Locked: Shower Systems - Chinese brands or North American Brands?

Of course NA brands which you can get parts easily. Chinese brands always are cheaper, all for a reason, no workmanship and poor quality.

Depends. I've used things like eBay Chinese rain head and that was fine, but at the same time its just stainless steel and not inside the wall. You have to think about things like mixing valves should they fail it may be difficult or impossible to get to without demolition before even considering if there's parts availability. The other thing to watch for is any threaded fittings. Here like in the US most fittings are imperial sized NPT threads but a lot of the Chinese brands (and some Euro brands) are Type G or BSP threads in a metric size unless it's a model that was specifically made for export to NA.

If you wait until Lowe's has 20% off or shop around online (often Amazon US can be cheaper even after conversion) you can get a name brand setup that will likely last until the next time you want to redo the bathroom for not much more.

I bought and installed a Chinese-made faucet and didn't think about the parts issue. This was however in a since-sold rental house (at least the new owner could get into the inside wall stuff water control area by cutting a hole in the closet.)

I'd stick with at least Moen (experience with servicing Pfister and Delta faucets haven't been great). Moen provides free parts as long as you have the product info, and the cartridges (only thing to really go wrong/wear out) are easy to replace.

I'd stay away from private label brands too (whatever CT, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. offer) for future parts issue.

ReFuGeE wrote: ↑ Hey Guys

I'm shopping for a shower system or shower panel w/ tub spout for my in-progress bathroom reno.

I only have experience with the big brands like moen, american standard, grohe etc.

Shopping now I see a ton of chinese brands (SR SUNRISE, EMBATHER, etc), especially when it comes to shower panels and systems.

Anyone have any experience with these plumbing fixtures? Also any advise on where one should be shopping for these shower systems/panels?

Do yourself a favour and just buy a NA name brand.
What are you saving by buying Chinese fixtures; $70-$175? That's some serious false economics if it fails, and then you then have to cut open the wall to replace it.
Check out Riobel. They are a Canadian company, and their faucets are top shelf.

After 10 years, no one will have the replacement parts for you shower so it doesn't matter and the plumber or DIYers will simply rip out the old system and replace it with ever is available at their local hardware store. The best system is still the old two knobs shower system which has no parts to replace other then the washer or cartridge which is still available locally for over 50 plus years !

MrFrugal1 wrote: ↑ Do yourself a favour and just buy a NA name brand.
What are you saving by buying Chinese fixtures; $70-$175? That's some serious false economics if it fails, and then you then have to cut open the wall to replace it.
Check out Riobel. They are a Canadian company, and their faucets are top shelf.

LoL ...and you think simply with a North American brand they are not made in China ?
Hardware stores are stocking mostly Moen and their replacement parts, if you buy a American Standard, Delta or Peerless ...good luck finding any parts locally !

EdT586 wrote: ↑ LoL ...and you think simply with a North American brand they are not made in China ?
Hardware stores are stocking mostly Moen and their replacement parts, if you buy a American Standard, Delta or Peerless ...good luck finding any parts locally !

You missed the point.
Buying some potentially bastardized product online from a Chinese vendor and installing it in a new shower is plain stupid. You have no idea what kind of quality control went into the faucet, and there is zero accountability. NA companies at least have their reputations to consider.
And as far as parts are concerned, I've had Pfister, Moen, Delta and even Danze (Canadian Tire's quasi-house brand) all send me free replacement parts.

If someone wants to buy Bluetooth speakers or dashcams directly from Chinese vendors, then go for it. A hundred bucks out the window when the dashcam or speaker croaks is part of the roulette game of buying these things.
Having to rip a shower wall assembly apart because you lost at roulette is going to be an expensive lesson.

EdT586 wrote: ↑ After 10 years, no one will have the replacement parts for you shower so it doesn't matter and the plumber or DIYers will simply rip out the old system and replace it with ever is available at their local hardware store. The best system is still the old two knobs shower system which has no parts to replace other then the washer or cartridge which is still available locally for over 50 plus years !

I grant you the U.S. water valve companies may be off shoring but the products are the same and unless they go belly up, the parts will be around. At least ordering from the manufacturer. Always a crap shoot with buying retail.

Ripping out shower controls without spending lots of money and/or time is simply not possible for most. I like to see you change one without taking out quite a bit of the shower/bath stall wall, unless you can get access from behind.

I bought some Chinese-made kitchen faucets (the real pretty industrial kind with separate pot filler and spray controls). Trouble is that one them pretty much fell apart ~2-3 years. Parts that didn't fit well in the first place. The other was older and was trouble-free when we sold the house (rental suites). AT least it's easy to change a kitchen faucet. I'm happy with my Blanco (2nd one) but it costed a lot, lot more.

EdT586 wrote: ↑ After 10 years, no one will have the replacement parts for you shower so it doesn't matter and the plumber or DIYers will simply rip out the old system and replace it with ever is available at their local hardware store. The best system is still the old two knobs shower system which has no parts to replace other then the washer or cartridge which is still available locally for over 50 plus years !

