Criteria for choosing different types of bathroom faucets - TOP best

The bathroom should be beautiful, convenient, comfortable, functional and meet hygienic standards.The mixer is mainly responsible for the functionality. It is installed both on the sink and in the water treatment area: shower or bath.

Choosing this device is easy. But the types of bathroom faucets include a large number of models that differ from each other:

• type of connection to the water supply network;
• type of control;
• design.

Types of bathroom faucets by connection type

There are four positions here:

• external to the wall;
• internal in the wall;
• built-in;
• floor

It is recommended to either buy a mixer first, and then build a water supply under it. Or do the wiring initially, and then purchase a bathroom faucet. The first option is better. The taste preferences of the owner of the house are put at the center of the choice, which is why he chooses a mixer for himself. And already under the plumbing fixture a water supply network is installed.

Let's look at the types of mixers by connection type in more detail and create our own rating.

Outdoor wall mounted faucets

Device attached to pipes that come out of the wall in the bathroom. It is located entirely outside.First, piping is made for it, where the distance between the cold and hot water circuits will be standard - 15 cm, with a deviation in one direction or the other of 1.5 cm. If the error exceeds this value, then eccentric adapters are used during the installation of the mixer.

Such faucets can also be attached to acrylic bathtubs. You can't install them in cast iron. Back in Soviet times, plumbing fixtures were mounted directly above the bathtub. They had a long spout or spout. It provided water for both the sink and the bathtub. Many people are accustomed to this, which is why most European manufacturers supply Russia with faucets with a long spout (25-39 cm), which rotates at the junction with the main body.

For Europeans, this is an inconvenient option because the more places of rotation, the faster the mechanism wears out. Therefore, the European standard is a short, non-rotating spout. These are also sold in Russia.

As for the pipe line, it is often made hidden, recessed into the wall. Previously, there was an open option, because steel pipes quickly failed and had to be replaced with new ones. Today, designers use hidden communications as an industrial style design in the bathroom interior.

Indoor wall faucets

These models exactly define their name. The spout and controls are usually visible from the wall. Everything else is in it. The controls from the gander can be located at a distance. This applies to a mixer with a shower, where the watering can will be above the head, and the control system will be at the level of the belt or hands.

This arrangement complicates the repair of plumbing fixtures. Therefore, it is recommended to buy a high-quality model.

Bathroom faucets

There are two options here:

• with installation on board the bathtub;
• on the sink.

Structurally, both copies are no different from each other. Both are installed in holes made in the design of the plumbing fixture. For the sink, they can be made in the countertop, on which the latter is mounted.

The set of mortise mixers includes a system for regulating the supply of cold and hot water and a spout. The last one for the sink is the standard version with a non-rotating spout. For a bath it’s the same, plus a watering can on hose or pipe.

Floor-standing types of bathroom faucets

This type of bath and shower faucet is not very popular. It got its name from its installation location - on the floor next to the bathroom.

Structurally, this is a rack where the pipe line is hidden. The spout and watering can on the hose are also attached to it. There are models with two racks, each of which is hidden - in one there is a cold water supply, in the other there is a hot one. Their height can reach up to 1.5 m.

Advantages:

• no pressure is created on the bath;
• unusual appearance;
• height is selected according to customer requirements;
• this is a free-standing structure, therefore, when carrying out repairs, there is no need to touch other types of plumbing fixtures;
• The scope of application of such faucets is not limited: bathtub, sink, pool, etc.

Minuses:

• the price is higher than standard modifications;
• The appliance in the bathroom takes up space;
• You will have to pay for installation - it is not easy to do the installation yourself.

What types of mixers are there according to the control method?

The ease of use of the mixer is based on the type of control.If previously only two options were presented - using valves and a lever - today the range has expanded. Let's look at the varieties and choose the type we like best.

Two-valve

The device comes with two valves: one for supplying cold water, the other for hot water. They are located on both sides of the spout and are indicated by different cap colors: red - hot water, blue - cold.

Structurally, manufacturers offer two options for water supply:

• worm;
• ceramic.

The first ones are classics. This is a crane-box into which a rod with a worm thread is inserted. By turning the latter clockwise, the feed is closed. And vice versa. At the end of the rod there is a rubber or paronite gasket that covers the hole. Through the latter, water is supplied. The model is convenient because it can be easily repaired. Usually the same gasket fails, which is easy to replace.

The second is a more modern look. Inside the mixer body there is a ceramic faucet box in which slots are made. Through them, water enters the spout when aligned with the opening slots in the body.

You can tell which type is installed by the number of revolutions. To fully open the water supply, the worm version must be rotated around the axis several times. Ceramic opens in one turn.

Advantages:

• low price;
• ease of use;
• simple repair;
• small overall dimensions;
• installation is simple;
• high reliability.

Single lever

Another name for this type of mixer is single-grip. The water supply is adjusted using one lever mounted on the body of the device. Hence the name itself.

There are two models in this category:

• cartridge;
• ball

The first is a cylindrical ceramic cartridge installed in the mixer body. It has through slots for water supply. The second is a metal hollow ball with three slots: one output and one input. Inside the ball, cold and hot water are mixed, after which the mixture comes out through the spout.

Advantages:

• Ease of use;
• quick control of temperature and water flow, which allows you to save the latter;
• both types are much more durable than the valve design.

