Bristan - warranty for ceramic cartridges

[Welder]

Bristan are currently refusing to replace ceramic cartrdiges that leak if a homeowner cannot demonstrate that the cartridge has not been 'serviced' twice a year.

This is the excert from the Bristan website

The guarantee does not cover damage or defects caused by:
• System debris, including the build up of limescale (which can be controlled through regular servicing and maintenance) ​

Has anyone any idea what this means? Any idea what 'servicing' entails?
Dont get me wrong, this is brilliant news for us (TapMedic as well as all plumbers), but I want to get as much info as I can before I let loose the dogs of war...

 

[WaterTight]

I don't see how it's brilliant news for us. Selling them a tap with a 5 year guarantee and telling them that if you're unlucky you will need to pay me to change something on it within that time but the parts will be free is a pretty naff sounding promise as it is but about the best available. This would remove this assurance and just take Bristan off the table for anyone who wants a decent guarantee rather than a bin-it-in-tw0-or-three-years Shed Jobby.

 

[WaterTight]

Unless you mean it's good news because now customers will have to pay us to visit to service their taps every 6 months. Mine won't.

 

[Welder]

Unless you mean it's good news because now customers will have to pay us to visit to service their taps every 6 months. Mine won't.

Thats what I meant.
Of course people wont have it done cos its simply ridiculous. Plus it would mean we effectively have to warrant the cartridges 'just in case'. It is without doubt the single most stupid thing Ive ever heard of.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Thats what I meant.
Of course people wont have it done cos its simply ridiculous. Plus it would mean we effectively have to warrant the cartridges 'just in case'. It is without doubt the single most stupid thing Ive ever heard of.

Would that mean taking them out and descaling them in solution for 30 mins 2 x a year?

 

[townfanjon]

Its known as a “get-out clause” when you sell poor quality products

 

[Welder]

Would that mean taking them out and descaling them in solution for 30 mins 2 x a year?

Probably. They may however require complete disassembly.

Thing is, once someone else 'touchies' them, who becomes responsible?

 

[Ric2013]

Well, if people want 1/4-turn mechanisms then they've brought it upon themselves really. Call me a Luddite, but all I see is technology getting faster and faster (at going wrong) because most people want flash and cheap.
In-line strainers before every 1/4-turn mechanism might be a good idea too, but will people pay for them?

 

[Welder]

Ric you need to get with it old bean

The technical innovation of ceramic disc cartridges is both beautifully simply & effective. Sorry to sully the post with facts, but without them millions of older people would not have the levels of independence they enjoy.

Alfred Moen's concept was to make life easier and it does. What he could never have taken into account was the drive to reduce costs & therefore quality of said items - that is greed based. We offer 3 years with no quibble but expect more. That tells you it can be done so it's not the fault of the concept simply its execution.

The flatness of the discs is not microns but even lower. It's measured using pbotons of light. No strainer, except a membrane, could protect them.
D

 

[WaterTight]

So why do they leak then? Genuine question. Seems like they should be invincible.

 

[Welder]

So why do they leak then? Genuine question. Seems like they should be invincible.

Our water is the primary answer. Water borne debris & high concentrations of minerals act like an abrasive or bigger particles simply gouge grooves. Calcification too. This forces the plates apart. Descaling tho isn't successful long term.

 

[sammathias]

Standard 1/4 turn cartridges will not last 5 years....simple as. And I live in a soft water area.

 

[Welder]

Standard 1/4 turn cartridges will not last 5 years....simple as. And I live in a soft water area.

Oh they do. Have some at 10 plus. Its much more to do with local debris than calcification.

 

[Ric2013]

In fairness, I fitted cheap 1/4 turn disc mechanisms to my existing sink tap around about 2014 because the house was rented and the tenants were turning the tap off so hard they were cutting through the washers. One was replaced to check for a non-existant fault a couple of years later, but the other is 4 years old. I service them annually. They still work. To be sure of the age I'd have to check paperwork - they might be older still.

I accept that for some people, they are a necessity. My gripe was about people who want cheap taps to which my reply was formerly, if you want cheap, buy washered taps. Now I don't bother as I'll probably repair them with your magic kit when they fail. That said, I do know a plumber who fitted a 1/4 or 1/2 turn washered mechanism to an old man's washbasin and it seems to be working well.

 

[king of pipes]

Getting back to Bristan I have noticed more failures of their quarter turn taps and showers I have replaced several over this year, under warranty I must add but lucky enough to have proof of purchase now fitting inta products so time will tell . Cheers kop

 

[oz-plumber]

Make their warranty backfire on them.

Get the customers to call them for a warranty replacement every 5 months. They will then have proper documentation from the tap supplier to prove when the tap was last 'repaired'

 

[Welder]

That said, I do know a plumber who fitted a 1/4 or 1/2 turn washered mechanism to an old man's washbasin and it seems to be working well.

I've done similar. That's a good trick when HP cartridiges have been fitted to Fortec/combination cylinders and unacceptable flow occurs.

 

[kozak1968]

I think Bristan was sold to china. Grohe will send out an engineer to change a faulty cartridge.

 

[Welder]

I think Bristan was sold to china. Grohe will send out an engineer to change a faulty cartridge.

Bristan are part of the Masco group who also own HansGrohe & Axor but not Grohe. Grohe are still German