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sail_away

In search of a bathroom faucet

10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago

I wrote here some time ago (but now can't find my original post) about trying to find a bathroom faucet with a longer spout length, as I haven't been happy with my current faucets with a shorter spout. To be fair, I believe that the granite fabricators cut the holes too far back, which is why it is problematic.

We are a few weeks from closing on a lot that we want to build our retirement home on and will then sign the contract with the builder. Building likely will start sometime in the spring, depending on how quickly our plans can be reviewed and approved by the county. In the meantime, I'd like to have as many decisions made as possible.

Since we're facing retirement, we are trying to work with a modest budget. I am willing to splurge a little on the faucets, since they are used daily and can be a huge source of irritation if they don't function properly (or even if they aren't aesthetically pleasing). I've already chosen my kitchen sink and faucet, but I'm having trouble with the bathroom faucets. I'd like to keep the faucets (stainless steel) at no more than $200 each. (I'd actually like to keep them under that amount, but I've given up on that idea.)

I initially was interested in the Trinsic, although I'm not that fond of the small lever handle. I also was hoping for a spout length of more than 5". So my attention then shifted the the Delta Ara, specifically Model 567LF-SSMPU. There is another similar model, but its spout length is more than an inch shorter than this model, which is 5'3/8". When I looked at the model with the shorter spout length (thinking it was the longer one), I saw many good reviews and a much better price. The more I looked at it the more I liked the way it looks, too. However, when I realized that I was looking at the wrong model, I shifted my attention to the 567LF-SSMPU. I could only find one review outside of 3 at Amazon, and it was 5 star. However, Amazon's 3 reviews are not so stellar. One is 4-star and the person seems very pleased, except for the fact that one of their faucets has a slower flow rate. The second gave a 3-star rating based on the fact that their faucet was missing parts which Delta will send to them. And the third gave a 1-star rating because the faucet is leaking (yikes!).

Has anyone here used this particular faucet? Was it problematic for you or are you pleased? If I buy this, I will be getting 4 faucets, and at over $230 it will be a bit over budget. I'd like to buy them ahead of time so that it won't come out of our plumbing allowance and give us a little flexibility when spending the rest of the allowance. But before committing to them I'd sure like to hear if anyone has had experience with these. It's so hard to know how much weight to give Amazon reviews. I seem to generally have good success when I use the reviews as a barometer, but OTOH I noticed that the kitchen faucet we currently have installed was also given mostly bad reviews, and I am very happy with my faucet.

If anyone has bothered to scan through this much too long post and has any insight, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.

Comments (16)

  • 10 years ago

    I think I responded to your old post and mentioned I had purchased a Zuchetti Jingle faucet that has a very long spout. Being installed next week. I also have just installed a Newport Brass Metropole, longer than average spout. Both are single handle. The Zuchetti is modern, picked out by my teen son for his bathroom. Both are higher than what you budgeted.

  • 10 years ago

    Thanks for taking the time to respond again---so frustrating when I can't find the original post. Although this is a bit different, as now we are building and when I first posted I think I was just considering replacing the faucets in my child's bathroom. Anyway, I'm afraid those options are a bit too far out of budget.

    Another consideration is that, from what I have been reading, Delta has a good reputation at this time for customer service. Since I want to buy these well ahead of time to install them, I would like to feel sure that they would make good on their warranty if any problems were found during installation of these faucets. Just still concerned about the relatively poor reviews at Amazon. Plus they do offer some faucets which are closer to my desired budget.

  • 10 years ago

    Thanks, Enduring, for the link. Wow! I don't think I had ever heard of at least half of the manufacturers listed. I was, though, happy to see that the two companies from which I have chosen my favorite plumbing supplies---Delta & Moen---both were among the top-rated for warranty service. As I said earlier, that is one reason I'm contemplating going ahead with a faucet (I would be buying 4 of them, actually) that has very unimpressive ratings on Amazon. I think the odds are good that Delta would stand behind its products. Nevertheless, I do wish someone who had had actual hands-on experience with the faucet in question would be able to comment and maybe put my mind at ease a little.

  • 10 years ago

    I like the Delta "Cassidy" line. This is the renovated full bath in my 1939 house. Is this spout what you want?

    I liked it so much, I ordered the same for my master addition, but in polished nickel. This one is chrome to match the sink. I've installed the smaller version on my powder room, original sink.


    I also LOVE the Delta Cassidy rain shower! Ordered it for my new master bath. Shown here in the same renovated bath (the existing cast iron tub was refinished). There is also a Cassidy tub spout and control valve down below.

