An early American bath? An unheard-of luxury to an authentic early American, but today’s consumers can carry their favorite decor into the bathroom. You can have bath fixtures that gibe with early American, arts and crafts, Shaker, Victorian or classical decorating styles, with fixture manufacturers venturing beyond the ordinary tub, sink and toilet combinations of recent memory.

In the past, plumbing fixtures had limited styling, so most consumers let their builder or plumber choose a fixture for them. The last 20 years, however, have seen far more sophisticated detailing and styling that allows homeowners to carry the theme of the rest of the home into the bath. Go to a professional plumbing contractor if you want to take advantage of this trend.

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The faucet on the bathroom sink may well be the single most used item in the bath. And it is taken for granted that the faucet will do what it is supposed to do: Turn the water on and off. But, beyond that, a faucet is a focal point that draws the eye of anyone who looks at the sink. It can also be an eyesore or a nuisance, if the finish is peeling and water drips continuously from the spout.

If any of your current bathroom faucets fall into that category, new faucets for all the fixtures can go a long way toward dressing up the bath and ending the aggravation of leaks and drips. It pays to shop for a new faucet carefully, because if you don’t, you may be forced to replace the replacement sooner than you would like.

Typically, a faucet is replaced about once every seven years. About half the faucets are replaced because the homeowner wants a new style. The others are replaced because they no longer work properly, or because the finish is pitted or peeling.

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As with most homeowners, you probably only think about your water heater when there is no hot water for your shower or you notice a puddle underneath the water heater. Whatever the reason, when it is time to buy a water heater, consider electric ones because they offer features that ensure a long life and an economical supply of hot water.

One great feature of many types of electric water heaters is a non-metallic storage tank. Manufacturers of these tanks warranty them against leakage, eliminating a major cause of early water-heater failure. And if you live in an area with corrosive water, you’ll find this feature to be especially cost effective.

Another factor to look for when you’re shopping for a new electric water heater is the amount of built-in insulation it offers. Although this type of water heater generally costs more than one with minimal insulation, you’ll be saving money in the long run by reducing the amount of electricity needed to keep the water hot.

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• Porcelainized cast iron is an extremely durable and attractive finish for sinks and  tubs and can keep water warm for long periods of time. It’s extremely heavy, however, and  a tub may require extra floor support.

• Enameled steel doesn’t wear as well as cast iron but is especially good for remodeling  because, it’s light enough to move easily.

• Stainless steel is light, durable and unaffected by household chemicals. Used primarily  for sinks, it tends to collect spots from hard water and soap residue.

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If you need plumbing fittings, is it really worth it to spend the extra money on the brass type? Yes it is — and for two main reasons. First of all brass plumbing fittings are very durable and hard wearing — fittings made out of brass have been used in plumbing installations for a long, long time and there is a reason for that — they last and last. And the other reason? Simply this: brass plumbing fittings just look GREAT.

Here is an instance where brass plumbing fittings can come in handy — the installation of a PEX tubing system as a replacement waterline. If you purchase a BEST-PEX kit from Flair It, you can use a 3/4″ barb brass tee to join the water lines — this brass plumbing fitting is manufactured solid brass, and complies with standards ASTM F877 and F1807. This type of hardware is also available in 3/8″, 1/2″ and 1-inch sizes as well.

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