How to choose a faucet for the sink in the bathroom?

A faulty faucet in the bathroom is a huge number of additional problems: flooded neighbors from below, increased water consumption, burning or ice water from the tap. To avoid these troubles or, at least, to minimize them, you need to choose the right equipment in the bathroom, to know how to choose a faucet for the sink in the bathroom. We will tell you about this in this article.

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Criterias of choice

There are a huge number of faucet offers on the market. In order not to get lost in the ocean of models, you need to pay attention to such criteria:

1. The material of manufacture.
2. Design.
3. The way to control the mixer.

Important! The combination of all technical and aesthetic characteristics makes the device functional, reliable and beautiful. At the same time, trying to choose a product at an affordable price, do not confuse it with dumping. A truly high-quality product cannot be cheap by definition.

Advantages of a quality (albeit more expensive) mixer:

• Long service life.
• Reduced water consumption.
• Reliability.
• Beautiful design.

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How to choose a faucet for the sink? Materials of manufacture

The most common materials are:

• Various metal alloys.
• Bronze (can be considered as a special case).
• Granite.
• Plastic.

According to experts, the optimal instruments made of brass or bronze. These materials have the following advantages:

• Resistant to water.
• Resistance to corrosion and the formation of limescale on the surface.

Important! Very often in the markets they sell silumin fakes, passing them off as brass. Brass products are more massive and heavy to the touch. Silumin in strength loses significantly to brass.

Sometimes manufacturers to leave the cost of faucets leave the brass core of the device, and the rest of the components are replaced with polymeric materials, for example, ABC plastic.

The coating of devices is enamel or chrome plated:

• Enamel is less durable, the product loses its attractive appearance over time.
• Chrome plated surface is more durable. In addition, it is unattractive for the reproduction of microorganisms.

Important! Granite mixer is very expensive. This is an exclusive appliance. Not everyone can afford such a luxury. But if such a mixer is installed in the bathroom, then this is a real masterpiece!

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Classification

In addition to the materials of manufacture, when buying, you must take into account a variety of technical characteristics. For example, the method of fastening the structure (built-in, mortise) or the type of pipe layout (vertical, horizontal).

Depending on the shape of the nozzle, the devices are divided into categories:

• Long, with a movable curved nose.
• Short (fixed nose).

The former can be used as an economical option if the washbasin and bathtub are located nearby. Depending on the control method, these types of mixers are distinguished:

• Valve
• Sensory.
• Thermostats
• Single lever

Each of these designs has its own cons and pros.

Single lever

They are also called one-armed, or one-gripping. This option is the most popular and widespread. The power of the head and the temperature of the supplied water can be adjusted with one hand.Depending on the design features, there are 2 types of single lever design - cartridge and ball:

• Ball mixers are considered obsolete. They are not very practical. If the internal mechanism has fallen into disrepair, the mixer will have to be replaced entirely.
• Cartridge models, unlike ball ones, are highly maintainable. It is quite simple to fix the breakdown of the internal mechanism: just replace the cartridge. This will cost much less than the purchase of a new mixer.

Important! There is another type of single lever crane - joystick. Their main advantage is economical water consumption.

The advantages of single lever structures include:

• Long working resource.
• High maintainability.
• Simplicity of operation.

Minus - quick wear of ball models. If replacing the gasket is a matter of several minutes, then the internal mechanism of the ball valve is not repairable.

Valve

The two-valve tap is a kind of classic of the genre for the bathroom. These models do not lose relevance and are out of fashion. Manufacturing companies are working on new design solutions, adapting the valve to fit the interior of a modern bathroom.

The main component of this design is the axle box. When the valve is turned, the locking element opens slightly. The pressure of the water stream depends on the size of the hole formed. Mixing cold and hot water occurs while opening the taps.

There are valves with a ceramic valve and an elastic gasket:

• The gasket made of elastic material wears out quickly and must be replaced. In order for the elastic pad to last longer, it is made of silicone material.

Important! The disadvantage of such a device is that to control the temperature of the water stream it is necessary to turn the tap up to 8 times, which is not very convenient.

• Ceramic valve is more reliable. It consists of 2 ceramic plates with holes. The plates are well polished, and one rotates relative to the other. The strength of the water supply depends on the degree of matching of the holes. To adjust the temperature of the water, just turn the tap 1/2 or 1/2 turn. Advantages - economical water consumption, long service life, the possibility of use for any pressure. Cons - a tap with a ceramic valve can malfunction when supplying hard water, the need for frequent replacement of elastic gaskets.

Thermostats

This is an innovative invention, which appeared on sale recently. These products combine beautiful design, reliability, durability and convenience.

This design has 2 handles - for regulating the pressure and temperature of the water.

Important! The main feature of the mixer is the presence of a built-in thermostat. This means that once you configure the device and save the parameters, the water flow will fully comply with the requirements. Such models are completely safe and optimally suitable for families where there are kids.

Pros:

• Safe operation.
• Beautiful design. The water supply is independent of the pressure in the system.
• Stable water supply parameters.

Minuses:

• If there is no flow in one of the pipelines, the water supply stops completely.
• High price.

Contactless

They are also called sensory. This development has incorporated all the advantages of previous models. The design of such a product is minimalistic. There are no levers and gates in the design.

Such mixers work by means of an IR sensor that responds to movement. Head and water temperature are set once using the built-in valve. The infrared sensor is powered by electricity.

The advantages of a non-contact design are obvious:

• reliability;
• convenience;
• modern design.

But there are also disadvantages:

• Difficulties with a set of significant capacities.
• Frequent changes in water temperature are undesirable.
• High price.

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Mixer selection and interior style

There are several selection rules for the faucet and sink to be a single unit.The highlight is the purchase of a sink and faucet from the same collection. However, such an opportunity is not always available. In this case, tips will help you:

• Duplication of forms and outlines.
• Unified design style. For example, a Hi-tech tap and a classic antique sink are unlikely to look harmonious.
• Convenience of use.

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Stock footage

As you can see, with all the variety of offers, choosing the right mixer for the washbasin is not an easy task. But the knowledge gained from the article will be quite enough for you.