What to Actually Look for When Buying Plumbing Fixtures

The big box stores are full of shiny faucets that look great and cost $49.99. Then there are faucets that look identical and cost $349. What's the difference? About five years of frustration.

Faucets: What Matters

Material: solid brass lasts. Plastic internals and zinc housing fail fast. The cheap ones use plastic where you can't see it. Weight tells you a lot—pick it up. If it feels flimsy, it is.

Valve type: ceramic disc valves are the gold standard. They last 20+ years and rarely leak. Compression valves and cartridge valves are fine but won't last as long.

Finish: PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) finishes resist corrosion and scratching way better than standard chrome or brushed nickel. They cost more but look new for years.

Warranty: anything less than a lifetime warranty on a kitchen or bathroom faucet is a red flag. Good manufacturers stand behind their products.

Brands that don't suck: Kohler, Delta, Moen, American Standard. You'll pay more, but you install it once instead of three times.

Toilets: The Throne Matters

Flush power: measured in grams of waste removed per flush. Yeah, they actually test this. Look for 800+ grams. Anything less and you're double-flushing constantly.

WaterSense certification: means it uses 1.28 gallons per flush instead of 1.6. Over a year, that saves thousands of gallons and actually lowers your bill.

Bowl shape: elongated is more comfortable. Round bowls fit smaller bathrooms. That's it, that's the decision.

Height: "comfort height" (17-19 inches) is easier on your knees. Standard height is 15-16 inches. If you're over 50, get comfort height.

Avoid: Dual-flush toilets sound smart but the buttons break, and people use them wrong anyway. One-piece toilets are easier to clean than two-piece, but cost more.

Showerheads: Flow and Feel

Federal law caps flow at 2.5 GPM. Good showerheads make that feel like plenty through clever engineering. Bad ones feel like you're rinsing off under a dribble.

Read reviews about pressure. "Luxurious spray" usually means good pressure. "Gentle mist" means weak.

Handheld vs fixed: handheld is more versatile (cleaning the tub, rinsing kids, washing the dog). Fixed is simpler and one less thing to break. Combo units give you both.

Material: metal over plastic. Charlotte's water is soft, so you don't need to worry much about mineral buildup, but plastic still degrades faster.

Water Heaters: Don't Cheap Out

Tank capacity: 40 gallons for 1-2 people, 50 gallons for 3-4 people, 80 gallons for 5+. Go bigger if you have teenage girls. You'll thank me.

Warranty: 6-year is standard, 9-12 year is better. Longer warranty usually means thicker tank lining and better components.

Efficiency: look for a high Energy Factor (EF). Anything above 0.67 for gas or 0.95 for electric is good. Better efficiency = lower bills forever.

Tankless: costs 2-3x more upfront, saves 24-34% on water heating costs, lasts 20+ years. Math says it pays for itself, but the payback period is long.

Sinks: Simple But Important

Kitchen sinks: stainless steel, 18-gauge or thicker (lower number = thicker). 16-gauge is commercial quality and will outlast your house. Undermount looks cleaner but costs more to install.

Bathroom sinks: porcelain is classic and durable. Vessel sinks look cool but splash everywhere. Undermount is easiest to keep clean.

Size matters: too-small kitchen sinks are infuriating. Get the biggest that fits your counter. You'll never regret more sink space.

The Real Black Friday Advice

Sales on quality brands are worth it. Sales on garbage brands just mean you're paying less for something that'll still break.

Big box stores sell multiple quality levels of the same brand. The cheap Kohler isn't the same as the expensive Kohler. Read the specs, check the warranty.

Factor in installation cost. A $100 faucet that's impossible to install costs way more than a $200 faucet that goes in smoothly.

Buy fixtures you'll still like in 10 years. Trendy finishes and weird styles date fast. Brushed nickel, chrome, and matte black are safe bets.