I’ve run into a few leaky Moen cartridges over the years, and honestly, it’s usually a quick swap—hardware stores almost always have what you need. Delta’s similar. The only time I got stuck was with an old, discontinued Delta model, but even then, I found a compatible part after a bit of digging. The fancy brands look cool, but I’d rather not gamble on tracking down some obscure valve in a pinch.
I hear you on the fancy brands—some of those European fixtures look amazing, but I’ve had to special order parts before and it’s a pain. For most bathrooms, I stick with Moen or Delta too. If you ever need to swap a cartridge, it’s usually just: shut off water, pop the handle, unscrew the retaining nut, pull the old one, and slide in the new. Maybe 20 minutes tops unless it’s corroded. The only time I regretted it was when I tried a boutique brand and couldn’t find a replacement for months... never again.
Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. Those boutique brands look killer, but man, when something breaks, it’s a whole saga. I’ve had a similar experience—spent way too much time tracking down a weird-sized washer for a “designer” faucet. Honestly,
Same here. Parts are everywhere and repairs are never a guessing game. Sometimes boring is just... easier.“I stick with Moen or Delta too.”
Honestly, Same here.
I totally get the “boring is just... easier” angle, especially when it comes to plumbing. I’ve been burned by “unique” fixtures before—thought I was upgrading, but ended up with a leaky mess and a weeks-long search for a part that apparently only exists in Italy. At that point, style points just aren’t worth it.
But here’s my thing: do you think sticking with the big names like Moen or Delta always means better reliability, or is it more about convenience for repairs? I mean, I know they’re everywhere and the parts are dirt cheap, but sometimes I wonder if we’re sacrificing quality for convenience. Anyone ever had a “basic” brand fixture last forever, or is it all just luck of the draw? Just curious if the safe bet actually pays off in the long run, or if it’s all marketing hype.
Honestly, I think the “big names” are more about easy fixes and less about bulletproof quality. I’ve seen plenty of Moen and Delta stuff fail way too soon, even though getting parts is a breeze. Meanwhile, I had a no-name kitchen faucet from the 90s that just wouldn’t die—ugly as sin, but never leaked. Sometimes it’s just luck, but I don’t totally buy the hype around brands being automatically better.
