The old-school lever ones might not be as cool, but at least you know what you’re getting.
Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. The techy stuff always sounds great at first, but when it starts acting up, it’s just another thing to fix or replace. I actually tried a touchless faucet in my last place—looked slick, worked fine for a few months, then started doing its own thing. Sometimes I’d just walk past and it’d start running for no reason. Kind of defeats the purpose if you’re wasting water every time the cat jumps on the counter...
Honestly, I ended up swapping it out for a regular lever faucet too. Less hassle, and if something goes wrong, at least you can usually fix it yourself without hunting down some weird replacement part. Plus, those old-school ones are easier to keep clean. No fingerprints all over a sensor panel or anything.
That said, I do see the appeal for people who need hands-free for accessibility reasons or even just to avoid germs—especially with kids around. But if you’re just looking for something reliable that’ll last, the simple stuff usually wins out. Sometimes “not as cool” is exactly what you want.
And yeah, the extra cost is hard to justify unless you’ve got a real need for it. I’d rather put that money toward something that actually saves energy or water in a way that’s less likely to break down. It’s funny how some of these “innovations” end up being more trouble than they’re worth...
Sometimes I’d just walk past and it’d start running for no reason. Kind of defeats the purpose if you’re wasting water every time the cat jumps on the counter...
That’s exactly why I always say—if you want fewer surprises, stick with what you know. I’ve seen too many folks run into random leaks or even short circuits with those fancy touchless taps, especially if there’s a power blip. Not saying they’re all bad, but you nailed it: simple usually means safe and reliable. Nothing wrong with going back to basics if it works for your place.
Honestly, I get where you're coming from. Those touchless taps sound cool until you realize they can have a mind of their own—especially with pets around. Had a buddy who installed one in his kitchen and his dog figured out how to trigger it just by sniffing the counter. Water everywhere. Sometimes, old-school handles just make life easier. Nothing wrong with sticking to what works if you want less hassle.
Sometimes, old-school handles just make life easier. Nothing wrong with sticking to what works if you want less hassle.
Funny you mention that—I've had tenants call me about “ghost water” from touchless taps more than once. One guy swore his cat was setting it off at 3am. I get the appeal of the tech, but I wonder if anyone’s found a model that actually works well in a busy household? Or is it just one of those things that sounds better on paper?
