Bathroom Sink Faucets

The interior decoration of any bathroom is completed by the installation of a basin mixer. This plumbing device should not only be beautiful, harmoniously combined with the overall style of the room, but also have certain operational properties. Since faucets are presented in the plumbing market with a chic assortment, their choice must be treated with special responsibility, giving preference to well-tested brands, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid malfunctions and flooding of neighbors.

The faucet for the sink in the bathroom is a plumbing fixture, due to which the water supply is adjusted to the required temperature. In addition to their main purpose, faucets have the ability to direct flows to a shower head or spout. The first washbasin tap was invented by Lord Kelvin at the end of the 19th century., many years have passed since then and its design has become much more advanced.

Bathroom faucets differ from ordinary taps in that they are equipped with a function for adjusting the water temperature, this is their main feature. The design of such cranes consists of fastening screws, stuffing box sleeve, cover and spindle. In addition, the manufacturer completes the product with a handle, stuffing box with a saddle, a retaining nut, gaskets and nose.

When purchasing a mixer, you should pay attention to various technical factors, especially with regard to the mounting methods (mortise, built-in) and the nature of the pipe layout (horizontal, vertical). The wall-mounted faucet is attached directly to the wall, and the mortise is installed in a special hole on the sink. A huge role is played by the size and shape of the device. A tall and large faucet looks good in the interior of spacious bathrooms, for small rooms it is best to choose compact models with a movable spout.

Manufacturers most often produce valve, single lever, touch taps and thermostatic mixers. Each of the above species has both pros and cons.

• One-lever (one-armed) models are the most common because they are affordable, easy to use and durable. As for the shortcomings, it is worth noting the complicated repair of the internal mechanism.

• Valve taps considered the most fashionable, as they fit perfectly into the modern design of the bathrooms. In addition, they can be used for any pressure of water, saving its consumption. The only thing that such mixers need to constantly replace the elastic gaskets, as well as models with a ceramic valve are not suitable for supplying hard water.

• Thermostatic Mixers appeared on the market quite recently, but have already managed to recommend themselves well with high operational qualities. They differ from the classic options in an unusual design. The design consists of two handles, one of which is responsible for controlling the pressure of the water jet, and the second for the desired temperature. In addition, the taps have a built-in thermostat. Advantages of devices - water supply does not depend on the pressure in the overall system, stylish appearance, safe operation. Disadvantages - high price, if there is no flow in one of the pipelines, the valve stops working completely.

• Special attention also deserves touch mixer, which is a novelty of technology. Unlike his usual "brothers", he does not have levers and valves in the design, and his design is made in the style of minimalism. The operation of contactless cranes is carried out due to the presence in the design of an infrared sensor, which instantly responds to movement. To power the sensor, you need power. The advantages of this type of cranes are reliability and safety in operation. Disadvantages - possible difficulties with the collection of a large volume of water, frequent changes in the temperature of the liquid and a rather high cost.

The mixer installed for the washbasin in the bathroom does not have a too long spout, which distinguishes it from the kitchen types, so its pipes are usually produced with a round cross-section. There are also triangular, rectangular and oval. In addition, manufacturers also manufacture plumbing fixtures with G-, C-, S-, R- and J-shaped tubing.

Typically, plumbing fixtures are installed at the bottom of an opening located on a countertop or the sink itself. This is the most common installation method. For fastening the tap, studs are used; a flexible hose fitting is screwed to its bottom. Some models of mixers, made in the style of "antique", mounted on three holes in the wash basin. In this case, the faucet and its assembly are located at the bottom of the sink, the spout is in the upper center, and the handwheels are on the sides.

The durability of the use of mixers largely depends on the quality of the material from which they are made, so it is important to pay special attention to this indicator. For instance, many are driven by cheap silumin-powered cranes because they look beautiful and affordable, but, in addition to the aesthetic appearance, such products have no other advantages. These are economy class faucets, made in China, they serve a very short time.

Silumin is an alloy derived from aluminum and silicon. It is characterized by instability to oxygen corrosion, brittleness and lack of ductility. Therefore, silumin cranes do not withstand high pressure and require a repair that is difficult to complete a year after installation.

In addition, bath faucets made from other materials can be found on sale.

• Brass. The mixers are additionally coated with a layer of chromium, which increases their wear resistance and service life. Thanks to the brass coating, it is outwardly difficult to distinguish brass valves from silumin and steel. The only thing is that the latter have great weight.

• Copper. It is considered good material. Faucets made from it, impersonate a reddish or yellowish tint in the places of the holes for connecting to hoses and fasteners. Copper taps on top, as a rule, do not cover with chrome plating, as the noble color of copper gives the plumbing fixture a special look. Copper faucets look chic in combination with a retro-style housing.

• Bronze. This is a noble material that does not need an external coating. The bronze alloy is highly resistant to corrosion, the only thing is that its strength is low with water hammer and external mechanical damage. Bronze taps usually serve more than 10 years.

