T and S Brass tee installation advice

Avoid the Void: Choose T&S Tees

In many foodservice applications, the pre-rinse faucet sees lots of use. From rinsing dishes and pans to filling sinks and mop buckets, these workhorse units provide a steady, high-pressure stream of water that simplifies daily maintenance tasks. This type of equipment must withstand near-continuous use day after day, from open to close. It's no wonder a high-end pre-rinse faucet can set an operator back 1,000 dollars or more, not to mention installation costs.

After selecting the best model for your establishment and paying to have it installed, you expect the unit to continue operating well for a long time, and many pre-rinse faucets come with warranties to help ensure these products stand the test of time. Depending on the model you choose, major faucet components may be protected against failure for anywhere from 1 to 7 years or even come with a lifetime warranty.1 With this in mind, it would be pretty frustrating – not to mention costly – to discover your faucet's warranty had been voided inadvertently.

This is an unfortunate and preventable occurrence that takes place in kitchens across the country, often due to installation of off-brand parts, such as the faucet tee.

What is an Accessory Tee?

T&S Brass Faucet Tee

Side view of T&S Brass faucet tee

A faucet tee is a small connecting piece that can be spliced into existing plumbing and/or hoses for controlled diversion of waterflow. Many kitchens need to divert water from the pre-rinse unit to a chemical dispensing unit, used for cleaning and sanitizing purposes. These types of chemicals are unsafe to mix with drinking or warewashing water, so an accessory tee must be installed to divert the water before it reaches the sprayer. Using one of these tees temporarily redirects the water into a separate chemical dispensing unit where cleansers and sanitizing agents are held, enabling operators to sanitize surroundings thoroughly. Such plumbing setups are common in restaurant kitchens, medical facilities, locker rooms, and food processing facilities.

A backflow prevention device also must be installed to ensure no chemical solvents or soaps back up and mix with water used in the sink.

Shopping Tip

Purchase a compatible backflow prevention unit with each faucet tee to ensure your facility remains code compliant

Consequences of Installing a Generic Tee on Your T&S Unit

Installing a generic mixing tee can void the warranty on a pre-rinse unit2, meaning manufacturing defects, mechanical failures, and other unexpected repairs aren't covered. Paying out of pocket to repair or replace the pre-rinse faucet and hoses quickly can turn into hundreds or thousands of dollars for each visit. It's vital to read warranty documentation closely when buying any faucet, so you can avoid accidentally voiding your warranty by installing unapproved accessories after purchase.

Another potential consequence of installing a generic tee into a T&S system is leaking; water can quickly degrade plumbing fixtures as it drips continuously and can cause slipping hazards in the surrounding area.


How to Preserve Warranties With T&S Tees

To address the problem of connecting a chemical dispensing unit without voiding a T&S pre-rinse unit's warranty, T&S offers mixing faucet and pre-rinse tees designed to fit T&S equipment. Two different models are available, so verify you purchase the right one for your equipment:

It's important to have this hardware installed by a qualified technician to ensure safe operation. A backflow prevention device must be installed with the tee.3 These may be included with the pre-rinse unit or mixing faucet, as a set with a tee, or purchased separately.

References

  1. T&S Limited Warranty. T&S Brass. Accessed September 2021.
  2. Pre-rinsing in the Wild: The right pre-rinse unit accessories improve real-life function, durability. T&S Brass. Accessed September 2021.
  3. The Perfect Pre-rinse Unit. T&S Brass. Accessed September 2021.