That’s not always true. I’ve had very old NA parts replaced. And always for free.

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ I grant you the U.S. water valve companies may be off shoring but the products are the same and unless they go belly up, the parts will be around. At least ordering from the manufacturer. Always a crap shoot with buying retail.

Ripping out shower controls without spending lots of money and/or time is simply not possible for most. I like to see you change one without taking out quite a bit of the shower/bath stall wall, unless you can get access from behind.

I bought some Chinese-made kitchen faucets (the real pretty industrial kind with separate pot filler and spray controls). Trouble is that one them pretty much fell apart ~2-3 years. Parts that didn't fit well in the first place. The other was older and was trouble-free when we sold the house (rental suites). AT least it's easy to change a kitchen faucet. I'm happy with my Blanco (2nd one) but it costed a lot, lot more.

Its a given these days with the water tank behind the shower wall in most condos and the wall has to be ripped. 99% of the time you will never be able to find the part or even the brand the original shower that was used by the condo contractor and if you call a plumber they are not going to source the part for you even if they do know the brand, they will either supply you with the a new shower system or you go pick up one ahead of time before the plumber arrive.

fdl wrote: ↑ That’s not always true. I’ve had very old NA parts replaced. And always for free.

Yes, you have to contact them and wait for them to send it via snail mail and fingers crossed they sent you the right part ...very small amount people do this in this day of age of instant gratification and even less if it is for a customer or tenant whose constantly complaining !

ReFuGeE wrote: ↑ Hey Guys

I'm shopping for a shower system or shower panel w/ tub spout for my in-progress bathroom reno.

I only have experience with the big brands like moen, american standard, grohe etc.

Shopping now I see a ton of chinese brands (SR SUNRISE, EMBATHER, etc), especially when it comes to shower panels and systems.

Anyone have any experience with these plumbing fixtures? Also any advise on where one should be shopping for these shower systems/panels?

Whatever you do, don't bother with the chinese products. You want something made with quality.

Shop around at local bath and kitchen stores specializing in those products.

EdT586 wrote: ↑ Its a given these days with the water tank behind the shower wall in most condos and the wall has to be ripped. 99% of the time you will never be able to find the part or even the brand the original shower that was used by the condo contractor and if you call a plumber they are not going to source the part for you even if they do know the brand, they will either supply you with the a new shower system or you go pick up one ahead of time before the plumber arrive.

Depends on how your condo is built and structured. I always thought hot water was provided centrally. Some of us don't live in condos. I did live in a flat in London (not ON) that did have a small electric water heater in a closet above the washer. Bath faucet was leaking (cold water) but that wasn't my problem.

+1 for avoiding Chinese products. Not worth it.

EdT586 wrote: ↑ Yes, you have to contact them and wait for them to send it via snail mail and fingers crossed they sent you the right part ...very small amount people do this in this day of age of instant gratification and even less if it is for a customer or tenant whose constantly complaining !

In my experience you don’t have to worry about them sending the right part because they send way more than you need. I’ve received complete new faucets plus braided hoses and the full deal , just due to a minor part failing. No questions asked.

The only failing of some designs (yes, even Moen) is that you can't take some apart without damaging them. I'm thinking of the 3-hole sink faucets where the faucet is secured by a decorative housing that screws in on the top side of the sink. Water (or minerals in) corrode of seize the thread so you can't get the housing off to change the cartridge. I guess one could, on installation, apply a generous coating of plumber's grease and/or anti-seize.

There are Chinese products that are well made out there (ex: iPhone), but the issue is that most of the time you're considering them over a NA-made product it's because they cost a lot less. Labour is an advantage, but usually corners are cut. Do you want to cut corners on things that carry water through your walls?

grumble wrote: ↑ There are Chinese products that are well made out there (ex: iPhone), but the issue is that most of the time you're considering them over a NA-made product it's because they cost a lot less. Labour is an advantage, but usually corners are cut. Do you want to cut corners on things that carry water through your walls?

There are no such thing as NA made products these days ...just NA brands ...take a closer look at the label and even the lower labour cost excuse is an inconvenient myth !

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ The only failing of some designs (yes, even Moen) is that you can't take some apart without damaging them. I'm thinking of the 3-hole sink faucets where the faucet is secured by a decorative housing that screws in on the top side of the sink. Water (or minerals in) corrode of seize the thread so you can't get the housing off to change the cartridge. I guess one could, on installation, apply a generous coating of plumber's grease and/or anti-seize.

You get tired looking at the same fixture for 10-20 years ...time to change a new one even if it still working ! ...LoL
Many kitchen and washroom faucets go on special for $20-$30 quite often so just stock up on several as they are cheaper than the two replacement the cartridges if you can find those. Those shower units is a whole different animal as they are usually over $100 even when on special and none of the companies use a common cartridge design.