Faucetology 101

If you haven't noticed, faucets come in four different types of internal workings. They are the following:

1. Ball-type - This faucet has a single-handle over a dome-shaped cap. If you have a Delta faucet or a Peerless single-handle faucet, it's probably a ball-type.
2. Disc - If you have a single-handle faucet made by American Standard or Reliant you probably have a disc design. If you're not sure whether you have a disc or a ball-type, you'll be able to tell by the mechanism after you remove the handle. The workings of a disc faucet are contained in a cylinder versus the many internal parts of a ball-type.
3. Cartridge - Cartridge faucets are available with both single and double handles. Price Pfister, Moen, Valley and Aqualine faucets are popular cartridge faucets.
4. Stem - This is a two-handle faucet design. You can tell a stem faucet by the way it feels when you turn it off. You should feel a rubber washer being squeezed inside the faucet. Stem faucets are available under several brand names.