Types of sink faucets: approaches to the classification of

Despite the fact that the technical characteristics of the mixer for the sink are the priority when choosing, it is worth paying attention not only to them, but also to the configuration of the product, as well as the features of its design. Only by selecting these parameters, we can find a device that will be really convenient to use.

Below we describe the main points of the classification of sanitary faucets, and give recommendations on the selection of equipment for different conditions.

Mixer Types

By configuration

The first characteristic that is worth paying attention to is the type of installation of the crane.

Here you can choose from three options:

• Wall models are installed where hidden pipelines are laid in the thickness of the wall or partitions with conclusions at a suitable level.. As a rule, wall-mounted faucets are equipped with bathrooms, but you can still find such a design in the kitchen.
  

• Products installed on a horizontal surface (pedestal, countertop or sink itself) are usually mounted so that the pipeline will be brought to them from below behind the piece of furniture. Depending on the purpose, they can be both compact and large enough: a tall sink faucet is perfect, for example, for washing dishes.

• Floor sink mixer - somewhat exotic. This model is most often installed in bathrooms in a classic style. The faucet and shower hose are placed on two cylindrical supports, inside of which flexible water hoses for the mixer are laid.

Note! The price of floor models is very high, as almost all of them belong to the premium segment.

By way of management and placement of spout

Next we need to decide how we will manage the operation of our crane:

• The most reliable and durable are two-valve models, in which different flywheels are responsible for supplying hot and cold water. Such products rarely fail, but using them is not so convenient: you have to use both hands to select the temperature.

• More comfortable to use, but at the same time the so-called lever models are more capricious. They are equipped with one handle, placed in the upper part of the mixer, and moving in two planes. Thanks to this design, it is possible to simultaneously control both the pressure and the temperature of the water.
• Contactless sink mixers have appeared relatively recently, but have become very popular. The operation of the product is controlled by the touch panel, which reads the movements of our hands.

• Designs with a built-in thermostat are also gradually appearing in our homes and apartments. When we set up the installed thermostatic sink mixer - the electronic or mechanical controller remembers the selected head and temperature, and when the faucet is turned on, we immediately get a jet with optimal parameters.

Note! Most non-contact and thermostatic mixers are volatile: for their work, you need either a battery or a power connection.

We should also mention the position of the spout:

• Short models, such as faucets for washstands or bathtubs, are equipped with a fixed spout, which is a single whole with the entire structure. Such products are more reliable, but less convenient: the jet constantly falls into one point.
• The movable spout can be equipped with a swivel mixer for the sink and bath, and a faucet in the kitchen, allowing you to effectively wash the dishes. The disadvantage of such structures is precisely the connection unit of the mixer-outflow of the mixer with the body: in order to avoid leakages, it is necessary to inspect it periodically and, if necessary, change the gaskets.

• In addition, a high mixer for a table-top sink in the kitchen can be equipped with a retractable hose, which greatly facilitates all the necessary manipulations. When the valve is not in use, the hose automatically retracts under the tabletop by the action of an elastic element or a simple weight.

On the device of the locking mechanism

Finally, you should pay attention to what details directly regulate the flow of water:

• Faucets with classical valves are usually equipped with boxes. The axle box is a threaded cylinder, on which either a rubber gasket is installed or a mechanism of two ceramic plates is fixed. The axle boxes with gaskets are easier to repair with their own hands, but the ceramic ones last much longer and less often need to be serviced.

• Inside the crane of the lever model can be placed either a special cartridge or a ball valve. Cartridges are distinguished by a more precise flow control, but they are practically beyond repair. Ball mixers less accurately control the temperature and pressure, but it is completely subject to repair.

Separately, it is worthwhile to dwell on the flow switch from the shower hose to the spout, with which almost all bathroom faucets are completed.

It can be made in the form of:

• Eccentric.
• Ball valve.
• Special button.
• Cartridge.

The fundamental difference between these solutions will be important only to those who plan to carry out repairs on their own. The rest of the manual recommends that you choose the model that you think is more convenient to use.

According to the material

Finally, pay attention to what the faucet is made of.

• Cheap sink mixers are made from silumin, an aluminum-based material with added silicon. Such products are distinguished by an affordable price and low weight, but do not withstand loads. That is why it is better to refuse such a purchase: in the long run, you will spend much more money on repairs and replacement parts.

• Most of the models on the market are made of stainless steel with nickel or chrome plating. Such cranes are rather strong and wear-resistant, but steel in some cases is exposed to corrosion. That is why you need to closely monitor the condition of the surface of the crane and periodically conduct an internal inspection.

• Golden sink faucets are usually made from polished brass or bronze, sometimes with copper or nickel coating. These alloys are chemically inert, because the tap of them will not only be reliable, but also resistant to rust.

Note! Sometimes copper or brass coating is applied on a steel or even silumin base. That is why you should look at the suspiciously cheap "copper" taps. The weight of the device is a good quality marker - lightweight mixers are durable and extremely rare.

Recommendations for the selection of the mixer for different rooms

Now, when you in general represent all the variety of valves, you can make your own choice.

But nevertheless it is worth listening to some recommendations:

• In the kitchen, you can install a high mixer for a counter sink or a model with a retractable hose. A long spout will greatly facilitate the process of washing dishes, especially large pots and pans.
• For the bathroom, the best choice would be to install a wall model with a movable spout, which can be deployed in the sink and in the bath itself.
• If the sink is located at a considerable distance from the bath, then it is worthwhile to install a separate faucet mounted on the upper plane of the pedestal. Here the thermostat will be quite appropriate: we can always wash our hands with pleasant warm water.

• Washstand in the toilet almost always equip short faucets. A good solution would be to install a contactless model with a sensor: this way you can wash your hands without touching the faucet.

Conclusion

Only a properly selected sink faucet with a shower, a kitchen faucet or a tap for a wash-hand basin will be comfortable to use and will last for a long time. That is why before buying it is necessary to analyze the entire range, focusing on the recommendations set out in the text, as well as on the video in this article.