Warning about Harden Faucets

This is just a message to alert anyone thinking about installing Harden or Harden-Fisher faucets in their home. These are very expensive faucets, and quite attractive, but, as I have discovered, of inferior quality, and the company DOES NOT stand behind their warranty.

I have a Harden polished chrome sink faucet, and after just a few years, the finish is chipping off on the handle, showing the brass beneath. This is a bathroom faucet, in a family of 3, and does not get hard use. I contacted the company requesting a replacement handle under their "lifetime" warranty on the finish, and they informed me that the "old" company went bankrupt, and all warranties are void. Despite the fact that the new company maintains the same name. They offered to sell me one replacement handle for $53. Outrageous!

Please take this experience into account when selecting faucets for your home or contracting job. Paying top dollar does not get you top quality, and you don't want to deal with a company that will not stand behind its products.

-Susan

Faucets Kitchen Bath

Reply to
Susan
Loading thread data ...

I know this and am glad a customer said it. Those faucets are crap. I don't care how much they cost. No doubt the mark up is sky high. I am to the point now in my carrer that if it isn't Moen or Delta I tell them I'm not installing it. In my younger years I would install anything but why should I now. People are so easily dupped by these high priced items thinking the more they pay the better it must be. Think again folks. Although I know there are plenty of other plumber who will install this crap. Be my guest.

Reply to
steve

On 9/22/03 snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com (Susan) complains

Not true....they make a quality product...

Once again this is untrue. Susan it seems you and just about everyone I speak to seems to think that most manufacturers have a "lifetime warranty" on every component of the faucet. This simply is incorrect.

For instance Moen has a 'Limited Lifetime Warranty', however that lifetime warranty is only on the control (or cartridge) and the finish on "Lifeshine" faucets but only to the original purchaser when the product is used in residential applications.

In the case of Harden warranties, only part of what you state is correct. While it is true Harden is now owned by Fisher and doing business under the name Harden-Fisher, to the best of my knowledge (we've been a Harden dealer for almost 20 years) Harden did not go bankrupt, there was an asset sale to Fisher. I've had NO problems getting legitimate warranty problems handles.

Hardens general warranty informations states the following:

HARDEN Industries reserves the right to change, modify or alter its warranty or products. Please refer to the warranty sheet included in each specific HARDEN Industries product package for the limited finish warranty, limited valve warranty and any restrictions.

The problem is Harden made several lines of products (Harden, All Brass, A6 and CCC just to name some) over many years. Some had one year warranty on "manufacturing defects" other 3 years, and some now have a lifetime warranty on some finishes, but they all exclude damage due to misuse, negligence, accident or faulty installation.

Do you still have the warranty info that came in the product package? If so AND it states there is a liftime warranty on the finish for the handle and no abuse, negligence, etc are obvious, demand a warranty replacement (you have to get an Return Goods Authorization and return the original before they will send you a replacement). If you no longer have the original product warranty documents you're out of luck.

However that doesn't mean they won't stand behind the warranty, it only means you have no proof your product has a warranty and they're not going to assume it does just to accomodate you.

If you'd like additional help and have the warranty documents from the product package I will try to be of assistance to help resolve the problem with Harden-Fisher. Email me at snipped-for-privacy@aol.com and I'll tell you how to proceed.

Doug

Reply to
PLUMBGURU2

Let me guess... you sell these faucets and are not a contractor.

Reply to
steve

On 09/24/03 steve snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com responds:

Yes I sell them, I said I am a dealer

Yes I am a contractor. Have been for more than 25 years.

We've sold and/or installed hundreds of Harden Faucet over that time.

