Too much tech and you’re basically one power surge away from a kitchen fountain.
Yeah, that’s my worry too. I like the idea of touchless for messy jobs, but when things go haywire, it’s just another headache (and possibly a water bill spike). I’ve looked at some of the cheaper models and honestly, the amount of plastic in them makes me nervous. If I’m spending more for “convenience,” I want it to last longer than a couple years.
I do get the appeal though—my kid managed to turn ours on with a toy once, which was funny until it wasn’t. Sometimes I wonder if sticking with a good old manual faucet is just less hassle in the long run. Less to break, less to replace. But then again, not having to scrub dough off the handle every week does sound nice... Guess it’s all about what annoys you more: cleaning or fixing stuff.
If I’m spending more for “convenience,” I want it to last longer than a couple years.
That’s exactly my beef with most touchless models—they’re loaded with plastic and electronics that just don’t age well. Manual faucets, especially the solid brass ones, can last decades with minimal fuss. Plus, fewer parts means less landfill waste down the road. I’ll take a little extra scrubbing over another dead gadget any day.
Manual faucets, especially the solid brass ones, can last decades with minimal fuss.
Yeah, I hear you on that. I swapped out a touchless kitchen faucet for an old-school lever one last year—just got tired of the batteries dying and the sensor acting up. The new (well, vintage) one is all metal and feels way sturdier. Ever notice how much easier it is to fix a drip or swap out a washer on these compared to the newer models? Makes me wonder if we’re overcomplicating things for the sake of “smart” features...
Honestly, I’ve had the same thought running through my head. I get the appeal of all the new “smart” features, but somewhere along the way, manufacturers made it a lot harder to just, well, fix a faucet. Used to be I could pop off the handle, swap a washer, and be done in under ten minutes. Now? You need a specialty tool or you’re hunting for some obscure cartridge that only exists in a warehouse three states away.
I’m not totally against tech in the kitchen—I mean, I’ll take a dishwasher over hand-washing any day—but there’s something about a faucet that just works, year after year, without needing batteries or a troubleshooting manual. My parents still have the same brass fixture they installed in the ‘80s, and it’s outlived two dishwashers and three refrigerators. That says something.
One thing I noticed with those touchless ones: the sensor would always decide to ignore me when my hands were covered in dough or chicken juice. But try to wipe down the counter and it’d spray water everywhere. Not exactly intuitive. Maybe I’m just not cut out for “smart” plumbing.
I guess the trade-off is convenience versus longevity. Sure, waving your hand is neat until you’re replacing batteries for the fourth time in a year. I’ll take a plain old lever any day—at least I know how to fix it when it leaks. Sometimes simpler really is better... though I’m still waiting for someone to invent a faucet that tells you when your kid left it dripping all night.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had to replace a faucet cartridge before and it turned into a mini scavenger hunt—ended up driving across town just for a part that cost more than I expected. The older faucets really do seem to last forever, and when they drip, it’s usually a quick fix. I don’t mind some tech in the kitchen, but when it comes to stuff like faucets or light switches, I’d rather keep it simple. Less to break, less to pay for down the road. And yeah, those touchless ones never seem to work right when you actually need them... Murphy’s Law, I guess.
