I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve got to push back a bit on the “more variety is better” angle. In emergency repairs, inconsistency is a nightmare—especially when you’re working in tight spots or with time pressure. I’ve seen way too many jobs drag out just because the handle turned the wrong way or the cartridge was some oddball type. Sure, flexibility helps in weird setups, but a baseline standard (even just for direction) would cut down on confusion and mistakes. You can still have options for lefties or unique installs, but there’s no reason turning right for off and left for on couldn’t be universal. It’d save a lot of headaches, trust me.
I get what you mean about standardizing things, especially when you’re in a rush or dealing with a leak at 2am. But I’ve run into older houses where the plumbing is so weird, sometimes the “standard” just doesn’t fit. I do wish there was more consistency, though—my kitchen faucet turns the opposite way from my bathroom and it still throws me off after years. Maybe there’s some historical reason for all the different directions? Either way, I’d be happy if they just picked one and stuck with it.
Yeah, I totally get the frustration. I’ve had to swap out a faucet before and realized halfway through that the new one turned the “wrong” way compared to the rest of the house. It’s annoying, especially when you’re trying to do things on a tight budget and can’t just replace everything for consistency. Honestly, I think a lot of it comes down to whatever was cheapest or available at the time the house was built or remodeled. You’re not alone—sometimes I still turn the handle the wrong way and get blasted with cold water.
I’ve run into that too—just when you think you’ve got the job done, you realize the handle turns the opposite way from every other faucet in the house.
Been there, more than once. Out of curiosity, has anyone ever tried swapping the supply lines under the sink to “fix” the direction? I’ve heard mixed things about whether that’s safe or just asking for leaks down the line.“sometimes I still turn the handle the wrong way and get blasted with cold water.”
Swapping the supply lines sounds like a quick fix, but honestly, it can open up a whole can of worms. I’ve seen folks try it, thinking it’ll just “reverse” the handle direction, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes you end up with cross-threaded fittings or tiny leaks you don’t notice until there’s water damage under your cabinet. Not to mention, some faucet cartridges are designed to work only one way—flipping the lines can actually mess with the internal seals.
“I’ve heard mixed things about whether that’s safe or just asking for leaks down the line.”
You’re right to be skeptical. I’d say if you’re dead set on matching handle directions, it’s usually better to swap out the cartridge or get a faucet designed for your setup, rather than mess with the supply lines. Curious if anyone’s run into weird issues with water hammer or pressure after swapping lines? That seems like another risk nobody talks about.
