How to Choose the Right Faucet Cartridge

The cartridge is the heart of a faucet

Everyone says that the cartridge is the core of the faucet, but what makes a good cartridge? Let me explain it to you in this article. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, and I look forward to discussing it further. If you’ve ever researched faucets, you might have noticed that the quality of a faucet is largely determined by its cartridge. Since the cartridge is the heart of the faucet, what exactly makes a good cartridge? A quick online search for faucet cartridges will often show terms like "high-quality ceramic cartridge," "thick sealing rings," and "long lifespan," but they rarely get into the details. It’s like saying a beautiful person has eyes, ears, and a mouth, but not explaining what makes them beautiful. So, what do these key terms actually mean when we talk about a good cartridge?

National Standards for Faucet Cartridges

In this article, let’s first talk about the lifespan, as it is the most important and measurable indicator. The national standard GB18145 has clear guidelines on this.

The most common faucet types are basin faucets, kitchen faucets, and shower faucets, which also have the most variations. Let’s focus on these.

Common Claims about Cartridge Lifespan

Why do some sellers claim their faucets last 27 years, while others say 10 years? And how does this compare to the national standard of 70,000 cycles?

Some sellers claim that if a cartridge can last for 1 million cycles (based on daily use of 100 on/off switches), it should last 27 years. 1 million cycles! Doesn’t that immediately sound better than the national standard’s 70,000 cycles? Yes, that’s because this claim is based on a common marketing trick.

The national standard GB18145 defines a cycle as one complete on-off movement. Pay attention to the fact that "cycles" are counted, not individual switches. The national standard measures a cartridge’s life as 70,000 cycles, and here’s the key: A "cycle" means three on/off movements. The U.S. ASME standard calculates one switch as one "cycle."

Cartridge Lifespan Calculation

Here’s how you calculate a cartridge’s lifespan: Daily switch count x 365 days x years of use.

Faucet Cartridge Lifespan Comparison Table
Calculation Method	Original Vendor Calculation	Adjusted Vendor Calculation (3 switches per cycle)	International Standard Calculation (GB18145)
Cartridge Lifespan	1 million switches	1 million switches (with 3 switches per cycle)	70,000 cycles (each cycle has 3 switches, totaling 210,000 switches)
Average Switches per Day	Assumes 100 switches per day	Assumes 100 switches per day	Assumes 100 switches per day
Switches per Cycle	Each switch is counted as one "cycle"	Each cycle includes 3 switches	Each cycle includes 3 switches
Total Switches per Year	100 switches/day × 365 days = 36,500/year	100 switches/day × 365 days = 36,500/year	100 switches/day × 365 days = 36,500/year
Estimated Cartridge Lifespan	1 million switches ÷ 36,500/year ≈ 27 years	1 million switches ÷ 3 switches/cycle = 333,333 cycles ÷ 36,500/year ≈ 9.1 years	210,000 switches ÷ 36,500/year ≈ 5.75 years

Seller’s Calculation Mistake

Here’s the difference: Seller’s calculation: They treat each on/off switch as one “cycle.” So if a cartridge lasts 1 million switches, they claim it lasts 27 years. National standard calculation: Each cycle includes three switches. The standard lifespan is 70,000 cycles, which works out to about 5.75 years. In conclusion, the seller’s calculation is wrong because they treat every switch as a "cycle," which leads to an inflated lifespan. In reality, based on the national standard, the lifespan of a faucet cartridge is shorter.

Importance of Cartridge Quality

Now that we understand how the calculations work, it’s easier to see the point. Of course, big numbers in advertisements look impressive. But just because the number is bigger doesn’t necessarily mean the product is better. If a seller claims the faucet can last 1 million cycles (which is double the U.S. ASME standard), it does indicate a good cartridge. This means, if all the other parts of the faucet are good, you might only need to replace the faucet three times in your lifetime. However, if they don’t mention any specific standards, simply claiming a long lifespan is misleading!