Page 52 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine

The Homeowner’s Handbook SIXTH EDITION

Faucets &
50 Fixtures10

Save water without sacrificing performance.

www.greenbuildermag.com 11.2015 Faucets and fixtures are more Durable Faucet Features

miserly than ever before, Faucet Body and Finish
Solid stainless steel is durable,
but your behavior plays an hygienic and resists chipping
and scratching. Physical Vapor
Timportant role, too.HE FAUCET AND fixture industry has consistently Deposition (PVD) finishes, which are
delivered the eco-friendly goods. Their products get molecularly bonded to the surface,
more efficient and more durable almost every year, are durable.
yet remain remarkably affordable. Every year, bath, Inside the Faucet
kitchen and laundry gadgets help us reduce water Stainless steel components will last
usage by about 5 percent. But as a nation, we’re still much longer than plastic. Ceramic
slipping—using about the same volume of fresh water every year. disc cartridges are far superior to
Why? Because the U.S. population grows at about 5 percent per year. compressed rubber seals and are
standard on most faucets.
The problem, says author and water expert Robert Glennon, is Spray Hoses
that the total amount of fresh water available is getting smaller. If your faucet has an extender, make
Some sources have become polluted. Groundwater that takes sure the hose is made from braided
decades to replenish is being drained like there’s no tomorrow. stainless steel rather than plastic.
Dry times lie ahead, unless we all change our habits along with
our fixtures. It’s time to treat fresh water like blue gold. IMAGE: MGS SPIN D FAUCET

It’s important to make sure all the faucets, fixtures and faucets and shower handles, even ones with ceramic discs, develop
showerheads in your home are on their best behavior. That leaks within a year or two of installation, possibly because other
means installing the most durable, water-stingy, appropriately parts of the assembly are not as tough. Fortunately, many faucets—
priced models available. If you’re not sure how to recognize these even low-cost ones—now come with limited lifetime warranties
parameters, here’s a quick overview. that cover all part failures for the original owner. Still, who wants
to chase down warranties? The easiest solution: Spend a little more
FAUCET FUNCTION up front for a brand that cares about its reputation, and chances
Better Technology are you’ll get a better made, more durable product.

In modern faucets, ceramic washers have largely replaced rubber
ones. These diamond-hard discs should last forever. But in our
experience, that’s not always the case. We’ve seen less expensive

VISION HOUSE® AT MARIPOSA MEADOWS PRODUCT Champion PRO Toilet Series by American Standard

Kohler Leaf Vessel Sink This series uses 1.28 gpf and features the
This elegant above-counter bathroom sink industry’s largest siphonic 2-3/8-inch trapway
features pleasing natural curves that suggest and 4-inch-diameter flush valve, which means
a fallen leaf. Made from durable fireclay it is less likely to clog, despite using so little
material, the sink comes in three subtle color water. The popular line has been expanded
choices: white, biscuit and almond. to include two new decorative tank designs:
http://bit.ly/1ReKxVY Portsmouth and Retrospect, which are available
exclusively through wholesale distribution.
www.americanstandard-us.com