NEWSLETTER: Kingston Brass - The Kingston Informer - March 2011

THE KINGSTON INFORMER THE TRADITION OF FINE BRASS WWW.KINGSTONBRASS.COM

MONTHLY NEWSPAGE OF KINGSTON BRASS

MARCH 2011 - ISSUE 3

Catalogs and literature arriving It is no coincidence that Passover, Easter and baseball all converge in the Spring--generally a time of growth and blooming flowers.

Maybe it’s also not a coincidence that Kingston Brass chose this time of year to present its new brochures, catalogs, and price lists.

Kingston Brass is also experiencing its blooming season--a season which begins with the unveiling of the Fauceture™ and Gourmetier Sinks™ collections, the first of many catalogs, which will be arriving at the end of March (in print).

By mid-April, we will see the introduction of the Gourmetier Faucet™ collection followed by the 16 collections from the Vilbosch and Olde World Series which will be available in early May. These collections will span the whole gamut, from the ultra contemporary Concord™ Collection to the traditional designs of the French Country™ collection.

“Our goal is to be able to keep our customers informed and excited about the great possibilities available on our product offering,” said James Choy, manager of marketing.

Catalog order sheets can be obtained by contacting RaymondL@kingstonbrass. com.

What is our presence in the plumbing market?

Throughout its short 14-year history, Kingston Brass has strived to achieve a prominent position in the market; but which market, you ask?

Not to sound arrogant, but maybe ... say ... most plumbing markets?

Because of Kingston Brass’ extensive product line and unique compartmentalized marketing philosophy, the company has successfully managed to fight the war

APPLICATION & INSTALLATION Q: If I am needing technical support or help installing my Kingston Brass item, who can I contact?

A: You can contact Kingston Brass Inc. for any technical questions at 1-877-2KBRASS regarding installation or products in general.We would be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

on many different fronts. Here is a breakdown: Duraseal® This market targets new multi-unit residential projects. Kingston Brass’ Duraseal series was created exclusively to service the needs of these builders and contractors. Comprised of washerless cartridge faucets, it has gained popularity not only because of its quality and price point but also because it easy to find replacement parts--something that is very important to contractors and maintenance engineers. Duraseal products are distributed primarily through plumbing wholesale distributors.

Q: If my original place of purchase says that my item has been discontinued, does that mean Kingston Brass also has discontinued this item as well?

A: No, this does not mean Kingston Brass has discontinued your item. Although, if a Kingston Brass item has been discontinued, we may not carry any replacement parts for that item--replacement parts for discontinued items are limited. For further information contact us.

CARE & MAINTENANCE

Suite Solution®.

This is the bulk of the Kingston Brass product offering. It is comprised of many different series of products--each of them addressing a specific décor and price point. It is the company’s philosophy to invest on the quality of its products, foregoing expensive

Q: What should I use to clean my faucet?

A: You can use non-abrasive mild soap. The surface of your Kingston Brass faucet is non-porous, so there should not be any need for any harsh cleaning agents. In addition, you may apply carnauba wax to the surface of your faucet to help prolong its shine and textend the durability of your faucet.

Q: My faucet is showing signs

See MARKET in page 2

See FAQ in page 3

MARKET conƟnued from Page 1 packaging or advertising campaigns. We feel that ultimately it is the feeling of owning a quality product that will linger in the consumer’s memory.

Within this group offering, you will find a wide variety of styles spanning many eras--from early European to contemporary Euro-style designs.

Vintage ® In response to the increasing popularity of the retro vintage style of décor, so prevalent in the Midwest as well as in the Northeast, Kingston Brass offers a complete series of claw foot tubs and all the necessary hardware to achieve the appropriate period look. Kingston Brass has gone to great lengths to insure that all its products in the Vintage Series are accurate depictions of the products used in that specific era.

Gourmetier ® Stainless steel sinks has become the sink of choice for most builders because of its durability and easy maintenance. In this series, Kingston Brass shows a wide variety of stainless steel sinks in different sizes, gauges and applications.

Fauceture ® Vessel sinks became popular in the late 90s. What most experts saw as a passing fad became a recognized design choice for many designers and remodelers. Kingston Brass’ offering includes both glass and vitreous China vessel sinks as well as the faucets and accessories necessary to complete the look.

Designer Trimscape® As with any project, it is the details that make the difference between ordinary and extraordinary. The Designer Trimscape series of products addresses the need to complement your bathroom or kitchen with the

matching accessories to achieve that finished look.

KB is not just a brand of faucets, but a consortium of different brands all under the Kingston Brass umbrella, following the same core values of giving the consumer the best value for his investment.

Visit us at www.kingstonbrass.com/catalog.asp and browse through our catalogs.

FAQ conƟnued from Page 1 of tarnish (especially in high mineral water region).What should I do?

A: If you are just starting to see signs of mineral buildup, you can try to do a number of things: (1) Mix a 3-to-1 water and vinegar solution.

(2) Soak paper towels with this solution and place over the affected area. Leave the wet paper towel in place overnight.You can also remove the aerator and handle and leave it soaking in the water/vinegar solution.

(3) Wipe down affected area and rinse with water.

Q: My (lavatory) faucet is leaking.What should I do?

A: Does the faucet leak through the spout when the valve is closed?

If yes, then you most likely have a defective cartridge or spring and washer depending on the type of faucet you have. Kingston Brass sells many different types of faucets.

