Gimili Faucets Review & Rating Updated: January 25, 2023

Imported

China

Wenzhou Pawo Furniture Co., Ltd.

No. 1, Northeast Dai Road

Haicheng Street

Wenzhou City

Zhejiang 325055 China

trading as

Gimili Sanitary Ware

gimili.Sanitary.Ware@outlook.com

Rating

Business Type

For more information on the five faucet company business types, see Faucet Companies

Product Range

Kitchen & Prep Faucets

Certifications

Brands

Gimili

Street Price

$37-$298

Warranty Score

Cartridge

None

Finishes

None

Mechanical Parts

None

Proof of Purchase Required

N/A

Transferable

N/A

Meets U.S. Warranty
Law Requirements

N/A

This company claims to offer a two-year warranty, but could not produce a written wrranty document support its claim. Under U.S. law, a valid consumer product warranty must be in writing.

Learn more about faucet warranties.

This Company In Brief

Gimili is a brand name under which Wen­zhou Pawo Fur­ni­ture Co. sells uncertified contraband fau­cets through online retail sites that host third-party sellers.

The kitchen and prep fau­cets are of average quality and of no particular design distinction. The styles are typical of Chin­ese fau­cets that can be found in the inventories of dozens of Chin­ese fau­cet companies.

Black Market Faucets: These faucets are not legal for sale in the U.S. or for installation in a drinking water system in the U.S. or Canada. For more information on contraband fau­cets and how to avoid these potentially dangerous products, please visit Illegal and Black Market Faucets in North Amer­ica.

Wen­zhou Pawo Furn­i­ture Co. is a trading company that sells Gim­ili^® brand faucets in North America as Gimili Sanitary Ware.

Gimili is a trademark registered in the U.S. in 2017. In addition to fau­cets, the registration covers

"Electric lamps; Electric lights for Christmas trees; Faucets; Headlights for automobiles; Incandescent lamps; Light bulbs; Light bulbs, electric; Mixer taps for water pipes; Plumbing fixtures, namely, shower mixers; Plumbing fixtures, namely, shower sprayers; Spigots; Taps; Washers for water taps; Air valves for steam heating installations; Flexible pipes being parts of bath plumbing installations; Hot water heating installations; Thermostatic valves as parts of heating installations."

Gimili's Amazon inventory is limited to fewer than a dozen kitchen faucets, most of which feature touchless operation. Its catalog seems larger that it is because every finish is listed separately.

It also sells on Wayfair and the Can­a­di­an Walmart.

The company identifies itself as a specialist in touchless faucets.

North American Facilities

Pawo Furn­i­ture has no physical presence in the U.S. or Can­a­da. All Gimili sales transactions are handled in North America by hosting websites.

Amazon in particular takes care of inventory, warehousing, sales, payment processing, and delivery. Pawo Furn­i­ture's sole role in the process is to ship fau­cets to Am­a­zon warehouses from time to time, ensuring that Am­a­zon does not run out of inventory.

The company attempts to handle post-sale matters from China by email. These include warranty claims and purchases of replacement parts. The attempt, however, is not very successful. (See more below)

The fau­cets are constructed conventionally. The body and spout of the fau­cets, as well as being decorative, are the components that channel water within the fau­cet.

Construction & Materials

How Common are Gimili Faucet Designs?

photo: Wen­zhou Pawo Furn­i­ture Co., Ltd.

This Gimily GM1019N commercial-style spring fau­cet is a design available under different brand names from dozens of fau­cet sellers in the U.S. and Can­ada.

The design is at least 35 years old and produced by at almost every Chin­ese manufacturer that makes spring-style kitchen fau­cets.

They are not exactly the same from manufacturer to manufacturer. There are slight differences in dimensions and in the number of spring coils.

But, these are all minor variations on a basic kitchen faucet design introduced by in the 1980s.

to Enlarge

The primary material from which the fau­cets are made is brass and stainless steel.

