Brass bathroom faucets: features and selection tips

For the production of mixers using different materials. Some of them are attractive in terms of accessibility, while others are attracted by quality and durability. The brass mixers belong to the last group.

The most reliable, durable and durable bath mixer is brass. This material is obtained by combining copper and zinc. Brass is different high weight and corrosion resistance, which is very important when operating in high humidity. Brass goes well with many other materials.that can be added to the alloy or applied in a thin layer to the surface of the finished product.

There are many positive features of brass products:

• excellent durability;
• high resistance to oxidative processes and reactions;
• excellent resistance to mechanical damage that occurs even with careful use;
• a small level of thermal expansions that occur during sharp temperature changes;
• durability and reliability are so high that they have no analogues among other materials.

The list of disadvantages consists of only two points:

• high price;
• a large number of fakes, which complicates the choice.

The classification of brass mixers can be based on different characteristics. It’s worth starting with the types of brass that are used to create the plumbing devices that interest us.

• Simple brass or two-component It is a compound of copper and zinc in different proportions. The percentage of zinc varies between 5-45%. With an increase in this indicator, the cost of the alloy decreases. If the zinc content in the alloy does not go beyond 15%, then this material is called red brass. In yellow brass, the zinc content is in the range of 15-45%. This option has received the greatest distribution. For two-component compositions, marking in the form of the letter “L” and a digital designation, by which the amount of zinc can be determined, are characteristic.
• Multicomponent formulations, in addition to zinc and copper, include additional elements that play the role of alloying. The mass of options, starting with aluminum and ending with lead.

Coating can now be created from a variety of materials. Not all of them are worthy of attention and deserve respect, but there are really interesting specimens:

• plating can be created from nickel, bronze, chromium, copper, which expands the range of brass mixers and increases their operational characteristics;
• silver and gold rarely used to cover brass products, but such specimens can still be found in specialized stores;
• powder coated or enamel colored mixers are increasingly found in stores, attracting consumers with high aesthetic characteristics, forcing them to forget about reduced operating parameters.

The design can also be very different.

• Bathroom faucets can be equipped long or short spout and shower at the same time or just one of these additions.
• Dual valve models recognizable by the presence of a pair of slewing cranes - this was and remains the most reliable option.
• Single lever models equipped with a single lever lifting and swiveling type, which is equally convenient for showers and conventional faucets. Such options are inferior in reliability to dual-valve mixers, but they are also more convenient and easy to use.
• Contactless models appeared relatively recently. They are equipped with valves, which can be controlled by sensors. High cost and complicated service do not allow them to gain high popularity.

According to the method and place of installation, several varieties are distinguished.

• Wall models.
• Faucets installed on board the bath.
• Built-in faucets look presentable, but they are scared by their high cost, complicated installation and problematic maintenance.
• Floor elements are a new phenomenon that is still perceived as exotic. Such mixers are mounted on a rack fixed to the floor. A similar design will be appropriate for large rooms in which the bathtub does not stand close to the wall.

Not many manufacturers produce really high-quality brass mixers. Our selection of brands will help you make the right choice.

• Company Jacob delafon offers a large assortment of brass sanitary ware, in which there are faucets of various designs and even models for people with disabilities. All mixers have a robust ceramic cartridge. The price starts from 2.5 thousand and reaches the mark of 50 thousand rubles.
• Under the brand name Hansgrohe for the most part, valve and ball fittings for bathroom fittings are produced. Also, the range is complemented by modern models of touch and thermostatic type.

• German company Grohe bauedge It produces, although expensive, but very high-quality mixers. The range includes different models that differ in design, materials and other parameters. High cost more than pays for high quality and durability.
• Lemark - one of the favorite Russian brands. These mixers are designed taking into account the operating conditions that are characteristic of Russia. They are beautiful, reliable and practical.

Brass mixers have a high cost, which is explained by the high cost of materials and the complexity of their processing. Expensive products are often counterfeited, posing as the original low-quality product. In order not to fall into the tricks of unscrupulous manufacturers, it is necessary to adhere to simple rules when choosing a faucet made of brass:

• low value cannot be a stock or a gift of fate, for little money you can buy a low-quality brass faucet or a product from another antique stylized material;
• spout in brass mixers can be made of steel or silumin, what its light weight will testify to - such models must be discarded;
• plastic levers and handles in a brass product are not welcome, since they reduce the durability of the entire mixer.

In the next video you will find the secrets of choosing a bath mixer.