If you know the model number of your faucet, you can call us and we will gladly idenfity the correct part number to order. If you do not know the model number, you can take a picture of your faucet and send it to us via e-mail to techsupport@ kingstonbrass.com along with your contact information. Please allow 24 to 48 hours to get a response.

STAINLESS SINKS Q: Is my Kingston Brass stainless steel sink soundproof?

A: No, our sinks are not

soundproof by nature, but they have a sound-deadening coating or pad installed on them (and in some cases both).

solution. Let it soak for 15 minutes, then wash sides and bottom as solution drains and is thoroughly rinsed.

Q: What should I do for routine care of my stainless steel sink?

A: Here are a number of steps to take to maintain your sink: (1) For most dirt and stains: Use soap.

(2) For watermarks, wipe with a damp cloth and then towel dry.

(3) For disinfecting: Occasionally wipe the surface with diluted household bleach (1-part water/1part bleach).

(4) For maintenance: Occasionally clean by filling the sink one-quarter full with a 50-50 water/bleach

Q: What is an undermount sink? And is it more complicated than a self-rimming sink?

A: Fasteners are required to securely mount an undermount sink beneath the countertop so that the polished edge of granite or marble is exposed above the sink.

An undermount sink cutout requires more polishing and installation labor than a self-rimming sink.

If you have a question that you wish to submit, email us at info@ kingstonbrass.com.

What is water hammering?

I am sure all of us at one time or another have experienced the annoying thumping rattle of water hammer.

This phenomena happens when water, which is flowing at a constant velocity, comes to a sudden halt and creates a buildup in pressure from all the water rushing in and having no place to go. Besides being a mere annoyance, it can also cause serious damage to your pipes and joints eventually causing leaks and potentially expensive water damage.

Water Hammer, sometimes also referred to as hydraulic shock, occurs most commonly on toilets, dishwashers and refrigerators. By design, there are solenoids that stop the flow of water coming in to these devices.The good news is that there are a few measures that could be taken in order to prevent or minimize this occurrence.

Measures to Prevent Water Hammer Water Hammer Arrestors Most new homes being built will have water hammer arrestors built in to their plumbing system.

Water hammer arrestors are small cylindrical devices with internal pistons that are installed into the piping system.

When the flow of water has been suddenly interrupted, the back pressure of water flows into the arrestor.The arrestors act as shock absorbers and cushion the spike in pressure created by the water not having a place to go.

They are mechanical devices and as such, they may eventually fail.Water hammer arrestors come in all sizes, but in most cases, they are easy to install.

To address the need and protect specific devices, Precision Plumbing Products makes a “mini-angle stop” arrestor that can be installed on the supply lines to toilets, faucets or icemakers. Sioux Chief also makes a “minirester” that can be used for washing machine valves.

Air Chambers In some older homes, a possible solution will be to install air chambers at different parts of your plumbing system.

An air chamber is a long piece of pipe, which contains trapped air inside.

This trapped air will serve as a cushion for the wave of water looking for

a way out.The pros of using an air chamber is that since they are not a mechanical device, there is nothing to fail.The only con is that in time, the cushion of air likely will be replaced by water. If this happens, the solution is very easy and inexpensive.

Close water supply at the main shut off point.

• • Turn water heater off or set to “Stand By” Open all faucets to let water drain out.

• Open water supplies again.

• Close faucets.

• Eventually your air chambers will become water logged again requiring you to repeat the process.

Lower Water pressure Another area that aggravates the water hammer effect is water pressure.

Increased water pressure will increase your chances and the severity of water hammer. A professional plumber will be able to help you determine if your water pressure is set too high.

Properly secure all pipes While this does not really prevent water hammer, it does minimize the movement of the pipes when water hammer does occur, and lessens the loud rattling of pipes.

ABOVE: KU322097DBN - STAINLESS STEEL DOUBLE BOWL UNDERMOUNT KITCHEN SINK ABOVE RIGHT: GS7701ACLSP - SINGLE-HANDLE KITCHEN FAUCET WITH ABS SPRAYER RIGHT: K33228DBN - STAINLESS STEEL SELF-RIMMING DOUBLE BOWL KITCHEN SINK (4 HOLE)

2011 is a year of uncertainty with high inflation and high material costs, but at Gourmetier Sink--it is a year of innovation.

Kingston Brass’ Gourmetier Sink product line includes stainless steel sinks, kitchen faucets, water filtration faucets, and other related accessories.

Our extensive selection of stainless steel sinks covers a wide range of sizes from 13” single bowl to 50” triple bowl sinks. They are available in depths from 5” to 10”.

All our sinks have either a sound deadening pad or spray, or both in our thicker gauge models.

We also have made sure to cover the many different types of installations including self-rimming

undermount and farmhouse applications. All the sinks meet the U.S. Plumbing code and accommodate the U.S. standard size bar and kitchen strainers.

One of the new developments for 2011 is the “Sink Combo Package.” These packages include the kitchen sink, faucet, strainer and in some cases, soap dispenser.

This will facilitate the ordering process for residential track builders and allows us to even be more competitive in today’s market.

We invite you to visit us at www.gourmetiersink.com to discover the many options available.

We are confident that you will find our dream kitchen sink with us.

ABOVE: GS8881DL - SINGLE-HANDLE PULLDOWN KITCHEN FAUCET LEFT: KU5021969TBN - STAINLESS STEEL UNDERMOUNT OFFSET TRIPLE BOWL KITCHEN SINK

ABOVE: KUF302110BN - STAINLESS STEEL FARM HOUSE SINGLE BOWL KITCHEN SINK