Greetings dear readers! I want to talk about the bathroom faucet. I want to warn you right away, it is not cheap. And the choice is determined by the experience of purchasing 2 products in this store. I bought a thermostat and a dispenser. I am satisfied with both things; during use, I want to share, nothing has rusted and works as it should. Therefore, to the wife’s next question: “When will you repair the crying faucet in the toilet???”, the reviewer ordered. And before, in the toilet there was a non-demountable Chinese thing bought offline for 2K. I served for 2 years and started crying a little. So, welcome to cat.
Buying Guide - Which Bathroom Faucet to Buy?
Although bathroom faucets are typically small, discreet products, purchasing them can often be quite a daunting task. This is because not everyone knows what to look for. As a result, consumers cannot make the right decision. What material should I choose for my bathroom faucet? Does a good quality faucet stand out from others? We answer these and other questions in our guide.
Spout-gander
In addition to the box, it is also packed in paper:
The quality of painting is also not satisfactory:
Length 35cm, needed with a long spout:
There is an aerator screwed into the bow:
All gaskets are in place:
Types of bathroom faucets
In stores you can find faucets for washbasins, bathtubs and showers. Which model you choose depends on the location where you install the faucet. Moreover, bathroom faucets can also be divided by the number of levers. There are models:
* single-lever - as the name suggests, such faucets have one handle, which is used both to set the water temperature and to adjust the intensity of the stream. This type of fittings is easy to use and energy saving, which definitely speaks in favor of the purchase.
* double-lever mixer - used to be much more popular, although even today some people decide to install them. These bathroom faucets consist of a cold and hot water tap. They are considered less economical because it takes longer to set the desired water temperature.
In addition, faucets can be differentiated depending on the way they are installed. The following models are available on the market:
* wall-mounted - suitable for installation on the wall next to the bathtub or washbasin. It is recommended to plan the installation of such a faucet before installing the plumbing and thus prepare the bathroom accordingly. Installation on plaster or under plaster is possible, depending on the selected model;
* free-standing - not connected to the washbasin, mounted, for example, on a countertop. They look impressive and can be an interesting addition to the interior;
* riser type - popular faucets that attach to the vanity, which usually have a simple design and blend in with the rest of the fixtures. The advantage of this type of product in most cases is its ease of installation, although keeping the faucet perfectly clean is often a big challenge.
Range
Today, all types of white faucets produced can be divided into 2 types: axle-type faucets and single-lever faucets. Each type is characterized by its own characteristics that determine the appropriateness of its purchase.
Plumbing products can also be portioned, working by pressing the corresponding buttons that dispense the water supply.
Valve
More traditional varieties have 2 valves. This is a familiar classic with two adjustable taps, usually located on both sides of the spout. Each faucet is responsible for supplying water (one for cold, the other for hot).
These mechanisms are simple, but reliable. They can have 2 modifications, which is determined by the presence of valves or a ceramic valve.
The advantage of these devices is the fact that if any part fails, it can be replaced without any problems with a new one. This type of faucet also has a drawback: after turning off, the water continues to flow for a few seconds.
Single grip
Single-lever or single-grip analogues today are confidently replacing the familiar classics. Unlike traditional appliances, they stop supplying water immediately after it is turned off. The method of adjusting the temperature of the liquid is also convenient.
Designs may include replacement of a removable cartridge. Sometimes, instead of it, there is a hollow ball inside with special holes for mixing two streams of water to the desired temperature. It can be located not only in the center, but also under the spout, above it or on the side.
With thermostat
White faucets for bowl sinks in the bathroom may differ in the adjustment of water flow pressure. They have the ability to set a comfortable temperature and automatically maintain it. Such models operate due to a heat-sensitive element.
They are convenient, but if there are regular interruptions in the water supply in the system, the supply of cold water will be cut off.
Electronic
Electronic faucets today have a lot of fans. The sensors work in a non-contact manner: for the device to work, it is enough to bring your hands to a certain sector. As soon as they go beyond its limits, the water supply will stop.
The advantage of such devices is the presence of touch control (display with the ability to set the water temperature mode). You can activate the mixer by touching the body or screen.
Source: https://dekoriko.ru/vannaya/smesiteli/belye/
Material of manufacture - which bathroom faucet is the best?
Everyone wants their bathroom faucet to work without failure for as long as possible, while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the material of manufacture. The most commonly used material in the manufacturing process is brass, which is highly resistant to deformation. It's also worth remembering that the heavier the bathroom faucet, the more it can be assumed to be more durable. It is worth additionally covering the product with a special coating, for example, to reduce surface contamination and make it easier to clean. If the faucet is smooth, limescale and other contaminants can be easily removed from it.
Criterias of choice
Any internal sanitary device with the help of which the flow of water or gaseous media is selected and regulated is called fittings and is divided into shut-off and control. Stop valves include stopcocks. Valves and mixers are shut-off and control valves. The latter are used exclusively on water. They not only regulate, but also mix two streams of different temperatures to average them.