Doug

Reply to
PLUMBGURU2

SAW YOUR COMMENTS ON HomeOwnersHub Trying to replace Harden ceramic handle assembly. Faucet spindle became so tight handle thread broke away from brass right angle spline adaptor --- kind of stripped potion of the few threads .of handle assembly. White ceramic handle ( is OK) and chrome mechaical adator to spline needs replaced. FERGESON suggested glueing... tried and worked about a month and fell off.. was groilla glue Appreciate any help suggestions

Reply to
john

replying to john, CLTX wrote: Same here! Had problems actyally have a licensed plumber here as we speak working on making this hardward actually work as in being able to turn the handle lever to actually do what it was designed to do, to turn on the shower! This has been as issue for 20 years! ...Its all over my home. @ showers still dont work and have not worked in over 10 years properly!!!! They do not warranty anything! I am considering taking this further as it appears this a common issue with the company as a whole producing poor quality items that are glitchy and then offer no support to replace them under basic business consumer usage practices. The local news here in Dallas may be a good place to start spreading the word about this common common issue.

Reply to
CLTX

replying to Susan, CLTX wrote: Same here! Had problems actyally have a licensed plumber here as we speak working on making this hardward actually work as in being able to turn the handle lever to actually do what it was designed to do, to turn on the shower! This has been as issue for 20 years! ...Its all over my home. @ showers still dont work and have not worked in over 10 years properly!!!! They do not warranty anything! I am considering taking this further as it appears this a common issue with the company as a whole producing poor quality items that are glitchy and then offer no support to replace them under basic business consumer usage practices. The local news here in Dallas may be a good place to start spreading the word about this common common issue.

Reply to
CLTX

Hey folks, I sold Harden for over twenty five years and could get any problem fixed without issue - it's all in knowing the product, and knowing who to speak to - like with any other industry. If you know it inside and out, you're much more likey to be ready to solve issues easily. One more thing: Having a "licensed" plumber means very little - A mechanic may be "qualifed", but cannot fix your Mercedes as he is not used to working on them. Put it this way: If you're guy can't fix your car, do you buy a car he can fix or do you get a guy who can fix your car? I ran into a lot of plumbers who couldn't work on the high end products we sold because they work on the basics from Home Depot - I had a list of guys who knew the better quality product and they had no trouble at all - you just have to get the right guy to do the job, rather than go out and buy something your guy is comfortable with. Do you bring your Rolls Royce to the Ford dealer? of course not. Why expect a standard plumber who is used to working on base level quality products to be able to fix something considerably better in quality that is also more complex in construction. Get the right guy, pay a little more, and end up with products that will last with basic maintenance as long as you live. Not rocket science - you paid more for a better quality product, seems only fitting that the installer and repair person be of the same caliber as well. Problem solved.

Reply to
best quality

No hot water,do I replace the diverted valve! No plumbers around here and the one that did show up looked at it and left!

Reply to
DannyBo

Hi. Do you know where I can get replacement parts or similar? I'm in Seattle area, but can have shipped.Thank you.

Reply to
Gela

I am trying to identify the producer of my farmhouse kitchen faucet. Could you be of assistance?

Reply to
cheryl

I realize this is a very old post but for those looking up Harden faucet valves, like myself, I can say that 31 years ago (1990) I purchased a home with all Harden valves and hardware. The quality was amazing. 31 years later I am still using the original hardware, but I have replaced some valves along the way. I found a hardware store in town that said they could order me the valves. I bought them from that store. Since some of the valves have lasted over 30 years, I have not had to replace one until recently. I was told that Harden are great valves, made with ceramic seats and they work great, that is, until a small, tiny rock or sand gets in between the seat when it closes. Then the ceramic cracks and the valve develops a drip when shut off and needs to be replaced. I have tried to do research on who owns Harden and if they are still manufactured in the USA. I have not found that info yet. I found that Chicago Faucet Shoppe on the web sells Harden Ceramic Cartridges. And they have a phone number 800-969-8625, so after Memorial Day, I will call them to see who manufactures Harden valves today and where. If the same manufacturer is still making Harden valves, then they could be quality valves. But the hardware around the valve is a different story.

Reply to
Silver Surfer

I just repaired a Harden bathroom faucet for a friend yesterday. It is at least 30 years old, has never failed til recently started to drip. I bought replacement cold cartridge from The Faucet Shoppe in Chicago for $37, popped it in and works fine. It's beautiful, too, chrome with white ceramic handles. Expect another 30 years!

Reply to
Frank

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.