I have a HO who has an elderly mom who, when she shuts off the shower valve knobs (2 handle) has a habit of turning the knobs off very tightly, not just til the water stops. This has caused the faucet valve seat washers (rubber) to deteriorate more quickly. This HO has asked if there is a better faucet out there that will not wear as quickly, thus allowing her mom to stilll turn them off as she does. They tell her not to do it, but she does, she doesn’t seem to have the ability to comprehend she’s hurting the faucet, so the HO figured a better faucet may be the answer instead. Is there a better faucet that will be more durable?
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If at first you don’t succeed, try using a hammer next time…everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time. -ME
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There are washerless 2-handle faucet sets.
Do washerless fawcets regulate the water well? What I mean is do they have a steady curve in their on/off volume. Right now I have a washered shower fawcet that drives me crazy with the way it works. The hot side takes about two minutes before it stops changing flow and normalizes. And the cold side is real touchy. Just a little adjustment and it is freezing or scalding. Is it just a bad/cheap design.
Washered faucets tend to do that sort of thing. One problem is that the washer expands and contracts with temp.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
Besides what Dan said, if it is a newer unit it might have a pressure balance device (anti-scald) that is sticking.And if it is every old the stems might be so worn that they are loose and can move in and out a small amout..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I know it's not an anti-scald valve. Every valve in this house is as cheap as they could find. The stems might be worn or loose. I should get off my rear and look at it.
I am going to re-plumb this bathroom. The ceiling below will come off and I'll be able check all the plumbing. Maybe a new/better valve is in order.
Single handles are better for temp control, but if you must have two handles this ones pretty nice.
http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=null&module=Bath+%26+Shower+Faucets&item=140802&prod_num=16213-4§ion=2&category=8
Ceramic 1/4 turn valves.
“We need to be a country of tall fences and wide gates.”
Fred Dalton Thompson
Thanks Bill!
In lieu of your other replies on this thread, do you have a suggestion on a really good washerless faucet? A favorite brand?If at first you don't succeed, try using a hammer next time...everything needs some extra persuasion from time to time. -ME
I've seen a couple of American Standard basin sets with ceramic seats that seem pretty nice, but I don't know if they have the equivalent in a tub set.(If she weren't such a stubborn old broad the set really should be changed out for a single handle control -- much safer.)
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I think Kohler has some electronic controls. Pricey, but would solve the problem.
Ondine is the primo, but for the life of me cannot find their web site.
“We need to be a country of tall fences and wide gates.”
Fred Dalton Thompson
I'm pretty sure the bathroom wasn't plumbed correctly. I posted a picture of the top of my water heater a while back. The supply and return have 3/4" black pipe, 3/4" galvanized, 1/2" copper, one 3/4" brass gate valve, and two 3/4" dialectric unions.
If he put this mishmash of plumbing on top of the water heater in easy view of anyone, just imagine the mess in the supply of the bathroom. It was remodeled at one point.
This is where I found the toilet set with a plaster like product with no wax seal.
I think if I put a decent valve in the shower with a good supply it will be fine. The valve in there now is probably junk and was plumbed badly.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not upset in the least. I think this stuff is common in a lot of homes. I hope they had fun with the repairs they did. At least he tried to do stuff around the house.