Thursday, July 16, 2009

Does Your faucet Have a Lifetime Warranty?






I see many inquiries and discussions, on the many forums I follow, about leaking faucets. As you read these discussions you begin to see that there is not always one simple answer as to why a faucet leaks. In the old days when faucets were simple it was just a bad washer or something that had loosened that could have just been tightened. With today’s complicated faucet systems it can be a buildup of sand stuck in a valve or too much water pressure over a long term which can cause that valve to fail. With the new style single handled faucets the valve and its components are the heart of the mechanism and if it fails you can experience anything from a leak to complete failure to be able to control the faucet. The obvious long term durability of any faucet can come from its components and the materials they are made of. The best fixtures are brass and ceramic but there are products that are mostly plastic. The better quality fixtures are both more easily repaired as well as being worth repairing where you might find a less expensive fixture easier to cast aside in favor of a new one of similar value or the experience may have taught you that you would be better served to buy a more expensive faucet that will provide better life expectancy. Along with the better fixtures also comes a better warranty with most of the more expensive products on the market today offering “lifetime warranties” of parts and finishes. The most prominent of these product lines is Moen. As best I can tell Moen began this warranty program guaranteeing their faucets for the life of the original owner covering products manufactured back to 1995 but I am aware that they hace extended this coverage to faucet much older. The following is the exact language of Moen’s warranty from their website:
“Moen® products have been manufactured under the highest standards of quality and workmanship. Moen warrants to the original consumer purchaser for as long as the original consumer purchaser owns their home (the "Warranty Period" for homeowners), that this faucet will be leak and drip free during normal use and all parts and finishes of this faucet will be free from defects in material and manufacturing workmanship. All other purchasers (including purchasers for industrial, commercial and business use) are warranted for a period of 5 years from the original date of purchase (the "Warranty Period" for non-homeowners). If this faucet should ever develop a leak or drip during the Warranty Period, Moen will FREE OF CHARGE provide the parts necessary to put the faucet back in good working condition and will replace FREE OF CHARGE any part or finish that proves defective in material and manufacturing workmanship, under normal installation, use and service. Replacement parts may be obtained by calling 1-800-289-6636 (Canada 1-800-465-6130). Proof of purchase (original sales receipt) from the original consumer purchaser must accompany all warranty claims. Defects or damage caused by the use of other than genuine Moen parts is not covered by this warranty. This warranty is applicable only to faucets purchased after December, 1995 and shall be effective from the date of purchase as shown on purchaser's receipt.”

Additionally I can tell you that I am aware of many occasions when Moen has simply sent the customer a complete new faucet when either parts were no longer available or when they deemed the faucet not repairable. I can also tell you that I have shared this info with many Moen owners who were unaware of the warranty as well as owners of several other major product lines that have chosen to match this warranty.
The bottom line, before you tear apart a leaky faucet or pitch it in the trash and buy a new one determine the manufacturer and explore their warranty you may certainly be able to save yourself at least the cost and search for parts but may also gain an entirely new fixture.
National Builder Supply is a proud Moen dealer as well as the Moen premium “Show House” brand as well as many other quality brands.

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