25% lead, down significantly from the pre-2014 standard of 8%. A certified “lead free” brass faucet can contain up to. Lead is added to brass faucets to make the material more malleable during manufacturing. The main concern with brass faucets is lead content. See Nireu’s folding, brass pot filler faucet

It’s also durable and somewhat microbial (from the copper) if left unplated.

A brass/copper combo is a good material option because it doesn’t corrode under prolonged contact with soft water or calcify under prolonged contact with hard water. While the bright, yellow-gold appearance of brass isn’t typically homeowners’ first pick for finishes, brass is actually the most popular type of core faucet material.īrass faucets are typically cast out of H59 or H62 copper (brasses with 59% and 62% copper, respectively). Check out the bestselling kitchen faucets on Amazon.If all else fails, test the weight of the faucet to see if it’s a heavier metal like brass, a lighter one like zinc, or a very light material, like plastic. You can ask the manufacturer if you’re still not sure. It’s important to read the details of the faucets you’re looking at carefully to see what they’re really made of. Keep in mind that most materials can support most finishes. While the material doesn’t necessarily define the appearance of the faucet, it still affects how the faucet will function. While faucets can be made of all sorts of materials, by far the most common materials on the market are brass, stainless steel, zinc (and its alloys), and plastic. Gold, silver, and platinum faucet finishes.

Patina brass faucet