5 Signs Your Bathroom Fixtures Need Updating

Nothing lasts forever — not even the highest-quality bathroom fixtures.

Of all the challenges homeowners have to contend with, water is perhaps the greatest. Though it gives us life, it also works nonstop to wear our houses down and return them to the soil — and your bathroom is one of the spots in your home that takes the hardest hit!

The other main agent of wear and tear is, of course, time. Whether it wears down the shiny finish on your fixtures or changes your aesthetic tastes, time never fails at putting our bathroom fixtures in need of an update.

As your bathroom ages, you’ll eventually start to see five tell-tale signs that it’s time to replace your fixtures:

1. Leaking faucets + leaking valves = leaking wallets

Here’s a statistic that might alarm you: 10% of US homes suffer from leaks that waste at least 90 gallons of water each day.

While that’s a tough toll to place on an increasingly water-starved world, it’s also a tough tax on your wallet. If you’ve noticed an abnormally high water bill, there’s a good chance you could have a leak in your bathroom.

Signs of a leak include mold and mildew, blistered paint, soft and spongy drywall and damage to the ceiling of the room below your bathroom.

The main question then is: where is the leak?

If the leak is in your shower head, hose, or valve, it could be as simple as tightening the connections and replacing the PTFE plumber’s tape on the joints. However, if your fixtures are more than 15 years old, it might be time to replace them.

Kingston Brass carries an industry-leading selection of shower heads that are reliable, beautiful, and much more water-efficient than those of several decades ago. Update your shower with a modern polished chrome shower head, or create a pop of vintage warmth with oil-rubbed bronze or one of our other finishes.

It may also be the case that you need to replace the rough-in valve that sits behind your shower wall. Leaks behind your wall can lead to mold, mildew, and structural damage to your home. Be sure to replace them and repair the damage immediately.

2. Mildew, mold, and bears — oh my!

On second thought, probably not bears…but mildew and mold are almost as bad.

Both of these fungi arise from excessive moisture — and your bathroom is a place where moisture needs to be carefully controlled. Look for signs of mold or mildew along the edges of your bath or shower, the area where your toilet meets the floor, and along the bottoms of fixtures like faucets, shower arms and valves.

If there is a leak behind your shower or bath wall, mold could be forming in the framing of your home. This is a health hazard since the spores from the mold can make you and others sick and because the mold will eventually rot your home’s wooden framing, leading to a structural hazard.

To spot mold and mildew, look for the following signs:

• Black or green spots on floor and/or walls
• Blisters or bubbles behind painted drywall
• Ants or other insects in the bathroom (they need moisture to survive)

Be sure your bathroom fan is operating properly to remove airborne moisture from the bathroom.

If your tub itself is leaking, it’s definitely time to replace it. Look at replacing your old tub with a new alcove tub or drop-in tub with a new model. Kingston Brass sells tubs made of long-lasting, high-end materials to send moisture where it’s supposed to go: down the drain.

3. Not-so-pretty aesthetics

Time has not been kind to many of the bathroom looks that were all the rage several decades ago. From pink toilets to baby blue bathtubs to beige shower basins, we crossed the line between unforgettable and regrettable sometime in the early 2000s.

Fear not — we curate our selection of tubs, hardware, and accessories to align with the most endearing and cutting-edge style trends.

If you’re looking to replace your tub, take a look at our tub collections for award-winning designs. Whether you’re after a classic clawfoot tub or a more modern freestanding or pedestal tub, our online store has exactly what you need to make your bathroom stand out.

Updating your bath increases the resale value of your home. Even upgrading hardware like towel bars and robe hooks can change the mood of your bathroom.

4. A layout that’s inconvenient and hard to use

If your bathroom feels small and cramped, or you find yourself having to navigate tight spaces, it might be time to update your bathroom fixtures.

For instance, why not replace your old bathtub with a more conveniently shaped tub that can also double as a shower? Our tub and shower faucets bring new versatility to traditional tub layouts, while a new set of bath accessories can greatly improve the space usage of your bathroom.

Also, consider updating and reorienting your toilet. Our selection of one-piece toilets represents the latest trends in style and usability. A one-piece toilet takes up less space, is easier to clean, and with the right location, can free up tremendous space in a bathroom where every square inch counts.

Finally, your sink and vanity are central to the appeal and usability of your bathroom. Opting for a smaller sink could be a good option for bathrooms that aren’t used by people staying in a bedroom. Shop our selection of vessel sinks to add a modern flair to your bath.

Alternately, you can add the impression of increased floor space by replacing an old vanity with a pedestal sink, which is lower profile.

5. Mismatched hardware finishes

Even though your bathroom hardware takes up a relatively small amount of space, it makes a huge impression!

Kingston Brass offers the most beautiful finishes in modern bath design, including:

• Polished chrome
• Brushed nickel
• Brushed brass
• Oil rubbed bronze
• Polished brass
• Matte black
• White
• And more

When you replace your bathroom hardware and fixtures, take the opportunity to consider what finish will create the best “pop” in your bath. If you’ve got white walls, a matte black towel warmer could add figurative and literal warmth to the room.

The cool darkness of oil-rubbed bronze looks excellent on shower heads and wall hardware alike. For a vintage, gilded era-style look, try a polished brass towel holder and other hardware.

Kingston Brass

When it comes time to update your bath, Kingston Brass has everything you need to make it stand out. Browse our extensive inventory and get in touch with us if you need any advice.