Identifying your brand of kitchen faucet can be tricky. Whether your faucet is failing and you need a replacement part, or your friend just really wants to know what kind of faucet you have, you need to know the brand. Sometimes the brand is obvious, so finding the brand and the necessary replacement parts is simple. However, this is not always the case. Read on for a quick guide on how to identify your kitchen faucet brand.
1. Check the Package
If you left the box when you installed the faucet, the manufacturer will mark the brand on the box. However, many people do not keep the box or packaging of the faucet. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways to determine the brand of your faucet.
The owner’s manual or installation guide should also have a make, model, or serial number, which can help you identify the brand of your faucet. Again, it’s okay if you don’t have this, as there are other things you can do to determine the brand of the faucet.
2. Find the logo
One of the most obvious and (sometimes) easiest ways to identify a brand of kitchen faucet is through its logo. Each manufacturer has its unique logo stamped on certain parts of the faucet. Check the plate under the faucet (called the escutcheon) for the logo.
The logo may also be located somewhere on the body of the faucet, on the spout itself, or the handle. If your faucet is dirty, such as coated with soap scum or grime, scrub the entire faucet thoroughly to see if signs are hiding underneath.
Vintage or older faucet models may no longer have the logo as they will wear down over time. If this is the case, go to the identification tips below.
You may notice UPC or CUPC markings on your faucets. This mark is an accreditation mark of IAPMO or the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. The “C” in CUPC refers to the Canadian market. UPC marking refers to the Uniform Pipe Code.
3. Identification Model
Some faucet manufacturers, like Moen, put the model number on the faucet. You may find the number stamped or printed on the back of the nozzle, on the bottom, on the back of the trim ring at the bottom of the nozzle, or on the escutcheon.
Some manufacturers also put the serial number on the faucet or cold water supply line labels, which are usually located under the sink. While the serial number won’t tell you the exact model, it can tell you the brand, usually the faucet family that the model belongs to. If you still have the installation guide that came with your faucet, you can check for the model or serial number.
4. Where is the Serial Number on the Kitchen Faucet?
The serial number on the faucet may be in several places. Check the model area we mentioned above as all faucets are different. Moen faucets, in particular, usually have a serial number printed on the back of the spout.
5. Look For Distinctive Features
Check your faucet for distinctive features, which may include specific logos, markings, and variations on the handle or the faucet itself. Delta and Peerless faucets have a red and blue circle to indicate hot and cold water. There is a red and blue water drop logo on Moen faucets. T&S faucets have a protrusion where the stem meets the handle. Look for taxonomic features such as these to identify your faucets.
6. Check Spline
Another way to determine the brand of faucet is to count the number of splines. This method is more hands-on, as you need to remove the handle and faucet stem. After removing the handle and tapping the stem, locate the broach. It sits on top of the stem at the bottom of the handle. The grooves on the broach, called splines, are where you need to pay attention.
To count the number of splines, you can use a marker to make a slight tick on each spline as you count. Use the twitch point to measure from the first one until the initial mark is reached again. Since different manufacturers use different numbers of splines on their broaches, this is a good way to quickly identify a faucet. The spline shape can also be indicative of the manufacturer, as some companies have splines of different shapes.
If you have a broach, also measure the stem as this will also help you identify the brand. The measurement after the dot indicates the length of the stem. Some companies implement different shapes in their splines. For example, Chicago Faucets use square broaches with no teeth. Each spline may be slightly different, some with different diameters, number of teeth, or shapes.
Manufacturers typically use a certain number of points in their faucet broaches or specific shapes, including:
- Delta: D-shaped broaches
- Moen: Oval Broaches
- Mixed: Oval Broaches
- Kohler: 0.370″ at 16 points, 0.285″ at 20 points
- American Standard: 4 o’clock square, 16 o’clock 0.370”, 22 o’clock 0.375”, 22 o’clock 0.438”
7. Broaches Gauge
A broach gauge is a specialty tool that many professional plumbers have in their toolboxes. It’s great for identifying faucet stems and handles. The unit has 18 cylindrical tubes, each with two ends: a male end that goes into the faucet handle and a female end that goes into the valve stem.
A broach gauge can help identify a faucet because it is associated with a pattern identification number. For example, American Standard faucet stems and handles may fit ID 1-4 pull gauges.
ID numbers 1-7 are for the stems and handles of some Kohler faucets, while ID numbers 1-6 are for the stems and handles of Eljer, some Milwaukee models, Kohler-Trend, Burlington, and some American Standard models.
