallons per flush) unit if you’ve got to flush two or three times with every usage to whisk your waste away.
3. Drip, drip, drip
High performance plumbing fixtures are built with quality components and stronger, more durable valves. Low cost valves are liable to break or develop leaks, both when the tap is in use or closed.
Skimping on price today is like buying a one-way ticket to the repair zone. Unless you’re happy to sleep with ear plugs and shell out unnecessary cash for an oversized water bill, it’s best to keep those leaky faucets on the shelf where they belong.
Drip, drip, drip. That’s the sound of your money and sanity flowing down the drain.
4. Technological know-how
From touch technology all the way to hands-free operation, top-of-the-line faucets and toilets truly do their job better than their counterparts.
Refusing to consider performance and functionality when making your buying decision is like opting for a clunky old rotary phone instead of a smartphone. By taking advantage of technological advancements in the plumbing industry, you can truly improve your overall quality of life.
5. What a centerpiece
Ahigh performance faucet can set the stage for the entire space—especially in the kitchen. In fact, most homeowners won’t fully appreciate how poorly their old faucet performed until after making the upgrade.
Quality fixtures in the kitchen and bath will actually make cooking, washing up and bathing more enjoyable. Isn’t that a goal worth investing in?
