An emerging trend today is the ceramic disc valve, a type made popular by high-end European faucet makers and now produced by American Standard, Kohler, Price Pfister, and many other American faucet manufacturers. A ceramic disc faucet actually has two fire-hardened ceramic discs—an upper one that moves and a fixed lower one. The two discs move against each other in a shearing action, blocking water or allowing it to pass through. The seal between the two discs is watertight because they are polished to near-perfect flatness.
Ceramic disk faucets are nearly maintenance free and are generally guaranteed not to wear out. Ceramic valves are more durable over the long run in a broader variety of water conditions than any other variety of valve on the market. The discs themselves have diamond-like hardness—they are impervious to line debris, mineral buildups, and other common problems that affect valve life.
If a peeling from galvanized pipe or a small rock gets into the valve, it can score the surfaces, but these occurrences are rare. If a ceramic disc faucet drips, don’t try to force the handle closed—just flutter it back and forth a few times to dislodge any particles.
The range of control with a ceramic disc faucet varies. From full-off to full-on may require only a quarter or half turn; for a fuller adjustment range and greater flow, three-quarter-turn models are also available. In general, all washerless faucets offer very precise, ergonomic control. Even a child can turn one of these faucets off and on with one pinkie. They’re also good for people who have arthritis or who want something more decorative than a lever style.
Ceramic discs are popular because of their ease of use and reliability. Though competitively priced ceramic disc faucets are now available, ceramic discs that cost $100 or more are used primarily in mid-range and high-end installations. If a repair is ever needed, the entire ceramic disc cartridge is replaced, which runs from about $15 to $25.
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