Counterfeit and untested faucets are flooding the U.S. market, putting homeowners at serious risk.
We live in a world where homeowners increasingly care about what goes into their homes—from carbon emissions to embodied energy, from water conservation to indoor air quality. But what about what’s coming out of their faucets?
In a shocking discovery, Moen and its parent company, Fortune Brands Innovations, uncovered that some of the top-selling, no-name imported faucets sold online in the U.S. are leaching dangerous levels of lead and carcinogens into household water supplies.
Aaron Bores, Executive Vice President at Fortune Brands, described the moment when the company’s internal analysis turned into a mission. “We bought some of these off-brand faucets for teardown analysis,” he told me in a recent interview. “And what we found made us highly suspicious that these products were exposing consumers to real health and safety risks.”
Working with IAPMO, the globally respected independent testing lab, Fortune Brands initiated a third-party study of 19 of the most popular unbranded faucets—often sold through e-commerce platforms at unrealistically low prices. The results were alarming.
90% of tested faucets failed U.S. drinking water safety standards.
60% failed the lead standards, with some exceeding legal limits by 500%.
80% failed on organics, including cancer-causing chemicals, with the worst offender testing 600% over the allowable threshold.
“We estimate that 35 million of these units have been sold in the U.S. over the last five years,” said Bores. “That’s 7 million per year—likely installed in homes where families think they’re drinking safe water.”
But the danger doesn’t stop at the kitchen sink.
Fortune Brands also tested counterfeit Moen shower valves, sold under fake brand names but advertised with phrases like “Works with Moen” or “Replaces Moen,” often using Moen’s actual SKUs and product images. All six units failed critical scalding and temperature shock safety tests—one by 750%.
To put that in perspective: the average shower is between 100–105°F. A failure of that magnitude could spike water temperature by 25–30°F, putting users—especially children and seniors—at serious risk for burns or cold shock.
This isn’t just consumer deception—it’s a public health crisis. And it’s deeply personal for Bores. “When we saw what was happening, I knew we couldn’t wait for regulators to act. We had to do something,” he said. “We’re talking about lead. About carcinogens. About knockoff products that look legit but are putting people at real risk.”
Moen has now published all of its test results online, and even testified before Congress to push for regulatory reform. Bores called on lawmakers to strengthen IP protections, close e-commerce loopholes, and protect the integrity of third-party certifications like NSF and WaterSense—which, disturbingly, are also being faked on these counterfeit products.
To be clear: this isn’t about protectionism or branding. Moen and other companies in the space are advocating for basic safety and accountability. “These counterfeiters are using safety certification logos they don’t have, on products that would never pass,” Bores explained. “It’s criminal—and consumers have no idea.”
What can you do to protect yourself and your homebuyers against these dangerous, fraudulent products?
Buy from brands you trust—and retailers you trust. Whether you’re a homeowner or a building pro, avoid too-good-to-be-true deals from unknown brands or sketchy third-party sellers.
Look for verified certifications. And if you’re unsure, visit trusted resources like IAPMO, NSF, or reputable manufacturers’ websites for verified testing results and product lists.
Build and specify with safety in mind. With 85% of builders now specifying products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), according to COGNITION Smart Data, the shift toward transparency is well underway. We must hold every product—not just the energy-efficient ones—to the same standards of trust and accountability.
Health and safety should be baseline requirements in our homes, not upgrade benefits. As a nation, we’ve come too far in our journey toward smarter, healthier, more resilient homes to turn a blind eye now.
As Bores put it, “It's sad that we’ve gotten to the point where my best advice is ‘buy from a brand and a retailer you trust.’ But that’s where we are. And it’s on all of us to raise awareness and demand better.”
Buyer beware isn’t just a warning anymore—it’s a wake-up call.
Want to learn more about zero carbon building? Enroll in Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Academy, which has robust courses on net zero carbon building, green building fundamentals, green product essentials and green building program like ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, WaterSense, and HERS ratings.
And, be sure to check out the COGNITION Carbon Offsets Marketplace if you’re interested in purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate emissions from your products, projects or lifestyle.
