Types of water taps and their features
Water taps are one of the types of valves that allow you to regulate the flow of water, block its flow, change the direction of flow, etc. Below we take a closer look at what kind of water taps are and for what purposes they are used.
Kinds
Conventionally, all types of valves can be divided into two types:
- Installed between pipes.
- Employees end of the pipeline.
Below we take a closer look at the devices of each type.
Passable
Pass-through devices are not a source of water consumption, unlike taps that we use, for example, in sinks and sinks. Their task is to block the flow of water in the pipeline, for example, to perform repairs or replace plumbing, as well as to change the direction of flow - in this case, a triple tap for water (three-way) is used.
Depending on the device of the locking mechanism, valves through passage are divided into several types:
Valve | In the brass or copper case a locking mechanism is installed, which is an axle box. The latter are of two types:
|
Ball | The locking mechanism is made in the form of a ball with a through hole equal to the internal diameter of the pipes. When the ball is turned by a hole perpendicular to the body, the passage closes. The advantage of this valve is reliability and durability. However, it should be borne in mind that the ball valve is designed to shut off the water, i.e. to regulate the flow with it is impossible. It should be noted that recently there appeared a similar valves with electric actuators, designed to work in automatic systems for blocking the flow. For example, an automatic water tap prevents flooding in the apartment. |
Cork | The principle of the device of this valves is quite simple - the passage is blocked by a rubber cone plug, which is controlled by a worm rod. As a rule, these valves are used in heating systems, besides, a cork valve is often used to drain water from various containers. |
Note! The considered valves should be installed at the entrance of the water supply to the apartment, as well as in front of each sanitary fixture. It is best to use ball valves for water for these purposes.
Cranes - sources of water consumption
These types of water taps provide a flow outlet from the pipeline to the outside through the spout. There are many differences in this type of device.
First of all, products can be divided by the number of connections that are connected to them, by:
- Single for cold water.
- Mixers - in this case not only cold, but also hot water is connected to the device. They allow not only to simultaneously open cold and hot water, but also individually regulate its flow to obtain the optimum temperature of the jet.
Another important difference is the design of the locking mechanism and the control of the water supply.
According to this parameter, the products are divided into:
- Valve - the design of the locking mechanism is the same as that of the passage cranes. Such devices are considered classic. It should be noted that the valve mixers are conveniently tuned to obtain the optimum jet temperature.
- Single lever - as it is not difficult to guess from the name, the device is controlled with one lever. The locking mechanism of these devices is a cartridge with ceramic or aluminum discs. Unlike the valve, the cartridge is more durable, however, it is sensitive to impurities, so the instructions for using such mixers require the installation of a coarse filter.
- Sensory - these devices have a photocell that triggers the movement and opens the water supply. After some time, the mechanism automatically turns off. Thus, it is not even necessary to touch the device with your own hands in order to open it or close it. The only thing, in some models, you may need to pre-adjust the temperature of the jet, as well as the duration of its flow.
Not so long ago, the functions of the cranes were limited to the opening and adjustment of the water flow, as well as the mixing of the two flows.
At the present time, modern models of these devices have acquired some additional features, such as:
- Protection against burns - the mixer automatically limits the maximum water temperature.
- Limit the minimum temperature of the jet.
- Auto power off.
- An additional spout is essentially a separate tap for clean water.
- Shower - this unit is equipped with faucets for the bathroom. In addition, there are faucets with a soft spout for the kitchen, which are convenient for washing vegetables and fruits.
Another important distinction of the products in question is the length and height of the spout. The choice of this parameter depends on the purpose of the mixer.
For example, they often install one mixer for a bathroom and a nearby sink. If the bowl sink or washbasin is deep, then you can use a high spout, which will allow you to recruit large volume containers.
Another important difference between cranes is the material from which they are made. On this depends on the durability of the product and its price.
Most often, the following materials are used for their manufacture:
- Brass and bronze - are the best option, since these materials are durable, do not corrode, and also the sediment practically does not settle on them. Therefore, bronze and brass products are the most durable.
- Stainless steel - devices of this material are the most popular, as stainless steel is cheaper and at the same time also resistant to corrosion. Its only drawback is that the sediment is stronger on it.
- Silumin is not durable, from which, as a rule, cheap Chinese faucets are made. Silumin quickly loses its original attractiveness and becomes fragile.
- Plastic is a cheap material, but not very durable. Plastic water taps are great for giving, for example, if the sink is located on the street.
Tip! Externally, when buying a product it is difficult to determine the material from which the mixer is made. Therefore, you should pay attention to its weight. Quality devices are always heavy.
Here, perhaps, all the types of faucets for water, which are used at present.
Conclusion
We reviewed all existing types of faucets. As we see, different types of devices can be used for different purposes. However, even mixers of the same type can have a lot of differences that you should pay attention to when buying a product.
From the video in this article, you can learn some additional information on this topic.