To get the best faucet, you have to know what to look and how to explore the options while purchasing. The type of finish, kind of use, configuration of sink the faucet serve, etc. has to be considered before buying to suit for your interior style and budget.
Table of Contents
Types of Faucets
There are various types and styles of faucets available for bathrooms or kitchen by depending on their size, finish, material & functionality. Just go through these and find the best one.
1. Full Turn
Full turn knobs are traditional knob that used for hot and cold water, where the pressure of water flow was controlled by turning on and off the knob. It is widely used for basin and bath/shower.
Basin – These knobs are usually fitted on the sink. They are suitable for the single hole or has one or two handles in which the user can turn the knob fully to run the water.
Bath/Shower – The type of faucet are wall mounted, which requires a separate valve and drain for installation. It won’t suitable for basins that has prevailed holes. Although, the spout is long enough for adequate basin clearance but check whether the sink is deep enough to prevent the splashing of water on the countertops or floor.
2. Prismatic
The taps which are made with technology that always allow a fixed quantity of 750 ml of water flow with every press of the knob. This provides ease of operation along with saving the water.
Sensor Faucets – This prismatic sensor operated faucet comes with a standard predetermined timer in which it allows the water flow when you need to rinse your hands and stops after you remove your hands. This will help to control the water flow and prevents its wastage.
3. Quarter Turn
This type of knob will help to reduce the water consumption without affecting the water pressure or its flow. These knobs are using in the place of traditional full turn knobs why because they enable smooth movement and are durable than basic knobs.
4. Stop Cock
This basic type is used to control the water flow in the pipe line in the bathroom, which are widely used in the geyser and toilet shower water flow mechanism. Various designs and finish are available with this model.
5. Single Lever
The single lever faucet works best on both high pressure and low pressure water flow. They mixes cold and hot water by smooth movement and makes it easy to use along with adjusting its temperature and flow at a time whereas the double levers makes you mix both hot and cold water separately by depending on your preference.
Cartridge needs to be replaced after some time by turning off the stopcock and look at the tutorial to replace for its proper functioning.
6. Pillar Cock
It is widely used in the bathrooms and kitchen basins, as it provides enough space between the basin and the faucet for washing utensil or hands. Although, there are various types and designs available in which you have to choose your best.
7. Wall Mixer
This mixer is fitted on the wall with cold and hot water knob along with a spout attached. It comes in two variations – 2 in 1 (has overhead shower with attached spout and hot & cold water knobs) and 3 in 1 wall mixers (overhead shower with a spout unit and a telephonic/hand shower). However, it is installed on the wall, you can easily change or repair the unit whenever needed. They uses the mechanism of quarter turn knob and fixed at 36 inches from the floor for convenient space.
8. Shower Mixer
This combines both hot and cold water and supplies to the shower system for showering. It suits best for the existing toilet connections and also comes at a low cost than wall mixer.
9. Sill Cock
It is generally fixed at the house outside wall to reach the garden hoses. This cock are made with heavy red brass. The anti-siphon frost proof sill cock will employ the back flow devices and integral back-siphon. In freezing climates, this type will allow you for the usage of outside spigot in which inside the heated building, the closing member is located.
10. Laundry Faucet
It mounts either on the wall above the tub or laundry tubs. The fiberglass tubs will require a ledge faucet that has 4 inches centers while furnished comes with a standard 3 – 3/4 inches hose thread outlet on the spout.
11. Tub or Shower Faucet
The cold and hot mix comes in a single arm and these comes in a variety patterns that can be built into the flush or wall mounted above bathtub. It comes with three valve shower and bath faucets in which the two valves will control water and the third one diverts water through showerhead or spout.
12. Compression Faucet
Compression faucet (or stem faucet or washer type). Whenever the spindle turns down, the disk or washer attached to the lower end. If it is tightly pressed on the smoothly finished ring then it surrounds the opening flow to close the water flow.
13. Kitchen Faucets
They generally, comes in a combination style in which the cold and hot water mix in a single arm. They also available in several patterns. Some are listed below.
- The ledge mounted faucet is generally mounted in horizontal position.
- The wall mounted is connected to pipes which comes through the wall above the sink and they are mounted in vertical position.
- The standard lavatory faucets are simply made with 4 inches centers.
- The common size in these kitchen sink or faucets comes is 8 inches center but also 4 & 6 inches available in the market.
- The wide spread faucets made with adjustable center measurements for up to 12 inches.
- Coming to concealed faucets, they are mounted under the sink and comes only with handle flanges and spout visibility.
- Whereas the exposed faucets are generally mounted on the top of the sink either without or with sprays.
- The mixing faucet (or single lever) is used as swing spout kitchen taps, bath faucets and lavatory faucets, which gets operated with just the push of the upright lever straight for opening both cold and hot water and comes with an advantage of closing and opening it quickly.
- The Over the Counter faucets are easy to install why because it makes you not to crawl under the sink to reach behind the basin to secure this faucet. Simply factory installed flexible supply lines along with a spring loaded toggle and screw head concealed for fixing this faucet.
14. Pull –Down Faucet
This faucet is one of the popular choices in these days. The pull down faucet comes as a gooseneck design and spout with an extension to pull down. It not only improves maneuverability but also keeps your kitchen. You have to pull the spout down and minimize splashing but may not be great for shallow sinks.
15. Pull – Out Faucet
It is an improved version that makes to pull the entire head out and move it into the desired direction. You will get maximum maneuverability but it might cause some splashes. Also, you can fill this pan or pot while it is still on the countertop.
Things to Consider for Bathroom and Kitchen Faucets
The water pressure system (high or low) will play a major role in choosing the faucet that suits best. Also, the water disposal and waste system (drainage) is also considered. Other things includes….
1. Material
In general, the taps are made of stainless steel, chrome, copper or br