8. Low Water Pressure When Using Two Taps
Have you noticed low water pressure or a sudden drop in water pressure when using two faucets? This is a serious but common problem in bathrooms, kitchens, and other places where water is drawn from two taps or sources.
9. What Can Cause Low Water Pressure?
Many things can trigger low water pressure. When water pressure is struggling in a single faucet, and the problem is not related to that faucet, deciphering the problem is usually quick and easy. In cases where water pressure drops after a few faucets have been running for a few seconds, the culprit could be several different things.
1) Pressure Reducing Valve
A problem with the pressure relief valve can cause low water pressure. If the water pressure starts out normal and then drops, the PRV valve may be causing the problem. They are often located on municipal systems or where water pressure exceeds 80 psi.
When water pressure is too high, pipes and fixtures can be damaged. If there is a problem with the PRV, try adjusting the valve to see if it affects the water pressure in your home. If nothing works, the entire unit may need to be replaced. If your water comes from a private well, the water delivered to your home is pressurized through a pressure tank that maintains a specific pressure range. In a residence, the ideal water pressure should be between 45 and 55 pounds per square inch. However, it’s usually between 45 and 80 psi.
2) Shut off the Valve
Check the main water supply and the shutoff valves at both faucets. If the valve is slightly closed, it may affect your water pressure, so check to make sure it is fully open. If you have recently done plumbing repairs in your home, or if a child could bump into the valve, there may be a problem with the shutoff valve in the slightly closed position.
If your sink has shutoff valves for hot and cold water, and your cold water pressure is low, the cold water shutoff valve may be slightly closed. The shutoff valve for a particular faucet may be located under the sink. The main water shutoff valve may be located near your furnace or water heater, or within three to five feet of wherever the water main enters your home.
3) Trapped Air
When the air gets trapped in the pipes, it can cause the water pressure in your home to fluctuate. As water flows through the pipe to your faucet, it acts as a sort of valve, causing the occasional sputtering sound and flow of water from the faucet. Air can enter the plumbing through a damaged tank air bladder, a failing pump, a leaking suction line, leaks in the plumbing, or gas buildup in the well water system.
4) Pipe Blockage
If the pipes in your home are clogged for any reason, it may cause insufficient water pressure at the taps in your home. The water flow is interrupted, reducing water pressure in specific areas of your home. This problem is hands-on and probably needs to be handled by a professional unless you’re a skilled do-it-yourselfer.
5) Corroded Pipes
Over time, plumbing in your home can corrode, causing problems across the board. If the corrosion becomes severe enough, leaks, water pressure drops, and other problems can occur. Replacing all the plumbing in your home is a daunting task and will be an expensive venture, but worth the effort.
Pipes in older homes tend to corrode, as most pipes last between 20 and 100 years. Galvanized steel pipe typically lasts 20 to 50 years, while copper, brass, and iron materials last 40 to 100 years. Corroded pipes can cause low water pressure indoors, as well as low pressure at faucets outside. Corroded or leaking pipes can affect garden hose faucets, outdoor faucets, and more.
6) Water Line
A cracked or pinched water pipe could also be the culprit. Broken or pinched water pipes can often cause problems throughout the home and are often not isolated to two faucets.
10. Can a Bad Faucet Cause Low Water Pressure?
Faulty faucets can cause low water pressure. Bad parts inside the faucet, such as a clogged aerator or clogged filter element, can cause a sudden drop in water pressure. A bad faucet can cause fluctuations in water pressure between two faucets in the same room. For troubleshooting low water pressure from two faucets in the same room, start by checking the faucets themselves.
How Can I Fix it?
If you can identify which of the two seems to be experiencing low pressure, start with that. Before disassembling the faucet, turn off the water supply to the faucet. Remove the end of the faucet and check the aerator, which is the part that sits inside the spout.
Make sure it’s clean and free of any mineral buildup or other debris. If the aerator has gunk in it, soak it in a water and vinegar solution. However, if that solution fails to loosen debris, you may need to purchase replacement parts. Check the water flow to the faucet before replacing the aerator. If the flow from the faucet is still low, the low water pressure may not be caused by that particular faucet, it may be a widespread problem.
11. Can a Mixing Valve Reduce Water Pressure?
Some types of shower valves have what’s called a thermostatic mixing valve, which individually controls water temperature and pressure. A malfunctioning mixing valve can cause a drop in water pressure.