Flaws:

• the incoming water must be as clean as possible, otherwise the cartridge or ball will quickly fail;
• Repairs are not difficult to carry out, but the cartridge and ball are several times more expensive than rubber gaskets;
• both types are more expensive than their valve counterparts.

Elbow

This is the same lever type. It’s just that its lever has a curved upward shape, plus it’s longer than that of standard models. Such mixers were used in medical institutions, especially in operating rooms, where it was necessary to minimize hand contact with objects and devices.

This variety immediately took root in the bathroom. Manufacturers offer single-lever and double-lever types. The latter are devices with two cartridges and levers separately for cold and hot water. They are similar to two-valve ones, only instead of wings there are levers.

Touchless (sensory faucet) for the bathroom

This is a technologically advanced type, which can be controlled without contact between hands and the mixer. The design of the latter includes an infrared sensor that responds to hands brought to the end of the spout.

This modification is divided into two groups:

• water pours out for a certain time when hands are placed under the gander;
• pouring time is unlimited.

Manufacturers offer devices that regulate the water temperature themselves. The closer to the end of the spout you bring your hands, the hotter the water pours out of it.

Design features:

• small dimensions due to the absence of levers and valves - an automatic valve is installed instead;
• the infrared sensor can operate either from batteries or from an alternating current network of 220 volts;
• some models are equipped with an aerator to reduce water consumption;
• like other types, this variety can be equipped with a shower, net or water heater.

The price is high, but this is justified by the economical fluid consumption. The device will last a long time. But if it breaks, it will not be easy to repair it. The reason is the complexity of the design.

Thermostatic

Name thermostatic mixer based on one important function - mixing hot and cold water to the required temperature. At the same time, the flow strength is also standard.

Comprises:

• housings;
• thermostatic valve: rubber or ceramic;
• pressure regulator.

The temperature can be adjusted manually by pressing buttons (mechanical model) or on the screen (touch model). The first option is simpler, hence the high reliability.

Advantages:

• increased ease of use - standard temperature and flow rate, which can be adjusted to your requirements;
• increased security;
• saving water - not a single drop will be wasted during the setup process;
• good aesthetic characteristics.

Flaws:

• high price relative to other analogues;
• the complexity of repairs, which will not be cheap.

Where are different types of bathroom faucets installed?

Faucet installation locations:

• bath;
• sink;
• bidet;
• shower.

There are universal models that fit one or two plumbing fixtures. For example, one option is suitable for showers and baths - with a watering can. The same thing, only in a smaller form, for the bidet.

For the sink, choose a device that suits it in all respects. Here the shape and size must be taken into account. The larger the latter, the longer the gander should be.

If the bathroom has a sink without holes, then the faucet is installed on the countertop. A distinctive feature of such models is a high body and a long spout.

Which types of bathroom faucets are better: double-valve or single-lever

There is no clear answer here. Each type has its positive and negative sides. Therefore, it is worth choosing a device according to the style of the bathroom interior. For example, a valve will look great in a retro-styled room. Single lever will fit into modern style trends.

Criteria for choosing different types of bathroom faucets

The first selection criterion is the material from which the device is made.The best is brass, others do not withstand intensive use for long. If a mixer with a ceramic cartridge is selected, the plates must be made of wear-resistant aluminum oxide. It is fired at a temperature of +1200 ℃, plus under pressure. Some manufacturers ultrasonic grind the cartridge, which improves quality and durability.

Ball parts must be made of stainless steel. This also applies to fasteners.

Many foreign companies prefer high-strength plastic. It is used to make housing casings, handles, watering cans, etc. The quality does not suffer from this.

About coverage - there are many types:

• enamel;
• chromium;
• nickel;
• gold.

Enamel is beautiful. But it bounces off under shock loads. Gold is expensive. Nickel causes allergies in some people. Therefore, chromium remains on which harmful microorganisms do not multiply. And although traces of water remain on the chrome surface, it is better to give preference to it.

Regarding levers or other control elements, it can be noted that manufacturers pamper consumers in this regard. There is marble, stainless steel, chrome steel, glass, crystal. From unusual materials - wood, polished onyx, a combination of two or more types.

The second selection criterion is the manufacturer’s warranty. For example, German brands guarantee trouble-free operation for five years, Czech brands – up to 10 years.

The third position is the pressure in the water supply system. This is especially true for hot water pipes.

It’s better not to skimp on the mixer. It’s better to spend money once and install a good device than to change a cheap one every year.

Types of fastening

There are two types of faucet mounting:

• to water pipes through union nuts;
• through flexible hoses.

The first option is the nuts that are included with the device. Rubber or polymer seals are placed inside them, ensuring the tightness of the pipe-mixer joint. This type of fastening is used for both bathtubs and sinks.

The second option is a mixer, for which you buy two flexible hoses, also known as hoses. Today, most manufacturers equip the device with these hoses. This option is used in the bathroom only for the sink.

The liner can be with union nuts or with special finger adapters. They are selected depending on the connection option for the mixer itself.

What type of bathroom faucet to choose depends not only on the preferences of the owner of the apartment or house. Many criteria need to be taken into account - from the water supply diagram to the design of these plumbing products. If you know all the nuances, you can purchase a mixer that will 100% perform its functions.

How to choose the right bathroom faucet: video.

I would like to hear from readers who have had the experience of buying a mixer, what points were paid attention to first? Tell us in the comments. Save the article to bookmarks and share it on social networks.