"My advice: look for fixtures with ceramic disc valves—they last way longer and rarely drip."
Ceramic disc valves are great, no doubt, but they're not the only game in town. I've had pretty good luck with some of the newer compression valves too—especially if you're handy enough to swap out washers every now and then. They're cheaper upfront and, honestly, replacing a washer every few years isn't exactly rocket science (even I can do it, and my DIY skills are... questionable at best).
Also, just a thought from an eco-perspective: sometimes the fanciest fixtures actually ARE the practical ones, especially when it comes to water-saving tech. I splurged a bit on low-flow showerheads and faucets a couple years back, and my water bill dropped noticeably. Plus, less water wasted means less guilt when I'm standing under the shower contemplating life's mysteries.
But yeah, totally agree on the spare parts thing. Nothing worse than waiting two weeks for a tiny part while your faucet mocks you with that slow, steady drip. Been there, done that, got the soggy t-shirt.
Ceramic discs are solid, definitely worth it if you hate maintenance. But I've seen some compression valves last ages too, especially if they're decent quality and you don't overtighten them (common mistake). Also, keep in mind water hardness—ceramic discs can get gritty buildup in hard water areas, causing leaks eventually. Had a customer dealing with that recently... wasn't fun. So yeah, ceramic's good, but consider your water conditions too.
Good points there—ceramic discs are usually reliable, but have you thought about installing a water softener if you're in a hard water area? Might save you headaches down the line... seen plenty of fixtures fail prematurely from mineral buildup.
Interesting idea about the water softener, but do you really think they're worth the hassle? I mean, I've had ceramic disc fixtures in my place for about six years now, and our water is definitely on the hard side. Haven't noticed any major issues yet—maybe a bit of buildup around the aerators, but nothing catastrophic. I usually just soak them in vinegar every now and then, clears it right up.
That said, I did have an older shower valve seize up completely at my last house. It wasn't ceramic though... probably just cheap hardware. Do you think ceramic discs are more resistant overall, or am I just lucky so far? Curious if anyone else has had long-term experience with ceramic fixtures in hard water areas without a softener installed...
Ceramic discs do hold up better generally, but they're not bulletproof. I've seen them fail too, especially if the water's extremely hard. Your vinegar trick helps, but long-term, mineral buildup can still cause issues internally... might just be a matter of time.
