In the market for new tapware?

These days it seems like the opportunities are endless when it comes to choosing a new tap. With so many varieties and designs available, as well as the world of online shopping, your dream bathroom is set to become a reality!

While the look and style of a tap may be an important factor in what you choose, it’s important to know that it should not be the only purchasing decision you make when you are in the market for new plumbing products.

Picture this: You’ve finally got your new shiny bathroom finished, complete with a gleaming tap, and although you’ve spent more on it then you thought possible for a bathroom, it looks exactly how you had envisioned on your mood board all those years ago.

Or you spent the best part of the weekend visiting your local hardware store to stock up on supplies to fix that dripping tap. It kept you up all night, and even though it’s not up there on your list of ‘fun things to do’ on a Saturday, it’s done now and you can finally get some solid sleep.

Or you‘ve been meaning to call a plumber to fix the kitchen mixer tap, but instead, after a quick online search, you managed to fix it yourself and saved a lot of cash.

Now, picture this: When you turn on that tap you paid a small fortune for, it sounds like someone is banging down your door; the dripping tap you spent your weekend fixing is now endlessly leaking (again); and the kitchen mixer tap you installed yourself to save money, is now contaminating your family’s drinking water.

Unfortunately, despite their glossy features and impressive style, not all tapware products are up to the standard that they should be, and therefore may not be fit for purpose. Further, even if you had the right intentions and purchased from a recognised supplier, or from a reputable online store, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are purchasing reliable and safe products – it pays to do your research before purchasing.

In Australia, most plumbing and drainage products must be WaterMark certified and installed by a licensed plumber.

WaterMark is a mandatory national scheme for plumbing and drainage products to ensure they are fit for purpose and appropriately authorised for use in plumbing and drainage installations. This means, that a material or product has been tested and evaluated to an approved product specification and certified by an accredited organisation.

Over the past decade, it has become increasingly easy for Australians to purchase plumbing products, like taps, from local sources as well as international manufacturers. However, this doesn’t always mean that the product is WaterMark certified. Many plumbing product suppliers, especially those overseas, may not be aware of the need, or the requirements, for WaterMark certification in Australia.

Easy! Just Look for the WaterMark! All WaterMark certified products will have the WaterMark certification trademark or logo somewhere on the product or its packaging. Each certified product also has a licence number which allows you to look up that product on the WaterMark Product Database. By purchasing and using a WaterMark certified product, you can be sure that it has been evaluated to an appropriate product specification and is therefore safe and fit for purpose. It’s less likely to break or cause damage and end up costing you more money later on.

So, next time you are thinking of upgrading the bathroom, fixing the leaky tap or replacing the kitchen mixer tap, make sure you spend a little time early on to find the right product. This will save you a lot of inconvenience and money down the track. And always remember to Look for the WaterMark!