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Delighted with Hansgrohe

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Back in 2011, we did a kitchen and bathroom remodel and chose Hansgrohe hardware for the faucets and showers. To me, their products embody interesting aesthetics and solid workmanship. What I didn’t realize about Hansgrohe hardware is the extent of their limited lifetime warranty.

My Talis S kitchen faucet sprung a slow leak that I traced to a faulty flexible water hose. After looking for a replacement online, I read that this hose could be covered under warranty. I called Hansgrohe customer support, explained my problem, and was ensured this was indeed under warranty, especially given its fairly recent installation. I had to email in pictures of my faucet and about a week later, a replacement was delivered to my door!

Thanks Hansgrohe!
Thanks Hansgrohe!

Since this worked out well, I also asked about my hand shower that started to drip, and you guessed it, a replacement was provided free of charge! Thanks for the great service Hansgrohe!

Even Behemoths Need Clean Air

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If like me, your behemoth of a refrigerator, the LG LFX31925ST/Sears Kenmore Elite Model 72053, has had its air filter warning light on for some time. Initially, I couldn’t find a replacement filter at either Sears or Home Depot, but now they’re readily available. The LG air filter part number is ADQ73334008, model number LT120F. I found it for $24 at Home Depot. Amazon also sells this air filter but at about the same price.

Slate, the New Look for Kitchen Appliances?

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Is the time of stainless steel appliances in the kitchen coming to an end? GE thinks so and is leading the next evolution of kitchen appliance appearances with Slate.

Appearance-wise, Slate looks like stainless steel from the web site, but you’d have to see it in person to view the hues and sheen of the surface. I wonder if Slate feels different from the cool steel? It’s supposed to be fingerprint resistant which is definitely a plus!

The thing that bugs me about GE’s commercial for Slate is the lifestyle portrayed. Seriously, this couple can live in style, partying it up in a seemingly spacious home with a fire pit and Slate-finished appliances. I just can’t relate. I’d rather see kids making a mess in the kitchen, touching the Slate appliances with their grubby hands then the haggard parents (easily) cleaning off the grime. Pan out to a kitchen that looks clean and put together with the face of a smiling parent. That would draw me to Slate.

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The Kenmore Elite 72053 Refrigerator Is Magnetic!

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Here I thought the stainless steel Kenmore Elite Model 72053 (31-cu ft) refrigerator did not have a magnetic surface. I am wrong, or partially wrong at least.

Kenmore Elite 72053 Refrigerator

Out of pure randomness, we passed a magnet near the behemoth’s surface, and it stuck! But it’s only in the upper left corner where the ice maker is. And the magnetism isn’t strong. Don’t expect to attach large or heavy objects. Pictures and single sheets of paper are okay. Anything else starts sliding down the surface. “Magnetic stickers” work well though to get your refrigerator in the seasonal spirit.

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Getting the Sears Kenmore Elite Model 72053 in the Holiday Spirit

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Yes, we know that stainless steel refrigerators like the LG LFX31925ST/Sears Kenmore Elite Model 72053 do not have magnetic surfaces, so forget that idea of sticking on notes, calendars, and kids’ artwork. But that smooth steely surface can help liven up the Holiday Spirit in your kitchen. How? Just add a handful of Christmas-themed “magnetic stickers.”

From Allegro to Solna

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So I had the Hansgrohe Allegro E Gourmet kitchen faucet in hand but was scared off by it size and potential water splashing. Then someone recommended the Brizo Solna. It’s new and features Scandinavian style and is from Delta’s luxury line of faucets.

What’s neat is its concealed sprayer. Magnetically locked into place, you can’t see the sprayer hidden inside of the faucet. But with a slight tug, the sprayer unlocks for use.

Since it’s new, there’s promotional pricing to encourage purchases. Normally $400, the special pricing is about $270.

 

Confused About Hansgrohe Talis S Kitchen Faucets

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Hansgrohe has a good selection of high quality kitchen faucets, and I was intrigued once I saw my first Hansgrohe in action and up close. Heck, I even went with their Focus S Remodel Kit after learning about it. So why not continue the trend with a kitchen faucet?

While I originally like the Allegro E stylings, that water splashing was just way too much. I’m wondering if that 11 1/2″ spout height has anything to do with the force of the water splashing down on dishes? So I’m looking at other Hansgrohe kitchen faucets and the high arc Talis S looks cool. But there are a few models of the Talis S (not counting the smaller prep faucets) that is confusing.

Their web site shows:

Then there’s also the “old” Talis S from what I understand. So which one is which? The current Talis S is a 2.2 GPM model and has an angled handle.

The “old” Talis S has a handle that is at 90-degrees (not slightly angled) and needs clearance behind the faucet profile for hot water. If your sink backspalsh is too close, the “old” Talis S handle would bump into it.

The “old” Talis S sounds like the Interaktiv HighArc2 model which sounds like the Talis S HighArc 2-Spray Pull-Down. These feature a 360-degree range of motion for the spout and a movable body for cleaning purposes. There is no mention of magnetic docking for the spray head.

The Talis S2 is a water-conserving 1.5 GPM faucet, has a magnetic docking spray head but only swivels 150 degrees. It has the slightly angled handle.

Then there is the Talis S. It’s 2.2 GPM, has the angled handle, needs no clearance for hot water, and has the magnetic spray head. Both the Talis S and S2 are 16 1/2″ tall with a 8 3/4″ projection. The spout height is 8 7/8″, a few inches lower than the Allegro E Kitchen Faucet. All of these come in finishes of chrome or steel optik.

You can find any and all of these models on Amazon but be sure you have the right model number for which Talis S you want. You might be able to find these stocked locally in Hawaii, just depends. As of today, I know Ferguson Hawaii has the Talis S available. Here’s a picture of their inventory on the shelf (looks like a mix of Talis S and the HighArc 2-Spray Pull-Down), but they supposedly have more in the warehouse.

Kitchen Sink Notes

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The consensus is resounding for kitchen sink selection. Stainless steel, one big partition with no divider. That’s it. The only wrinkle is over mount or under mount. When done well, an under mounted sink has a clean look, clean lines, and doesn’t detract from the countertop.

A Corian Counter Conundrum

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Was all set to buy DuPont Corian countertops for the bathrooms when I hit a snag. At Home Depot, there is a minimum counter purchase of $1000, meaning that for one type of countertop material, it needs to be at least $1000 for the store to accept your order. This applies in Hawaii where its Corian fabricator only sells full sheets and nothing smaller.

I wanted Burled Beach in one bathroom and Lava Rock in another. This means each countertop would have to exceed $1000. The smaller bathroom’s countertop did not past this threshold, so now I’m stuck.

There are some options.

  1. Stick with a single Corian color for both bathrooms so the minimum stays at $1000 for one type of material.
  2. Order additional countertops so the cost goes above $1000.
  3. Pick a different material type such as Staron that is available in half sheet sizes. Sadly Staron is not on sale this week at Home Depot.

Lowe’s isn’t much better, requiring 25 sq ft of countertops before they accept your order.

What to do?

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