InSinkErator F-HC1100SN Hot and Cold Water Dispenser, Satin Nickel

Comment: As I write this I am listening to the incessant dripping of an Insinkerator F-HC1100 Designer Series hot/cold faucet. I have had two simpler Insinkerator faucets in the past with no problems. Reading the experience of others it appears that this is unfortunately a poorly designed or manufactured product. (It looks good though!)

Comment: We've owned a HC-1100 for about 5 years and loved it. Notice the past tense of "love"? The tank started to leak who knows when and caused water damage to our new, expensive cabinet. We contacted Insinkerator and was told and I quote " Your HC-1100 has a 1 year in-home warranty that lasted more than 5 years." I guess this means we should be grateful that it lasted that long given the fact that we coughed up over $250 for it. They went on to say that "One can't expect an appliance to last forever". Wow. I feel so much better about my purchase now. I have a $39 blender that lasted longer.

In our research, we found out that the hot water tank was originally made of copper, then plastic (which is probably what we have), and now stainless steel. I really loved the convenience of the instant hot water but like someone else said, I can do the same thing in a microwave and not give Insinkerator another dime to replace the unit. Or in this case, given the quality of their product, a penny...but I'd want change back.

Comment: As others have already mentioned:

1. The valves eventually get stuck in the ON position. When this happens, the handles just flap back and forth, and water keeps flowing through the unit until you turn off the water supply to the unit.

2. It is impossible to repair--no matter if you are a handy homeowner or a plumbing professional--so you are required to replace the whole dispenser assembly at a cost of $250-300.

I have three of these units installed. All three of them have failed!

BTW, my plumber doesn't normally deal with this crap brand, and his wholesaler can't get it for less than $300.

I am replacing one of these units, but the other two that have failed are being permanently retired.

Comment: Condensation forming internally around our first tank caused it to rust and eventually leak. Not under warranty so we purchased a newer design tank directly from insinkerator at a modest discount. This isn't the most optimum situation, but I consider it at least minimally acceptable. Recently, we started experiencing the same sticky valve problem described in the many posts above. I called Insinkerator, and spent a long time talking to a rep in India? trying to describe the sticking valve problem, that he would continue to redescribe as a handle or other problem. Mine wasn't under warranty, so I was just looking to buy a new valve (every other bath or kitchen faucet I've ever seen has replaceable valves; they will eventually leak). He told me the parts for the handle aren't replaceable. I told him we only need the valve, and I know it's got to be replaceable. It's not easy to remove, but it CAN be; so it's got to be replaceable. Well, I was not only surprised, but mystified, and now angry, that Insinkerator chooses not to sell the valves themselves. That makes this unit a very, very expensive disposable unit. Like I said before, the tank problem is understandable as there is no easy solution. The fact that they don't allow the valve to be replaced is unconscionable.

Our sticking hot water valve would return to off after 10-60 seconds. If you put ice on it or sing to it, I don't think it matters. I suspect there is a buildup of grime/calcium that is occurring in the valve, that the spring is having a hard time overcoming. I initially solved the problem (after it returned closed) by only opening the valve part way over and over again to try to rub the deposits off of the valve. I continued to do this and opened the valve incrementally until it could be opened all the way without sticking. This worked for another couple of months. The next time it stuck, I tried to disassemble the faucet to better clean the valve. The external nut is easy to remove, but the internal one takes a special tool. A normal socket has too fat of a body. It takes a thin wall socket. Instead of trying to track one down or trying to remove the plunger by drilling a hole in it as one poster did, I instead shot WD40 into the exposed cavity. That immediately worked, and so far it is still working.

Comment: Very poor quality - not recommended. I had two huge problems:

1) The water valve stuck open (drip, drip, drip). Happened in 1st year, under warranty; then happened a 2nd time!!! After 2 free replacements: it finally worked.

2) At 3 years old: plastic 1/2 gallon tank sprang a leak!! I'm trying to repair it now (to save $350 new purchase cost). This is mind-boggling. How can a plumbing-fixture company build a water tank that leaks? Mind you: these tanks are NOT under pressure! Water pressure is applied only when you press the dispensing lever, and even then the pressure in the tank is low.

I see from some other posts that they are now going with a stainless steel tank: I guess so many plastic tanks failed they changed the design. Geez.