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Smart Maintenance Starts with the Right Faucets and Fittings
In commercial food service environments—from hospitals and schools to stadiums and hotels—every piece of equipment has to work at all times. While routine maintenance and cleaning are essential steps in managing your systems, the best practices for maintaining long-term efficiency and reliability begin long before installation, with smart product selection.
Choosing the right commercial faucets, fixture fittings, and other plumbing parts from the start makes managing your MRO spend easier than ever. At T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Inc., we offer nearly 80 years of experience providing commercial kitchen managers and maintenance professionals with quality products that last longer and perform better.
Below, our experts share their field-test tips on how to select the right plumbing parts to make ongoing maintenance more predictable, reduce inventory needs, and limit downtime in your high-demand food service spaces.
Best Practices for Purchasing New Plumbing Parts for Commercial Kitchens
1. Think Beyond the Initial Cost—Invest in Quality
Always consider the total lifecycle cost of any fixture being installed in your commercial kitchen.
For institutions managing multiple commercial kitchens, chasing the lowest upfront price on faucets and fittings often ends up costing more in the long run. Inconsistent quality and frequent failures can lead to service calls that eat into budgets and time.
When evaluating fixture options, assess material quality, frequency of failure, and compatibility with existing systems, as well as the reputation and qualifications of the manufacturer.
Since 1947, T&S Brass and Bronze Works, Inc. has focused on product durability and ROI. From our invention of the first re-rinse unit to our modern-day heavy-duty faucets and fittings, we’ve remained committed to engineering excellent products that withstand real-world use and make servicing easier.
Our faucets are made of low-lead brass or stainless steel, and all plumbing parts are rigorously tested for water-tight integrity before leaving the factory. Additionally, independent life-cycle studies show T&S assemblies outlast economy models by two to three times, delivering consistent savings in labor, replacement parts, and unplanned service or downtime.
2. Know the Right Cartridge for the Right Job
Cartridges are often overlooked during initial spec, but they directly affect fixture longevity and service frequency. Choosing the right cartridge helps eliminate premature wear and reduce unnecessary replacements.
T&S offers two primary cartridge options: the Cerama and the Eterna.
- Cerama: A ceramic-disc design rated for over a million cycles and backed by a lifetime warranty
- Eterna: A compression-style option with stainless steel spindle and Teflon seats, well-suited for lines with high debris or particulate.
Maintenance teams should standardize cartridges across their facilities where possible, and also consider site-specific needs such as water quality and usage volume.
T&S makes the choice simple. Both our cartridge options are compatible with most T&S faucet bodies, so you can prioritize standardization without compromising on fixtures. This also allows maintenance teams to tailor performance by location.
Keeping a documented cartridge guide is another way to ensure replacements match operational requirements and reduce confusion among technicians.
3. Save Time on Site: Installation Models with Complete Kits
When it comes to commercial kitchens, it’s all about the prep work. Choosing plumbing systems that ship with complete installation kits makes set up easy by minimizing guesswork, the number of visits, and time spent sourcing missing components.
With T&S, you don’t need to worry about confirming all components are included before ordering. We offer fully equipped installation kits for our core product lines, like pre-rinse units, manual faucets, and hose reels. Each includes mounting hardware, gaskets, and supply lines— everything required for a clean, complete installation.
One box. One visit. That simplicity supports a faster turnaround and less disruption in spaces where water flow can’t be delayed. This also helps eliminate the chances of improper installations, which would otherwise cause preventable service issues down the line.
4. Get Fewer SKUs for Faster Fixes
When selecting fixtures, look for systems that offer flexibility. In food service facilities with limited storage space and varied kitchen processes, modular models make maintenance easier and promote smarter stocking.
Interchangeable components and customizable assemblies enable faster responses to service issues and improve inventory control. This allows for fixture fitting upgrades on the fly, without disrupting your operations.
T&S designs many of its products with interchangeability in mind. Our standardized threads, handles, and spout interfaces create one body that can support a range of configurations. Our -LN (Less Nozzle) series, for example, provides an individual faucet body that facility managers can mix and match spouts to as needed.
Goosenecks, aerators, spray valves—whatever your application, T&S products designed with a modular mindset make it happen.
The result is less inventory to store and manage, and faster upgrades, replacements, and repairs. That’s two wins in one for maintenance teams under pressure to reduce disruption.
5. Ensure Speed When It Matters Most
Even with the highest quality products and interchangeable options, there will be circumstances when your only option is to order a new part. But delays in parts availability can slow down even the best-equipped team.
You can’t afford to endure unplanned downtime while waiting on a slow supply chain. That’s why you should only work with vendors who can consistently meet short lead-time needs. Keep a list of commonly needed parts and identify which suppliers consistently offer fast shipping options for those items.
With our 24-hour Quick Ship program, T&S leads the industry in speed of delivery.
Most of our products and replacement parts ship within one business day if the order comes in by noon—no special request required. For commercial kitchens, our unmatched response time helps keep your service schedules on track and equipment idle time low.
6. Secure Support That Speaks the Same Language
Whether you’re looking for a fast replacement or help troubleshooting an issue in the field, having access to knowledgeable support makes all the difference. You should only work with manufacturers that offer access to their internal industry experts who understand the plumbing needs of food service environments and can offer quick, accurate answers without unnecessary escalation.
At T&S, we believe technical support should be viewed as part of the product offering, not an afterthought.
Our internal sales and technical support teams are product experts with decades of experience. When you work with us, you’ll always have access to a friendly expert who is ready to talk through your faucet needs, address plumbing equipment issues, and provide the best solution.
No script reading. No guesswork. Just real people with real answers, so you can mark maintenance and repairs off your list and get back to running your food service operation.
Set Your Team Up for Success from the Start
Smart maintenance starts with better product and part planning. Modular, commercial-grade solutions with long service life and real-time support can mean fewer headaches and faster fixes in food service spaces.
For maintenance professionals looking to simplify repairs, minimize delays, and protect operating budgets, choosing the right commercial faucet and fixtures provider matters.
The Parts Works, Inc. recommends T&S because we offer more than a product. We are a committed partner, trusted by institutions across the globe to deliver quality, service, and real-world value. Join us at the Lunch & Learn event or contact our team anytime to learn more about how we can support your team.
Here’s to fast maintenance, reduced disruptions, and smoother operations.
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