As cofounder and CEO of Green Builder Media, Sara is a visionary thought leader and passionate advocate for sustainability. A former venture capitalist, she has participated in the life cycle (from funding to exit) of over 20 companies, with an emphasis on combining sustainability and profitability. She lives in Lake City, Colo., with her husband, where she is an avid long-distance runner, snowboarder, and Crossfit trainer. She is also on the Board of Directors at Dvele, runs the Rural Segment for Energize Colorado, and is a former County Commissioner.
Buyer Beware: Are Your Faucets Toxic?
Counterfeit and untested faucets are flooding the U.S. market, putting homeowners at serious risk.
We live in a world where homeowners increasingly care about what goes into their homes—from carbon emissions to embodied energy, from water conservation to indoor air quality. But what about what’s coming out of their faucets?
In a shocking discovery, Moen and its parent company, Fortune Brands Innovations, uncovered that some of the top-selling, no-name imported faucets sold online in the U.S. are leaching dangerous levels of lead and carcinogens into household water supplies.
Aaron Bores, Executive Vice President at Fortune Brands, described the moment when the company’s internal analysis turned into a mission. “We bought some of these off-brand faucets for teardown analysis,” he told me in a recent interview. “And what we found made us highly suspicious that these products were exposing consumers to real health and safety risks.”
Working with IAPMO, the globally respected independent testing lab, Fortune Brands initiated a third-party study of 19 of the most popular unbranded faucets—often sold through e-commerce platforms at unrealistically low prices. The results were alarming.
“We estimate that 35 million of these units have been sold in the U.S. over the last five years,” said Bores. “That’s 7 million per year—likely installed in homes where families think they’re drinking safe water.”
But the danger doesn’t stop at the kitchen sink.
Fortune Brands also tested counterfeit Moen shower valves, sold under fake brand names but advertised with phrases like “Works with Moen” or “Replaces Moen,” often using Moen’s actual SKUs and product images. All six units failed critical scalding and temperature shock safety tests—one by 750%.
To put that in perspective: the average shower is between 100–105°F. A failure of that magnitude could spike water temperature by 25–30°F, putting users—especially children and seniors—at serious risk for burns or cold shock.
This isn’t just consumer deception—it’s a public health crisis. And it’s deeply personal for Bores. “When we saw what was happening, I knew we couldn’t wait for regulators to act. We had to do something,” he said. “We’re talking about lead. About carcinogens. About knockoff products that look legit but are putting people at real risk.”
Moen has now published all of its test results online, and even testified before Congress to push for regulatory reform. Bores called on lawmakers to strengthen IP protections, close e-commerce loopholes, and protect the integrity of third-party certifications like NSF and WaterSense—which, disturbingly, are also being faked on these counterfeit products.
To be clear: this isn’t about protectionism or branding. Moen and other companies in the space are advocating for basic safety and accountability. “These counterfeiters are using safety certification logos they don’t have, on products that would never pass,” Bores explained. “It’s criminal—and consumers have no idea.”
What can you do to protect yourself and your homebuyers against these dangerous, fraudulent products?
Health and safety should be baseline requirements in our homes, not upgrade benefits. As a nation, we’ve come too far in our journey toward smarter, healthier, more resilient homes to turn a blind eye now.
As Bores put it, “It's sad that we’ve gotten to the point where my best advice is ‘buy from a brand and a retailer you trust.’ But that’s where we are. And it’s on all of us to raise awareness and demand better.”
Buyer beware isn’t just a warning anymore—it’s a wake-up call.
Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsors: Whirlpool Corporation. Whirlpool Corporation takes sustainability seriously, in both their products and their operations. Learn more about building and buying homes that are more affordable and less resource intensive.
Want to learn more about zero carbon building? Enroll in Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Academy, which has robust courses on net zero carbon building, green building fundamentals, green product essentials and green building program like ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, WaterSense, and HERS ratings.
And, be sure to check out the COGNITION Carbon Offsets Marketplace if you’re interested in purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate emissions from your products, projects or lifestyle.
By Sara Gutterman
As cofounder and CEO of Green Builder Media, Sara is a visionary thought leader and passionate advocate for sustainability. A former venture capitalist, she has participated in the life cycle (from funding to exit) of over 20 companies, with an emphasis on combining sustainability and profitability. She lives in Lake City, Colo., with her husband, where she is an avid long-distance runner, snowboarder, and Crossfit trainer. She is also on the Board of Directors at Dvele, runs the Rural Segment for Energize Colorado, and is a former County Commissioner.Also Read