Identifying Parts

STEMS & CARTRIDGES

  • Phoenix uses 4 types of stems and cartridges in our faucets: Plastic compression stem, brass compression stem, ¼ turn cartridge, ceramic disc cartridge and washerless cartridge.If you need to determine what kind of stem or cartridge you have, here are a few tips:
    • To determine if you have compression stems or washerless cartridges in your two handle faucet, turn the handle while watching it at eye level. If the handle moves downward when you turn it clockwise, you have a compression stem. If the handle moves downward when you turn it counter-clockwise, you have a washerless cartridge. To find out if your stem is brass or plastic, remove the handle.
    • A ¼ turn cartridge will firmly stop at the full on and full off positions.
    • Ceramic disc cartridges are used only on single handle Phoenix faucets. Older single handle models may have a washerless cartridge. To determine which one your single handle faucet has, remove the handle and look inside. The ceramic disk will have a square hole where the pin that holds the handle comes out. A single handle washerless cartridge has a triangular hole with rounded corners.

faq1

UNDERBODIES

  • Phoenix faucets underbodies are brass, plastic, or hybrid.Most plastic faucets are spin welded. This means the pieces are fused together using high speed friction instead of snapping together with o-rings in between the pieces. Eliminating o-rings eliminates a potential leak point. Our plastic underbodies are also corrosion resistant to common household chemicals and those used in the winterizing process.Hybrid underbodies are made from a tough plastic polymer mixed with powdered metal. They are also manufactured from a single, one piece mold. The polymer-metal gives it extra strength and the one piece mold eliminates all potential leak points in the underbody. This material meets the low lead standards in states with stricter lead laws making it an excellent and less expensive alternative to brass. The shanks are polymer lined brass for added strength in the area under the most constant pressure. Our hybrid underbodies are also corrosion resistant to common household chemicals and those used in the winterizing process.

id

Scroll to Top