Plastic faucets are widely used in homes and commercial places due to their advantages of affordable price and easy installation. However, the quality of plastic faucets on the market varies greatly, and how to accurately judge their quality has become a key concern for consumers. This guide will comprehensively analyze the quality assessment methods of plastic faucets from six dimensions: quality standards, appearance inspection, performance testing, material selection, brand comparison, and common problems.
1. Basic quality standards
Plastic faucets, as products that come into direct contact with drinking water, must comply with multiple national standards:
(a). GB/T17219-1998 “Safety Evaluation Standards for Drinking Water Transmission and Distribution Equipment and Protective Materials”: Ensure that the materials are non-toxic and harmless, and do not release harmful substances
(b). GB18145-2014 “Ceramic Sealed Water Nozzles”: The valve core should be opened and closed at least 200000 times to ensure long-term reliability
(c). GB25501-2019 “Limited Values and Grades of Water Efficiency for Water Nozzles”: Water saving performance must reach Grade 3 water efficiency, wit(h a single opening flow rate of ≤ 7.5L/min
2. Material hygiene requirements
(a). Lead content ≤ 0.001mg/L, cadmium ≤ 0.0005mg/L
(b). Through 48 hour salt spray test (5% NaCl solution)
(c). No plasticizers such as phthalates added
3. Surface quality assessment
(a). Smoothness: The surface of high-quality plastic faucets should be delicate and free of burrs, with a smooth touch. Poor quality products often have obvious mold lines or unevenness
(b). Uniform color: The color is uniform without any impurities, yellowing or discoloration (signs of aging)
(c). Clear identification: Products should have clear brand identification, QS certification number, and production date. Products without identification or with only paper labels are often of poor quality
4. Key points of structural inspection
(a). Valve core type: ceramic valve core is preferred as it has better wear resistance than ordinary plastic valve core and longer service life
(b). Connecting components: Check if the threaded interface is neat, without cracks or deformations, with a standard of G1/2 (4 branches)
(c). Bubbler: Remove the water outlet filter and check if it is clean and free of impurities. A high-quality aerator can make the water flow soft and even
(d). Handle design: The rotation should be flexible without jamming or excessive clearance, and the switch stroke should be clear
5. Basic Function test
(a). Sealing test: Apply pressure to 1.6MPa in the closed state and maintain it for 30 minutes, observing whether there is any leakage at each connection
(b). Flow test: Measure the water output for 1 minute when fully open, and it should meet the nominal flow rate (usually ≥ 9L/min)
(c). Hot and cold alternation test: alternately introduce 20 ℃ cold water and 80 ℃ hot water to check whether the valve body is deformed or leaking water
6. Durability evaluation
(a). Switch test: manually or using a testing machine to simulate switch actions. High quality products should be able to withstand more than 50000 cycles
(b). Weather resistance test: Outdoor products need to undergo UV aging testing (such as 500 hours of xenon lamp irradiation) to check for surface powdering and cracking
(c). Impact resistance test: Use a 1kg steel ball to freely drop and impact the valve body from a height of 0.5m. If there is no rupture, it is considered qualified
Post time: Jul-28-2025