Bathroom sink faucets

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

The mixer for the sink in the bathroom is a sanitary fixture that regulates the water supply to the required temperature. In addition to their main purpose, faucets have the ability to direct streams to a shower head or spout. The first example of a washbasin faucet was invented by Lord Kelvin at the end of the 19th century., many years have passed since that time and its design has become much more perfect.

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

When purchasing a mixer, you should pay attention to various technical factors, especially when it comes to fastening methods (mortise, built-in) and the nature of pipe routing (horizontal, vertical). The wall-mounted faucet is attached directly to the wall, and the mortise faucet is installed in a special hole in the sink. The size and shape of the fixture plays a huge role. A tall and large faucet looks good in the interior of spacious bathrooms; for small spaces it is best to choose compact models with a movable spout.

Manufacturers most often produce valve, single-lever, sensor taps and mixer-thermostats. Each of the above types has both pros and cons.

• Single-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 complex repair of the internal mechanism.

• Valve valves are considered the most fashionable, as they fit perfectly into modern bathroom design. In addition, they can be used at any water pressure, saving water consumption. The only thing is that for such mixers you need to constantly replace elastic gaskets, and 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 prove themselves well with high performance. They differ from the classic options in their unusual design. The design consists of two handles, one of which is responsible for controlling the pressure of the water jet, and the other for the desired temperature. In addition, the taps have a built-in thermostat. The advantages of the devices - the water supply does not depend on the pressure in the general system, stylish look, safe operation. Disadvantages - high price, if there is no flow in one of the pipelines, then the crane stops working completely.

• Deserves special attention and touch mixer, which is a novelty of technology. Unlike its usual "brothers", it does not have levers and valves in the design, and its design is made in the style of minimalism. The work of contactless cranes is carried out due to the presence of an infrared sensor in the design, which instantly reacts to movements. Power supply is required to power the sensor. The advantages of this type of cranes are reliability and safety in operation. Disadvantages - possible difficulties with 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 spout too long, which distinguishes it from 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 a plumbing device with L-, C-, S-, R- and J-shaped tubes.

Typically, plumbing fixtures are installed at the bottom of a hole located on the countertop or the sink itself. This is the most common installation method. For fastening the crane, studs are used, a fitting of flexible hoses is screwed to its bottom. Some of the faucet models, made in the "antique" style, are mounted on three holes in the washbasin. In this case, the faucet and its assembly are located at the bottom of the sink, the spout is at the top center, and the handwheels are on the sides.

The durability of use of mixers largely depends on the quality of the material from which they are made, therefore it is important to pay special attention to this indicator. For example, many are led to cheap silumin cranes because they look nice and are affordable, but apart from 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 made 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, already a year after installation, require repairs, which are difficult to perform.

In addition, you can find bath taps made of other materials on sale.

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

• Copper. It is considered a good material. Faucets made from it give themselves out with a reddish or yellowish tint in the places of the holes for connecting to hoses and fasteners. Copper taps on top, as a rule, are not chrome-plated, since the noble color of copper gives a plumbing fixture a special look. Copper faucets look chic when paired with a retro-styled cabinet.

• Bronze. It is a noble material that does not need external coating. The bronze alloy is highly resistant to corrosion, the only thing is that its strength is low in case of water hammer and external mechanical damage. Bronze taps usually last over 10 years.

• Plastic. This is the most common material that can often be seen, decorated with artificial stone and chrome. Plastic products are considered the most affordable, but experts do not recommend purchasing them, although products are presented on the market in a huge range, do not corrode 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 disadvantage of products is that they do not tolerate temperature extremes and physical influences.

When purchasing a mixer for 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 semi-antique two-valve faucet would look ridiculous in a minimalist design. The ideal solution would be to install a faucet in the same color as the sink. If you need to add originality to the bathroom interior, then the designers recommend giving preference to several unusual faucet models.

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

• Faucets in the style of minimalism... They are distinguished by simple forms and laconicism. Their design is convenient and easy to use. It is a handle with a rotary valve installed next to it. The color can be either white or black.

• Loft-style cranes. Such options are plumbing fixtures made from natural materials. They lack decor and bright colors. Devices of the touch type are considered an elegant choice. They are practical and take up little space. Shiny faucets also look great against the background of a rough natural stone sink.

• Faucets in retro style. Such solutions are considered the most colorful, since they are distinguished by a vintage train. Most often, the models are made with imitation copper and bronze. They are equipped with artificially aged taps and curly handles. In order for such plumbing devices to originally fit into the general interior of the room, it must be equipped with furniture corresponding to the style. Black mixers look especially interesting in retro style. They will become the centerpiece of the 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, while Shiny Nickel adds luxury to the design.

Today the sanitary ware market is represented by bath mixers from various manufacturers, but the recognized leaders are Finnish, Italian and German brands. Consider the most popular models that have proven themselves with high quality and stylish looks.

• 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 safe use of the device. The mixer is covered with a chrome layer, which prolongs its service life. The product is unpretentious in maintenance, but expensive.

• Hansgrohe Logis 71400000 (Germany). The faucet 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. Affordable price.

• Oras Nova 7446X (Finland). The outer body of the faucet is made of brass, which is corrosion resistant and has low thermal conductivity. The convenient length of the spout ensures comfortable use of both the bathtub and the washbasin. The set also includes decorative reflectors to add a touch of chic to the interior of the room.

• Jacob Delafon Elevation E18870-CP (France). It is a two-piece faucet with a fixed spout that fits into one hole. Product color - "chrome", production material - brass. The advantage is a modern appearance that easily fits into any room design. The disadvantage is the above average price.

• Set of mixers "Sofia" (Russia). This is a set of equipment designed for two taps. The bathroom faucet has a round spout and a shower head holder. To change the operating mode (spout / shower), it is enough to turn using a special switch located at the end of the body. As for the shower head, it connects to the fitting. There are no drawbacks.

Since bathroom faucets are presented on the market with a huge selection of models, it is rather difficult to make the right choice in favor of one or another product. Experts recommend purchasing taps that are both functional and stylish. In addition, there are a few things to consider before purchasing a device.

• Manufacturing material. Particular attention should be paid not only to the quality of the case, but also to clarify what the handles are covered with. Brass faucets received excellent reviews. They are the most reliable in operation.
• Mixer size and weight. If the plumbing device is light, then it is best to refuse to purchase it. The walls of such a faucet may be too thin and fragile, so it will quickly fail. For a small room, you need to pick up one compact set consisting of a tap and a shower head. It will be convenient to use and will 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 part of the mixer, which is a mesh nozzle at the end of the structure. It dilutes the water jet with air, after which it appears denser. Thanks to the aerator, the flow and pressure of water will be less. The availability of this component is especially important for the overhead crane model.
• Additional equipment. It is advisable to choose products that have additional details, this makes them more functional. Most often, manufacturers complete taps with adapters for wall mounting, cartridges, decorative elements and additional hoses.

How to choose a mixer, see below.