Brass

Traditional (alpha) brass is a blend of copper and zinc with a small amount of lead (1.5% - 3.5%) added to make the material more malleable, less brittle, and easier to fabricate. Brass is the preferred material for fau­cets for two reasons:

• Brass is strong but easy to work with. It casts, forges, and machines with relative ease.

• Brass is naturally anti-microbial. The copper in brass kills microbes including bacteria, retarding the build-up of potentially hazardous germs inside a fau­cet.

But, brass has one serious drawback: it may contain lead used to make the alloy more malleable so that it casts and machines more easily.

Lead, however, is now all but banned in North America for use in any drinking water component due to its toxicity to humans, particularly children.

According to the En­vir­on­ment­al Prot­ec­tion Agen­cy (EPA), lead, even in small amounts, causes slowed growth, learning disorders, hearing loss, anemia, hyperactivity, and behavior issues.

To comply with the restrictions on lead, today's fau­cet brass replaces lead with other additives to reduce brittleness without add­ing toxicity. The most common is bismuth.

Bismuth is similar to lead – right next to lead on the periodic table of elements – but it is not harmful to humans.

It is, however, very expensive. It is 300 times rarer than lead, even rarer than silver, which is the reason that bismuth-brass alloys are much more expensive than alpha brass.

In China, there is no lead limit in drinking water, and fau­cets made in China for the domestic market often contain large amounts of lead.

To reduce costs, the temptation, especially among Chin­ese companies selling low-cost fau­cets, is to sell those lead-content fau­cets here.

Whenever we see brass fau­cets made in China that have not been certified lead-free, we suspect leaded brass is being used. The fau­cets have not been certified because the sellers know they will not pass lead-free testing.

Stainless Steel

The steel is 304 alloy stainless that includes 10% chrom­ium and a touch of nick­el. The nickel gives the steel a crystalline structure which increases its strength. The chromium helps the steel resist corrosion.

Stainless 304, also known as "food-grade" stainless, is by far the most common alloy used to make kitchen utensils, silverware, cookware, and fau­cets.

Steel is much harder than brass. It can be made in thinner profiles that use less material and still have more than adequate strength.

Zinc & Zinc/Aluminum Alloys

One way of reducing the material cost of a fau­cet is to replace expensive lead-free brass and stainless steel with lower-cost materials where practical.

The most frequent substitute is zinc or a zinc-aluminum (ZA) alloy. One of the most common is called , a composition containing 4% aluminum.

ZAMAK is not as strong as brass and does not resist water pressure as well as brass. But, its use in non-pressurized parts of a brass fau­cet such as handles, base and wall plates, and is common even among manufacturers of luxury fau­cets.

From examination of the fau­cets, we determined that Gim­ili faucets include a zinc alloy, probably ZAMAK, for the non-pressurized parts of its fau­cets. Zinc does no harm when used in these components, and may save consumers a few dollars on the price of the fau­cet.

Plastics

Plastic is the other commonly used substitute material. It may be safely used in incidental parts like base plates and has been largely trouble-free in aerators and as casings for ceramic cartridges but otherwise, its use is suspect especially if under water pressure.

Gimili kitchen fau­cet spray heads are plastic and the use of plastic for spray heads (called "wands" in the fau­cet industry) is one of the suspect uses of the material.

Un­fort­un­ate­ly, plastic wands have become the standard for many manufacturers, including some that sell upscale fau­cets such as

Manufacturers give three reasons for their use of plastic:

• Plastic does not get uncomfortably hot in use like metal wands;

• Plastic is not as heavy and is more comfortable to hold for long periods of time; and

• Plastic is a lot cheaper than brass – even cheaper than zinc.

However, plastic wands also fail much more often than metal wands. And although engineers have made significant improvements to their reliability over the past decade, the problem has not been entirely solved.

Better wands are made of metal, insulated against excessive heat transmittal.

Gimili Faucet Design & Styling

Gimili kitchen faucets are all contemporary single-handle styles. The company does not sell fau­cets in traditional styles or any two-handle kitchen fau­cets.

