Can I use taps from the US?

[LegacyGT]

I have been trawling ebay and the US have alot nicer taps than us. Can i buy these and use them in my bathroom/kitchen renos? will they fit!?

[rod1949]

Nup! Screw on anti-clockwise, and the spouts will be up not down :D just kidding. LoL

[Honorary Bloke]

I have been trawling ebay and the US have alot nicer taps than us. Can i buy these and use them in my bathroom/kitchen renos? will they fit!?

Will they work? Don't see why not. The water won't care.

Will they fit? Probably not straight out of box (imperial diameters, for one thing) but maybe some adaptors are available?

[Timmo]

No.

They use faucets we use taps.

seriously they use mostly NPT threads we use mostly BSPT,

[wonderplumb]

They will fit, perhaps with a little fiddling around, though if they do break down parts may be a pain in the ass to get, if at all.

[rrich]

When you need to replace a part, (e.g. Moen cartrige) will you have a source for these parts? Even the bubbler with the screen inserts may not be available locally. IMHO if you use any imperial stuff in the metric world, you're looking for nightmare in maintenance.

[Timmo]

when it comes to plumbing and refrigeration fittings, we are not as metric as you might think. BSP is an imperial based thread.

[wonderplumb]

In saying that the yanks use BSP also.........

[Pete F]

I bought garden fittings from the US... they didn't fit :C Not sure if that translates to fixed fittings

[Iain]

Water spins a different way in the northern hemisphere so it will bugger the seals which are turned for our water.......serious:rolleyes:

[bricks]

Phsically they should work the same as tapware sold here, but no you cant install them as they don't meet the australian 'wells' requirement, and therefore are not usable here. Aswell as that the threads might not match,

Along with this is the type of metal/ rubber etc used in the making of these taps, Austalia has some of the toughest water in the world these taps from the us might only last a year or two before they break.

[ronafios]

About 8 years ago I bought a Panasonic electronic bidet thingamie (toilet seat replacement) from the US, which required fitting to the existing plumbing. It wasn't too much trouble. The plumber was happy to plumb it in, but I had to take the whole unit to the local plumbing supply shop to get them to try a variety of fittings until we found one that happily converted the sizes. Getting power to it without breaking any laws was a larger problem. In regards to reliability, like I said that was 8 year ago, and I haven't had any problems with the rubber seals or hoses etc in that unit.

I've had the same drama with an imported commercial coffee machine I've installed in my kitchen. It was plumbed in downstream from a pressure limiting valve, but I had to take the hoses to the same plumbing place to help me bring everything up to 1/2". Took the guys about 2 minutes out the back trying different fittings - $1 later it was all good.

My suggestion is three-fold:

1) if you intend to use a plumber, ask them their opinion. There may be some law that makes it illegal to fit US units (although I don't think tapware fits under any particular licensing).

2) If you go ahead, order some suitable consumables at the same time to save you effort down the track when you need to replace a washer.

3) Take all your tapware to your local plumbing supply company and ask for adaptors to bring everything to 1/2" before the plumber arrives - then you won't have to worry about a second call out.

[bricks]

1) if you intend to use a plumber, ask them their opinion. There may be some law that makes it illegal to fit US units (although I don't think tapware fits under any particular licensing).


You can't install those taps as they won't meet our 'wells' requirements.

Wells is the water efficiency rating of the taps. If you buy them and install them you are breaking the law.

[wonderplumb]

Bricks makes a good point, they should also have an Australian Standards approval at least.

[zathras]

The most efficient tap surely must be one that has siezed closed and never lets a drop out :D

Seriously, how does efficiency come into a tap?
Either the water flows or it doesn't.
Understandable for shower roses, yes.

If you want to restrict flow, put in smaller pipes, or a restrictor.

[bricks]

I'm not sure of the exact wells requirements ( I just know that if you buy here in aus it meet the standards)

But the showers are no more than 9 lt / minute
I think taps are 5 or 6 lt/ minute.

[chrisp]

I think taps are 5 or 6 lt/ minute.

I don't know if the standard has changed in the past few years, but the taps I have put out way more than "5 or 6 lt/minute". I'd guess it would only take a few seconds to get 5 litres out of most taps.

[Timmo]

I think taps are 5 or 6 lt/ minute.

If that was the standard I would gladly break the law.

[bricks]

Wells came in 2 years ago with an amnesty type period of a little over 18 months ( so suppliers and plumbers could come to grips with it.)

Besides wells requirements the taps you install must have the australian water mark - this says that they are approved here for installation.

As i said earlier the metals american taps are made out of may not, and in my opinion will not, be able to cope with the harshness of our water in australia.

Short answer- no you can't install any overseas sourced taps here.

[LegacyGT]

Ah ok, thats a shame coz they have nicer designs and colours.