Material used in faucet is one of the most important criteria to be considered when purchasing a faucet. Faucet that contains a high level of lead will cause a change of adverse health effects. It is harmful to the babies and children especially, as the exposure to lead in drinking water above the action level can result in delays in physical and mental development, which affect their attention span and learning abilities. For the adults, increases in blood pressure can be found and could develop kidney problems. Below are the common materials that use to produce a faucet:

Stainless Steel:

The other upscale material for faucets is stainless steel.

Steel is harder than brass and has a higher melting point, making it more difficult than brass to cast and machine. But, it contains no lead, which in today's regulatory environment is a big plus.

Stainless is a steel alloy containing at least 10.5% chromium. But, the stainless steel used in faucets, 304 stainless, contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. The nickel gives the steel a particular crystalline structure which increases its strength and malleability. Stainless 304 is also known as 18/8 stainless representing its chromium/nickel content.

Some stainless sinks are made from 18/10 stainless, a slightly better grade used to make knives, fine cookware, flatware, and restaurant-quality sinks. The added nickel makes the alloy a little harder, and able to take a higher polish. But, some less expensive faucets, made primarily in Asia, contain a lower quality stainless. As a buyer, you should always look for a certification that the steel used in the faucet is 304 grade, 18/8 or 18/10 steel. Just the word "stainless" is not enough.

Solid Brass

Solid brass metal is heavy and durable. Solid brass is specially recommended for hard water areas, where corrosion of lesser metals is a problem. Even though brass costs the most among others, but it is the best investment. If you choose solid brass, you know that this might be the last faucet that you will ever need.

Brass and Chrome Plated

The key word here is "plated," meaning coated or laminated, but not really brass. Usually the inner metal is die-cast zinc alloy, which will corrode once the plating has worn off, and it will need replacement. It is cheaper but not recommended as it may corrode any time and will affect your health when using the water that comes out from the faucet.

Plastic

Plastic is not a suitable material for faucets, particularly faucet bodies and spouts. It is simply not durable enough for a faucet. And, there is no reason to buy a plastic faucet when for a very few dollars more you can always find a suitable metal faucet — maybe not all brass but at least ZAMAK, which is a giant step up from plastic.

But, there is at least one form of plastic that does work and works well in faucets. It is cross-linked polyethylene, commonly known as PEX. PEX has been used with good effect to replace copper water pipes for over 20 years and is recognized by all national plumbing codes as a suitable material for water channels. It is, in many ways, better than copper because it is a lot less expensive, easier to install, and is much less likely to burst from freezing.