  • 10 years ago

    It's lovely, as is the entire bathroom, but not what I'm looking for. I have a developmentally delayed child who simply cannot handle a two-handle faucet. Definitely need a single hole single handle faucet. Also, as much as I like the look of the Cassidy, I probably am looking for simpler lines in this case.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Sail-away, is that why you wanted a larger handle, due to your child's needs? I liked the faucet you refer to that is rounded spout. I didn't like the flat spout as much, but function trumps form. I have a flat spout on my Hansgrohe and it water spots a lot more then my rounded spout in the other bathroom.

    hansgrohe with the flat spout:


  • 10 years ago

    Yes, although I also looked at the Trinsic, but thought the Ara might work better. If faced with a two-handle faucet, my child will very quickly destroy it by twisting it too hard and too far to make sure that the water is actually off. Not sure why so concerned about getting the water off. One would think it would be obvious that the water is off, but my child is hearing impaired (so can't hear if it is running) and a few years ago was constantly leaving the bathroom with the water running full force. I think seeing my alarm when I realized the water was still running and also having to answer me when I would ask whether the water had been completely turned off prompted my child to go to extreme measures to make sure the water is totally off---to the point of breaking faucets. My child also has some vision difficulties, as well as dementia---thus forgetting to do things like turn off the water. So we need sturdy faucets and, definitely, one-handle faucets.

    I do like the look of the Hansgrohe, but pretty certain it's more expensive than the Delta faucets I've been considering.

  • 10 years ago

    The faucet I showed above is more expensive but not all of them would be. I like the Delta choices too. I love a one handled faucet. What about a sensing faucet like those you see in public bathrooms? Would that be difficult for your child to manage? There wouldn't be a handle to force closed.

  • 10 years ago

    I did think of that, but it might also be confusing for my child. I considered one for my kitchen sink. For times when I've been handling raw chicken it seemed like it would be convenient, but in the end I thought of how often those faucets don't work smoothly and can be frustrating trying to get it to turn on or stay on. Plus, of course, there is the added cost, not to mention the fact that DH hates faucets with sensors.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    I don't really like them either, I struggle to keep them on!

  • 10 years ago

    Sail_away,

    "I did think of that, but it might also be confusing for my child." This statement is actually something I think about all the time. I have people who share my home, they now only know how to use an induction cooktop and some bad behavior that would be dangerous on a gas cooktop and electric cooktop like putting the kitchen towel near or around the pot have developed. I have to keep yelling about not doing that incase they go somewhere else that does not have an induction cooktop. It is very important to worry about the confusion when you go elsewhere and these things don't exist.

    Regarding the faucet, would the Grohe Concentina work for you? The spout is curved and a little deeper than most faucets. Also with Grohe, I can't speak for other manufacturers, I think their faucets now go down to 1gpm which makes it less wasteful should she leave the faucet running.

  • 10 years ago

    Homepro,

    Yes, we can never take safety for granted. I did try to help my child learn to use a microwave (for very simple tasks), but finally gave up. I would never allow the use of the cooktop or oven, though, for safety issues. The dementia, combined with developmental delays, really limits what my child can do. Your situation would be a challenge. Good that you're thinking ahead to possible negative outcomes of an action that now doesn't really have any negative repercussions.

    I think I've decided to go back to the Trinsic faucet and call it a day. It seems to meet all of my most important criteria, and I'm beginning to overthink things too much. I just came online to do a search for Trinsic faucets here and make sure there are no issues to make me rethink again. I hope not, because I'm ready to move on to all the other decisions that need to be made.

  • 10 years ago

    Sail_away,

    Delta has gotten great reviews on this forum and I don't think you can go wrong on the forum.

    For your child, I hope some of these automated cooking tools will take hold to allow them more independent living in the future!

    You've made the decision on the faucet, now on to another decision:-)

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    My company has installed a number of ARA faucets. You are very unlikely to have a problem with the faucet. It includes the Delta Diamond Seal Technology ceramic cartridge and a nearly indestructible PVD finish. Finish and cartridge are the failure points of most faucets, and neither of these is likely to fail.

    We have not had a call-back for a Delta faucet in 15 years. It may be we have never had a call-back, but our records go back only 15 years, so I can't be sure of that.

    Delta has been our pick for the past several years as the faucet company that makes the best value Made in America faucets. For a summary of our 2015 Best Value Report, try this link.

    You can be very confident that a properly installed Delta faucet will give a lifetime of flawless service, but if it does fail, it is backed by one of the strongest warranties and best customer service operations in the whole world.

  • 10 years ago

    Homepro, Thanks. It sounds like you have experience in dealing with these kinds of issues and have developed some good strategies to help others achieve their maximum, without pushing too hard and discouraging them.

    Starcraft, Thanks for weighing in on the Ara. I really like the look of it the best, but decided to go with the Trinsic anyway for two reasons: (1) It was my original choice and I do still like it, and it is cheaper than the Ara; and (2) What really convinced me was trying to find a soap dispenser to go with the Ara. To me, the round soap dispensers looked odd next to the squared off shape of the Ara faucet. Again, thanks for taking the time to post. I appreciate it, and I'm sure someone else will be searching for information and be grateful to find your post.