Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve had similar headaches—nothing like a dead battery in a “smart” faucet to make you nostalgic for the old lever. For rentals, simple really is better. At least with levers, you’re not hunting for obscure parts or dealing with confused tenants.
I hear you, but I’m still kind of torn on this one. When we moved in, I was all about the “smart” upgrades—thought it’d be cool to wave my hand and get water like I’m living in the future. Fast forward a few months, and I’m Googling how to reset the faucet after a power blip. It’s not rocket science, but it’s not exactly intuitive either. Honestly, sometimes I just want things to work without needing a manual or fresh batteries. Maybe there’s a sweet spot between techy and old-school that actually makes sense for regular folks...
Totally get where you’re coming from. I tried a touchless faucet in our last place, thinking it’d save water and hassle, but honestly, the battery changes and random resets got old fast. Sometimes the “dumb” stuff just works better—less to break, less to maintain. I’m all for eco-friendly upgrades, but if it’s not reliable, it’s just another headache. There’s gotta be a balance between convenience and simplicity... not everything needs a sensor or an app.
I hear you on the maintenance side—touchless faucets can be a mixed bag. The tech’s come a long way, but even the better brands still need battery swaps every 1-2 years, and sensor calibration can be finicky if your water pressure isn’t stable. I’ve seen some folks hardwire them to avoid battery hassles, but that’s not always practical in older homes. Honestly, for most residential kitchens or baths, a good quality manual faucet is just less trouble over time. Commercial settings are where touchless really shines, since hygiene and high traffic outweigh the quirks.
You nailed it about the battery swaps—I've lost count of how many times I've been called out because someone’s “fancy” kitchen faucet just stopped working mid-dishwashing. The look on people’s faces when I tell them it’s just the batteries is priceless... usually followed by “Wait, there are batteries in there?”
Funny thing is, I’ve seen touchless models that claim to last 5+ years on a set of AAs, but if your kids treat the sink like a waterpark, you’ll be swapping them every few months. Hardwiring is great in theory, but in practice, it’s a mess in older homes where running new wires means tearing into cabinets or walls.
Manual faucets might not have the wow factor, but they’re basically bulletproof. For a busy restaurant or public restroom, I get the appeal of touchless—less mess and fewer germs. At home, though, I’d rather deal with a leaky washer than a dead sensor at midnight.