• Plastic. This is the most common material that you can often see, decorated with artificial stone and chrome. Plastic products are among the most affordable, but experts do not recommend purchasing them, although the products are on the market in a huge assortment, are not susceptible to corrosion and have low thermal conductivity.

• Ceramics. Plumbing fixtures made of this material are resistant to chemicals, reliable in operation and pleasant to the touch. In addition, ceramic taps look stylish in a modern interior. The lack of products - do not tolerate temperature extremes and physical influences.

When purchasing a faucet in the bathroom, it is also important to pay attention to its stylistic design, which should harmoniously fit into the interior of the room. For example, a two-valve crane made “antique” will look ridiculous in a design that is designed in minimalism. The ideal solution is to install a single color tap with a sink. If you need to add originality to the interior of the bathroom, then designers recommend giving preference to several unusual models of taps.

• Products of complex shapes. They are able to fill the room with interesting notes, smoothing the straightness of other elements of the decor. The most popular and practical option is a mixer combined with a heated towel rail. Some manufacturers also offer pre-made kits in the form of designer bathroom sinks with integrated taps.

• Minimalism faucets. They differ in simple forms and conciseness. Their design is convenient and easy to use. It is a handle with a rotary valve installed next to it. Color can be either white or black.

• Loft style cranes. Such options are plumbing fixtures made from natural materials. Their design lacks decor and bright colors. A smart choice are touch-type devices. They are practical and take up little space. Shiny taps also look great against the background of a rough sink made of natural stone.

• Mixers in retro style. Such decisions are considered the most colorful, because they differ in a vintage train. Most often, models are made with imitation of copper and bronze. They are equipped with artificially aged taps and curly handles. In order for such plumbing devices to fit into the general interior of the room, it needs to be equipped with furniture in an appropriate style. Black mixers look especially interesting in retro style. They will become the central element of space.

As for the color scheme, the most popular are “shiny chrome” and “polished nickel”. These shades are the favorites of many designers. “Shiny chrome” fills the room with home warmth and coziness, and “glossy nickel” gives the design a luxury.

Today, the plumbing market is represented by bath faucets from various manufacturers, but Finnish, Italian and German brands are recognized leaders. Consider the most popular models that have proven themselves to be of high quality and stylish look.

• Grohe Eurosmart New (Germany). The faucet from the German brand Grohe is equipped with an automatic "bath-shower" switch and a convenient temperature limiter, which ensures the safe use of the device. The mixer is covered with a chrome layer, which extends its life. The product is unpretentious in care, but is expensive.

• Hansgrohe Logis 71400000 (Germany). The crane is decorated in a modern style. Since the material of the product is brass, it serves for a long time. Such mixers can be used together with instantaneous water heaters. The price is affordable.

• Oras Nova 7446X (Finland). The external body of the tap is made of brass, which is characterized by corrosion resistance and low thermal conductivity. The convenient length of the spout ensures comfortable use of both the bathtub and the washbasin. Decorative reflectors are also included in the kit, allowing you to give the room a special chic.

• Jacob Delafon Elevation E18870-CP (France). This is a two-valve crane with a fixed spout, which is installed in one hole. The color of the product is “chrome”, the material of manufacture is brass. The advantage is a modern appearance that fits easily into any room design. The disadvantage is above the average price.

• Set of mixers "Sofia" (Russia). This is a set of equipment designed for two water outlets. The bathroom faucet has a spout with a circular cross section and a holder for a shower head. To change the operating mode (spout / shower), it is enough to make a turn with the help of a special switch located at the end of the case. As for the shower head, it connects to the fitting. There are no shortcomings.

Since bathroom faucets are represented on the market by a huge selection of models, it is quite difficult to make the right choice in favor of a particular product. Experts recommend purchasing cranes that simultaneously have functionality and a stylish look. In addition, it is important to consider several points before purchasing a device.

• The material of manufacture. Particular attention should be paid not only to the quality of the case, but also to clarify what the handles are covered with. Brass taps received excellent reviews. They are the most reliable in operation.
• The size and weight of the mixer. If the plumbing device is light, then its acquisition is best abandoned. The walls of such a crane may be too thin and fragile, so it will quickly fail. For a small room, you need to choose one compact kit, consisting of a tap and shower head. It will be convenient to use and harmoniously fit into the interior. For spacious rooms, you can buy a large crane with two handles.
• The presence of an aerator. This is an important component of the mixer, which is a mesh nozzle at the end of the structure. It provides a dilution of the water stream with air, after which it seems more dense. Thanks to the aerator, the flow rate and pressure of the water will be less. Especially important is the availability of this component for the overhead crane model.
• Additional equipment. It is advisable to choose products that have additional parts, this makes them more functional. Most often, manufacturers complete taps with adapters for mounting on the wall, cartridges, decor elements and additional hoses.

See how to choose a mixer.