The fau­cets are conservative – fairly common Chin­ese styles, attractive enough but exhibiting no particular design distinction. Similar designs can be found in the inventories of most Chin­ese fau­cet manufacturers.

The goal of Chin­ese fau­cet manufacturers is to sell as many fau­cets as possible, which means keeping their designs well within the mainstream to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible.

Sure Cure for the Too-Hot Spray Head

Nothing in a kitchen needs to be rinsed in scalding hot water. Keep the water temperature somewhat more moderate to avoid the too-hot spray head. Simple, eh?

Set your hot water at 125° F (52° C) to prevent scalding. It's probably set at 140° F (60° C) – the factory setting – which is dangerously hot.

Any setting below 120°, however, risks the buildup of bacteria in your hot water tank, including the legionella bacillus that causes Le­gionn­aire's Dis­ease, something you definitely do not want in your household water.

Although some Chin­ese manufacturers have begun producing original designs, some of which have won awards in international design competitions, Pawo Furniture does not source its fau­cets from one of those companies.

Designs are typically copied from Eur­ope and North Amer­ica.

A style that sells well in these major markets will often be imitated by Asian factories (with minor changes to avoid patent infringement). The lag time is usually 3 to 5 years, so by the time a design appears in a Chin­ese fau­cet, it is no longer new.

Gimili's fau­cet designs fit this pattern. They are pleasant and often smartly styled, but most are over a decade old and some are well past voting age.

Gimili Faucet Components

The critical components in Gim­ili fau­cets are ceramic valve cartridges and aerators.

Valve Cartridges

We inspected several Gim­ili valve cartridges and determined that they are modern ceramic valves in of a type that is made by any number of Chin­ese manufacturers.

We were not able to identify the sources of the company's cartridges. They had no maker marks, and without marks, it is almost impossible to determine which of over a hundred Chinese technical ceremic companies made them.

Gimili claims that its valve cartridges have passed the standard North American life-cycle stress test.

This test requires operating the cartridge through 500,000 cycles under 60 psi of water pressure without a single failure. At one cycle per second, the test takes six 24-hour days to complete.

If indeed the cartridge has passed this test, it is a fairly robust cartridge that should give years of leak-free service.

But, since Gim­ili does not identify its cartridges and its fau­cets are not certified, we have no way to verify its claim.

Aerators

There are dozens of companies that manufacture aerators and spray-head assembles. Most are a least adequate. But some, like those from the Swiss company, Neoperl^®, are little marvels of precision engineering.

Faucet used to be simple devices that merely added a little air to soften the water stream so it would not splash out of the sink.

Today, however, they are also used to limit water volume to the lower flows required by federal and state water conservation laws, and in some cases, to prevent back-flow that can result in the contamination of household drinking water.

It is important, therefore, that this little device, often smaller than a dime, be the best available.

Unfortunately, Gim­ili does not identify the source of the aerators used in its fau­cets. We took several apart to see if the devices had any manufacturer identification, but they did not. We do know, however, from the design and configuration of the aerators, that they are not one of the better-known brands.

Gimili Faucet Finishes

We had to survey the Gim­ili fau­cets currently offered for sale to identify the finishes in which the fau­cets are available. We ended up with just three: Brushed Nickel, Brushed Gold, and Matte Black.

The company offers some Gimili faucets in what are called in which a base finish is paired with an accent finish to create novel visual effects.

Gimili does not identify the processes used to create its finishes, but from inspection, we believe Brushed Nickel is electroplated. Brushed Gold is a physical vapor deposition (PVD) finish, and Matte Black is probably a powder coating (but it could also be a PVD finish).

Electroplating

involves immersing the fau­cet and the metal to be used as plating in an acid bath, then applying an electrical charge to both objects so metallic ions are drawn from the plating metal to the fau­cet.

Gimili's finishes are multi-layer coatings. One or more undercoats are applied and then two or more coats of the finish metal.

