People have been asking me recently about my beauty routine. And really all I do for my skin is wear sunscreen, moisturize every day and drink lots of water. While sitting in my botox clinic.
Just kidding. I'm a Juvederm gal.
Just kidding. I can't afford it but if I could I would.
I do drink a lot of water but this is a new thing to me. I never ever drank water until I got my first water dispenser which was a gift from my niece for my birthday. It's beautiful but it's a bit too big to keep in my refrigerator all the time. It's perfect for parties because it holds a lot. I never have parties, but if I did this is the water dispenser I'd use while waiting for everyone to leave.
The next water dispenser I got was an inexpensive one from Target which fits in my fridge but is 100 percent plastic and fairly unattractive. But unattractive or not I wanted to keep the water dispenser in my refrigerator because I drink water all the time now. I'm not sure why because I have water that comes out of the tap only a few feet away and it's not like I filter my water. It's just a jug with water. But the refrigerator keeps it colder and there's no need to run the tap forever waiting for it to get semi-cold.
So of course, because I'm the way I am, I started thinking about how to make my plastic container look better. The easiest way was to replace the plastic tap with a brass one so that's the route I decided to take.
I still love my fridge by the way. In case you were wondering.
Back to the water dispenser. Brass fittings look better and they last longer. That's why if you're buying a hose or any parts for your hose outside you should buy the more expensive brass fittings instead of plastic ones. I say this two days after buying the cheapest, plastic spray nozzle for my hose I could find by the way. Some days I do the right thing and other days I'm too cheap to do the right thing which usually ends up costing me money in the long run.
Back to the water dispenser. Replacing that spigot (tap) wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be. I figured I could just run up to Home Depot or Lowes and grab a brass tap but I couldn't. They did have brass taps but the ones they carry are the sort of things you'd put on a rain barrel outside. It was big and heavy and you could attach a hose to it. Something I wouldn't need to do. Not even after a night of hot wings and taking part in an Iron Man.
I hunted around on the Internet and discovered it was even hard to find a nice brass spigot there. But I did find one and it was only $14. And it's the standard size that fits most home water containers. All I had to do was unscrew the old one and screw in the new one.
My spigot arrived in a couple of weeks and looks like this.
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Of course, now that I've ordered and received mine I see the company carries an even nicer one which I wish I'd had the chance to order.
Installing it really is just a matter of removing the old plastic spigot and putting this one in. When the spigot arrives it's all together so you have to take most of the washers and nut and everything off. Remove the parts until it looks like my photo from above. Then just push the spigot through the hole in your dispenser.
Now push the 2 rubber washers on.
Finish up by putting that little brass cover plate thing (that I don't know the name of) and finger tightening the nut.
That's it. It's done in less time than it would take to knit a squirrel some ear muffs.
Much better. And of course if this looks good enough for you, you can stop there. DIY complete just by replacing the spigot.
But of course, because I am the way I am, I thought better is good but the best is better. Or something like that. I was kind of preoccupied with the cost of Restylane at that point.
So next week I'm going to bump this hack up a notch and take it from better to best. Or as they say in the facial filler world, I'm going to p(l)ump it up.
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Cindy G.
If you only knew how many times I have almost purchased a large glass dispensing jug only to realize that it had a cheap plastic tap on it, you would be impressed with my shopping restraint. Now, of course, I have to go out and hunt one down now that I know how to replace the tap. You are brilliant and amazing!
Karen
Excellent! It really is hard to find this size of tap, if you can find one locally to you that's great because you save on the shipping, but if not ... you can always order this one. If you haven't seen my follow up post take a look. Everyone who comes into my house comments on my water dispenser. ~ karen!
Maria Aponte
Hi Karen,
Im new to your webste. I absolutely love you! you remind me , of ME :) I like you, am a DIY (fer) I just wanted to introduce myself and looking forward to visiting you again.
Karen
Well hello Maria. Nice to have Intermet you. Welcome to The Art of Doing Stuff. :) ~ karen!
Kathy Hutchins
Who cares about the spigot! I want to know where to get that dispenser...then I'll probably care about the spigot! I immediately went to Target's site...and cannot find it. HELP...please...pretty please.
By the way....I just recently discovered your blog...and LOVE your knowledge and sense of humor!
Karen
Hi Kathy! I don't know how to find the dispenser, lol! Sorry, my mother Betty bought it for herself at Target (in store, in Canada) and didn't want it for some reason. So I'm afraid I'm of absolutely no help to you. But ... did you see my follow up post on turning a vase into a water dispenser? Maybe you could do that. ~ karen!
Cath
I have been looking for a container with a spigot but not for water ;) I want glass though, I try not to use plastic for anything. I don't know why I didn't think of it myself, I am going to make one. I have made lamps out of those old glass Heinz ketchup bottles and Christmas light gifts out of glass blocks. Thanks for the reminder that I can do this!!!
Alma
This is probably the most entertaining conversation I have read in a long time. I think probably brass is not the best health conscious choice and I am sure plastic is not. BUT, I am also sure , as sure as I am that my 56 year old body will never fit into a size 9 again, that nothing is perfect, none of us leave this life alive, and is it important enough to sweat over whether to use plastic or glass? That's a big deal because at my age I have decided that I only sweat over the important things. Now take that refrigerator, that's worth sweating over!
Regan
Love it! Anything to encourage one to drink more water is a great idea! Now I am inspired to incorporate this brass tap into something for beer...in time for father's day. Can't wait to see what improvements you make!
Maggie
I checked around, and I don't think they make anything like your fridge anymore :(
Which really sucks because I took my fridge dying on the same day as this post. I was ready to take out another mortgage if need be, because it's perfect in every way.
