Standardize on one faucet line
The biggest money saver in a rental portfolio isn’t the cheapest faucet, it’s the same faucet in every unit. When every kitchen and bath uses one series, a single cartridge, aerator, and handle kit fixes any unit, your maintenance tech carries one set of parts, and a drip becomes a ten-minute repair instead of a replacement.
- Pick a line with a ceramic disc cartridge and replacement parts sold separately. Ceramic discs outlast rubber-washer compression valves by years.
- Choose a common finish (chrome or brushed nickel) that won’t be discontinued. Odd finishes are the first to go away.
- Write the model number in your unit file. When you reorder, search it on this site and you get the exact match.
Toilets that survive tenants
For rentals, reliable flush performance beats features. A clog call costs more than the difference between two toilets.
- Check rough-in first. Most units are 12″, but older buildings can be 10″ or 14″. Our rough-in guide shows how to measure.
- 1.28 gallons per flush is the current high-efficiency standard and keeps water bills down when you pay the water.
- Two-piece toilets let you replace just a cracked tank or bowl. Chair height (about 17–19″ to the seat) suits older tenants and accessible units.
- Buy a slow-close seat. Slammed seats are one of the most common tenant-damage items.
Keep a turnover shelf
Most after-hours plumbing calls come from a short list of parts. Keeping a few of each on a shelf turns an emergency into a same-visit fix:
- Toilet fill valves, flappers, and wax rings with bolts
- Braided stainless supply lines in the lengths your units use
- Replacement cartridges for your standard faucet line
- Aerators, P-traps, and slip-joint washers
- Quarter-turn angle stops for the next time one weeps
Not sure which cartridge or fill valve you need? Bring the old part to the Keene counter, or send us a photo with the model number and we’ll match it.
Pricing a whole building
If you’re doing more than a unit or two, send us the list. We price the whole schedule by hand rather than off a tier chart, and we can hold stock for phased work so the last building matches the first.
A trade account gives you a named rep and job pricing. Smaller orders pay the same catalog price as everyone else, with no minimum. In-stock items are ready for same-day pickup at 104 Emerald St, Keene.
Water heaters in rentals
A failed water heater is a no-heat, no-shower emergency for a tenant, so it pays to replace them on age rather than on failure. If you’re weighing tankless for a unit, our tankless sizing guide explains why New England groundwater means sizing up. Water heater installation involves gas, venting, and electrical code, so use a licensed installer.