Faucets may be one of the most used objects in your home - everyday they are turned on and off with varying degrees to get the right temperature and pressure for a given job. We really don't pay much attention to them until they leak - anything from a slow drip to a head that comes off causing a gusher! How good a faucet you purchase will determine its lifespan. Many faucets go without maintenance for decades, others seem to develop a problem almost every other year. Knowing what's out there, could mean the difference between worry free or having a constant battle to keep it in repair.

There are single-handle faucets, two handed faucets and ones without levers which use a sensor to turn them on or off depending if an object crosses its beam. What makes faucets different is what's inside - the type of valve it uses.

Washer & Seat Faucet: A compression valve relies on rubber or neoprene washers attached at the bottom of a handle stem. To get water out of the tap, it releases the washer compression from a metal valve seat. To turn water off, the flexible, but firm rubber or neoprene washer is screwed against a metal valve seat. Eventually the washers become brittle, wear down becoming compressed losing its flexibility and causing those annoying drips. Other areas of concern include corrosion of small set screws, while the valve seats themselves have a tendency to wear down. The faucets are considered high maintenance. Many American manufacturers have switched with a "valve and flow" control design which has improved reliability somewhat, but they are more complex to repair.

Ball Valve Single Handle Faucet: Introduced around 1952, the single-handled ball valve has a stainless steel ball enclosed in a brass sleeve. Maneuvering the handle moves the ball regulating both water temperature and flow. Parts include small rubber seats and springs which eventually wear out, but are readily available and inexpensive to replace. Ball valves come in both kitchen and bathroom sink models.

Ceramic / Stainless Steel Disk Faucet: Ceramic / Stainless Steel Disks use perforated disk-shaped regulators in controlling water flow. The disks rotate as a pair or against a fixed plate, usually within a cartridge assembly. Of the two types, stainless steel disks are the least expensive. Both designs are prone to mineral buildup. Repairs to replace the cartridge are expensive when compared to a simple washer replacement.

One Piece Cartridge Faucet: The design encompasses a self-contained assembly including a stainless steel piston valve enclosed in a plastic sleeve along with rubber "O" rings. While the "O" rings can be replaced as a separate piece, the cartridge is replaced as a unit.

Compression Valve Unit Faucet: Washers are replaced by a tapered pin which seats firmly in a matching orifice as the handle is screwed down. Rubber and neoprene sleeves are incorporated in some models to help prevent leaks. The larger orifice within this faucet is a plus where water pressure and flow rates are substandard. With closer tolerances and fewer parts, the unit is more durable and easy to fix.