The process is potentially hazardous to the operator and the environment. It involves toxic and corrosive chemicals that must be disposed of safely. No other coating technology even comes close to the dangers involved in electroplating.

The top coat may be polished or brushed. Chrome, a relatively hard metal, is usually polished to a high shine. Nickel, a softer metal, is usually brushed to help hide the inevitable minor scratches.

PVD Coatings

or PVD is one of the latest space-age fau­cet finishing technology, rapidly replacing electroplating as the finish of choice.

Although the technology was discovered in the 19th century, it was not used in industry until the 1950s and then only rarely due to its great expense. Its first use was in nuclear reactors. Today,the technology is everywhere and the machinery required is getting smaller, faster, and cheaper all the time.

The process itself is almost out of a Star Wars movie.

Load a chamber with unfinished fau­cet components, remove all the air, and add back a carefully calculated mix of nitrogen or argon and reactive gases.

Add a rod of the metal to be used for the coating. Heat that rod to a temperature so high that the metal dissolves into individual atoms. The atoms mix with the various reactive gases to get the color and finish effects you want and are then deposited in a very thin layer – 2 to 5 microns – on the fau­cets.

Despite being just microns thick, a PVD coating is extremely dense and, in consequence, very hard and durable. By some estimates, it is up to 20 times more scratch-resistant than electroplated chrome.

From long experience, we know that PVD is nearly impossible to accidentally scratch or mar, never fades or changes color, and resists all forms of soiling.

It can usually be maintained with just an occasional wipe from a damp cloth to remove water spots. (And some PVD finishes are given a final chemical coating that resists water spots, so even the damp wipe is made largely unnecessary. A dry buff will do.)

Powder Coatings

is usually described as semi-durable, not as robust as electroplated or PVD finishes, a little more durable than the finish on your car, and requiring more care to maintain a like-new appearance.

It is essentially a dry paint in powder form applied using a special low-velocity spray gun that disperses the powder while giving it a positive electrical charge. The particles are drawn to the item to be finished which has been given a negative charge.

Once the powder is applied, the item being coated is baked in an oven which melts and bonds the powder and changes the structure of the coating into long, cross-linked molecular chains.

These chains are what give the coating its durability, reducing the risk of scratches, chipping, abrasions, corrosion, fading, and other wear issues.

Hydrophobic & Oleophobic Coatings

According to Gim­ili, some faucets are available with what are known as – formulated at the molecular level to shed water. Because water does not stock, it does not dry on the faucet leaving waterspots.

The coatings are also . They repel oil such as the oil on your fingers which makes them fingerprint-resistant.

Typically these coatings are very thin, as thin as 2-4 , so thin that they do not obscure the finish under the coating or change its appearance.

Faucets available hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings are identified in the fau­cet's Amazon listing.

We have seen no data on the durability of the coatings. Gimili undoubtedly has such data but the company has not seen fit to make it public.

As a general rule, however, hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings are not very robust. Harsh cleaners can damage or even remove the coating.

Gimili Touchless Faucets

Most Gimili kitchen faucets are available with touchless technology.

Touchless technology for faucets has been around for decades. Its original home was in commercial lavatories where the technology was perfected over the years.

It uses an electronic sensor that activates devices that turn the water on or off.

Gimili and sellers of other touchless systems claim that the advantage of touchless is that it helps prevent the spread of germs.

The touchless technology on Gimili fau­cets works well. The only problem we found was that it can be inadvertently activated in the ordinary course of working in a kitchen or washing up. Triggering the fau­cet by opening a nearby cabinet door or flapping a dish towel is a little disconcerting.

We are somewhat skeptical of electronic technology of all kinds in a residential sink faucet.

It seems to us to be rather gimmicky – a solution in search of a problem. Yes, it's rad, cool, awesome, and all the other usual pubescent hyperboles but is it needed?

At this point in their evolution, touchless faucets do nothing more than turn the water on and off. They do not regulate flow rate or water temperature. So they are not a true hands-free operation.