Maggie
I took my fridge dying on the same day as this post [[insert>] as a sign]. :/ :/
Karen
Hi Maggie. They definitely still make my refrigerator but it's insanely expensive. Like I said, I put my entire budget into my refrigerator. Plus I got a deal on it. This is the top unit (although it seems to be an updated version) http://true-residential.com/Products/Undercounter-Refrigerators/Beverage-Center/Beverage-Center-24-Series-Stainless-Glass/#top and this is the bottom. http://true-residential.com/Products/Undercounter-Refrigerators/Undercounter-Refrigerator-Drawer/. You can also buy a glass door commercial True refrigerator which is louder but cheaper. ~ karen!
Maggie
It hadn't occurred to me that this was two different units! Karen, your genius is showing again.
Thanks for the info--I have the same LG "skinny" fridge that posted a ways back on your favourite fridges article. It's only 7.5 years old, and so I'm going to attempt fixing it this weekend. My hunch is that it's just a failed fan motor (freezer still works). If so, that might give me a chance to save up for this beauty.
Mary Martha
go with stainless steel people....Sorry to wreck the beautiful brass as it would be my first choice as it looks lovely but brass is guilty of leaching lead into drinking water....it is all over the net....With respect to the container and it's plastic you would have to look for BPA free....just because its "made for water" doesn't mean it is safe per se. Plastic baby bottles of the 90's were made for baby formula...and we all know where that went. Also friends of mine who are super eco conscious say it is just a matter of time before BPA free means nothing because plastic is still made from petro chemicals and you wish you would have been doing glass all along....
Cynthia Jones
The tap is like the ones that every home in Queensland had in the fifties on their water tank. This was a corrugated iron tank that was usually on a stand in the yard and had a windmill which pumped water up out of the ground and into the tank for use as drinking water or to water the garden. It was also the preferred water for women to wash their hair as it was softer than tap water. Every town had a guy who could 'divine' water by using a forked stick and a spear would be put down to draw up the water from underground.
The opening of the tank was usually covered with mosquito proof mesh but as this would decay cane toad or frogs could get into the tanks.
Now, watertanks here are made with PVC and the water is collected from the roofs. It flows down into the guttering and into the tank. It can then be used for watering the garden but not for drinking.
Does Canada have anything like this in it's history? Do your homes usually include a water catchment tank now?
Darla
Love the spigot in spite of the fact that I have the filtered water in the door of my fridge. Now you have me wondering what I could find to put one on. Noticed you have your rolling pins hanging on the wall. I have two that I want to mount somewhere and was wondering how yours are mounted?
Sarah
would this type of spigot work on one of those party drink dispensers? you know, for lemonade or sangria? i got one as a gift a few years ago, but the plastic spigot is crap. are all spigots like this the same size, i guess i am wondering?
that fridge is amazing! can you change the colors?
Karen
Hi Sarah. Yes ma'am! It should fit. I can't guarantee it not having seen it but that type of spigot is all pretty standard. I have 2 different dispensers and this fits in both of them. But to be sure just measure the hole. The end of this spigot measures 5/8ths of an inch across, so your hole needs to measure at least 5/8ths of an inch across as well. ~ karen!
Smith4
I cut up a couple oranges, or lemons, or limes, or cucumbers and add them to my water, delish
Cassandra W
Can Hardly wait for Your bump up for the Spigot. Will it be a stainless steel or glass spigot? Love your refrigerator . Can you tell the name brand of it?
Nancy C
I know why you wrote this article. So you could show off that fridge and make us all jealous. Well, it worked. I am suffering from appliance envy this very moment. Big sigh... nice water dispenser though.
AggieCat
Sooo, let's talk about leaking and dribbles? Do they? I use a container for my laundry soap since the last two honking big bottles of laundry soap we got leaked all by themselves. The current cheap plastic nozzle dribbles a fair bit after it's been closed. Will this metal one work for laundry liquid? and does it dispense at a reasonable rate. The cheapo platic also makes me stand there slowly filling the measuring cup. I've wanted to invest in some glass bottles from Wally World, but the plastic nozzles made me stop.
Stephanie
Love it. For someone who likes their water at room temperature and is anal about matching finishes, would something like: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Chrome-Polished-Bathroom-Kitchen-Wall-Mounted-Sink-Faucet-Tap-Spigot-Bibcocks/820765123.html work/fit within the dimensions? With a side trip to Home Depot thrown in for the proper rubber stoppers and escutcheons. A person at my office buys her home doodads, thingies and home-wares off of this site as it's usually cheaper and she never minds the wait time (usually 28 days, but most of the time free delivery from China) as long as the person/company she's buying from has a good star rating.
On a completely different topic, I laughed my ass off the other day in Chapters - they were selling Poopouri in two scents at the checkout. I almost bought it but wanted to check to see if it is still a "must have" of yours.
Thanks Karen.
Karen
Hmm. I'm not sure using a regular kitchen faucet would work. Also by the time you bought all the appropriate washers, fittings, etc. it would end up costing you as much or more money I think. I also have a hunch the threaded portion would be too large for most dispensers but that's just a guess. And YES still love Poopouri! ~ karen
Shauna
Great, I needed this link. I have a glass dispenser that the plastic spigot broke and I've been holding onto the dispenser knowing I needed to replace the spigot, but just haven't done it. I should have known I could count on you for doing my research for me:) thanks
FlagirlinTN
Does the brass fitting leave a metal taste to the water?
Kelly
Very unlikely. Good household faucets are brass inside and don't leave a taste.
Kelly
" little brass cover plate thing "…I think its an "escutcheon". Same name for the plates that cover pipes in the tub etc.
Pam'a
You know the little metal thingy around the keyhole on old boxes/drawers? That's called an escutcheon, too. :)