The electronics are still rather delicate, not nearly robust enough for use in a product that is intended to last a lifetime. Gimili does not guarantee its electronics, but even those companies that do seldom warranty electronics for longer than five years.

Gimili Warranty

Gimili claims to offer a two-year warranty on its fau­cets but the company has so far been unable to produce a copy of the warranty document.

U.S. law requires a consumer product warranty to be in writing stating the terms of the warranty in a "clear and simple statement." Guarantee promises not in writing, no matter how compelling or forcefully stated, are not warranties.

Unless and until the company posts its warranty online in conjunction with its faucet listing, the company has no warranty on its faucets.

Gimili Customer Service

Gimili has no presence in North America and that lack of presence includes the absence of a North American-based customer service. Customer service for Gim­ili products is through emails to China.

You can't just call a toll-free number and get something done. You have to email, then wait for a response.

Due at least in part to the time difference (China is between 13-16 hours ahead of the U.S.), it typically takes a minimum of 6-9 hours to get a reply, and often as long as 48 hours.

If your Gim­ili fau­cet is malfunctioning and you need replacement parts, that is far too long.

There is also the language barrier.

Gim­ili customer agents probably speak far better English than you do Mandarin, but English is not their first language, so communication can be slow and difficult with lots of questions and more questions, and explanation after explanation until some sort of understanding is achieved.

We rate the company's customer support as unsatisfactory.

Gimili Storefront

Gimili does not have an English-language website. Its Amazon storefront is as close as it comes.

Many of the specifications important to an informed fau­cet buying decision are missing from the company's Amazon listings. Among the most critical are:

• Faucet Valve:

  No information is provided about a fau­cet's valve other than the fact that it is a ceramic cartridge. But, in addition to this basic specification, the buyer needs to know the name of the cartridge manufacturer. There are good ceramic cartridges and not-so-good ceramic cartridges. To make an informed buying decision the buyer needs to know the manufacturer. Otherwise, there is no way to judge the quality of the cartridge.

• Type of Finish:

  The type of finish is not disclosed. The type of finish (electroplated, powder coating, PVD, etc.) is important to the long-term durability of the finish and the type and amount of care and maintenance required.

• If the top (wear) coat of the fau­cet finish is a powder coat, a hydroscopic coating, or anything other than a non-reactive metal, long-term wearability is substantially reduced.

• Warranty:

  The claimed Gim­ili two-year warranty is nowhere to be found.

• U.S. law requires a consumer product warranty be made available to the buyer prior to the sale of the product.

• For fau­cets sold only online, this means the warranty must be on the seller's website, and a conspicuous link to the warranty provided from every place on the internet the fau­cet is sold. Gim­ili does not comply with either requirement.

Gimili Testing & Certification

Comparable Faucets

Faucets made in China comparable to Gim­ili in quality with the same or a better warranty, but not necessarily comparable for design or price, include

Conclusions

There is absolutely no reason to buy Gim­ili fau­cets. They are much too risky for use in a home kitchen or bath.

1. Price is not enough. The prices on Gim­ili fau­cets make them attractive, but, as the list above demonstrates, a great many other companies sell good quality Chin­ese-made fau­cets for about the same price that are fully certified, legal to use in a drinking water system, and backed by a much stronger warranty. Many are guaranteed for the lifetime of the buyer.

2. They have not been certified so the presence of toxic substances like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury in the fau­cet has not been excluded. Because these are Chin­ese-made products, lead is a substantial risk due to the lack of lead regulation in China.

3. Gimili has no written warranty on the fau­cets, suggesting that even the seller does not have enough confidence in their long-term durability to provide an enforceable warranty.

4. The fau­cets cannot be legally installed in a drinking water system anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. A plumber probably will not install one for you, and if you do it yourself you risk, at the very least, having to replace the fau­cet with a legal product and the possibility in some jurisdictions of a fine and a little jail time.

We are continuing to research the company. If you have experience with Gim­ili fau­cets, good, bad, or indifferent, we would like to hear about it, so please contact us or post a comment below.