Spout shape and design. The closest attention is always paid to the spout - it is this detail of the mixer that immediately catches the eye and determines the appearance of the entire product. However, appearance is appearance, but the spout must also meet the requirements of ease of use in the kitchen.
- The spout must be rotary. This is especially important where sinks with two (and sometimes even more) containers are installed. The turning sector must ensure free movement of the spout in any direction.
- The spout should have an optimal height so that it does not interfere with washing large dishes or drawing water into them. At the same time, an excessively high “gander” can lead to splashing of water from the sink bowl on the sides. It is difficult to give advice here, since much will depend on the depth and geometric shape of the sink itself. Conventionally, spouts are divided into low (up to 190 mm in height), medium (up to 240 mm) and high (over 240 mm). The optimal size probably seems to be a medium size, but when choosing, you still need to take into account the design features of the existing sink if the mixer is not purchased complete with it.
- Pay attention to the overall design of the mixer and spout. It can be solid cast - such models are distinguished by increased strength, and the absence of joints and connections will reduce the likelihood of leaks. However, prefabricated models are more often purchased - the lights are much more convenient to use, although caring for them will be more difficult.
Original articulated movable spout design. Often the spout is even a complex hinged structure consisting of several parts. This significantly expands the range of its capabilities. Such models are usually produced by trusted manufacturers, and in this case there is no need to worry about the reliability of such an assembly.
- Spouts can be very diverse in their shape - in this matter aesthetics probably comes to the fore. Some people like straight or rectangular, others will prefer S- or U-shaped or others
The spout configuration can be very different. There are also flexible spouts, the shape and length of which can be changed within a certain range.
Flexible spout. It is very convenient if the spout at the end is equipped with a water flow aerator. Some models provide the ability to choose a jet configuration - from regular or aerated to a shower splitter with a change in the angle of the created water cone. Many housewives may find it convenient to have a spout that can be turned into a flexible shower with a pull-out shower head. Worthy of attention are faucets in which the spout turns into a pull-out shower with a hose. In this case, a pull-out hose is hidden in the mixer body with or without a metal corrugation (usually a high-strength and very elastic PE-X polymer is used). It is connected to the shower head, which in normal position is the spout head. Mixer tap with two spouts. There are original faucets that have several spouts. So, if necessary, you can use the lower, short one, and when there are large dishes in the sink, you can switch to the high one.
Choice by material. The durability of the device is greatly influenced by the material from which the body and spout are made. Today there is quite a large amount of materials. Only the ceramic models differ in appearance; all the others “look” exactly the same. However, you need to know what the mixer is made of.
- Stainless steel. The most durable, but also the most expensive option. But the service life is long.
- Brass. A very good choice, but only if the alloy is of good quality, suitable for use in the food industry. Brass taps last a very long time, even hard water does not harm them.
- Bronze. Also a good option, but most often bronze taps are made in a retro style. In this case, they are not covered with any protective coatings. Ordinary models from bronze cases are made quite rarely.
- Silumin is an alloy of aluminum and silicon. A light alloy, similar in appearance to aluminum, but very unreliable. The bodies of the cheapest faucets are made from this alloy. Their service life is no more than a year.
- Plastic. Not a bad material, but not for taps - the protective coating wears off quickly from constant contact with water. Plastic faucets also belong to the budget category.
- Ceramics. Ceramic sink faucets look very impressive, but they are expensive and require careful handling in operation. They cannot withstand shock loads at all. You must be very careful when washing dishes. Ceramic ones are still more exotic in our country, but everything else is available in large quantities. Normal in quality and not the most expensive in price. But brass is also different.
In cheap faucets, brass contains large amounts of lead. It increases the fluidity of the alloy, which means thinner walls can be obtained. The casting quality will be better - without cavities and other flaws. But the high content of lead in the water tap is harmful to the body. Lead dissolves in water, making it unsuitable for food use. How to choose a good brass faucet? By weight. Brass with a high lead content has thin walls, which means the tap itself is much lighter. Other features include color. Sometimes it is possible to look into the inside of some mixers to evaluate the alloy on this basis. In low-quality brass it is reddish in color, in normal brass it is yellow.
External coating of the mixer. This criterion determines both the neat appearance of the product and the ease of care for it. The classic option is a shiny chrome or stainless steel surface. It looks very advantageous, is quite resistant to scratches, but stains are clearly visible on it, including from dried water. Brushed metal makes stains and small scratches less noticeable. To a lesser extent, this drawback is inherent in faucets made of brushed metal - they also look very original and suit any interior style. Mixer coated with colored enamel. Faucets can be coated with colored durable enamel. It is possible to match it to the overall design of the kitchen, but it is worth remembering that, despite all its strength, the enamel can still chip or be scratched with an accentuated blow. Bronze, copper or brass faucets will always look advantageous. Ageless, covered with a noble patina, bronze is an excellent choice, both in terms of quality and as an interior decoration. A faucet with a “stone look” coating is usually purchased for the corresponding sink. For currently fashionable and very practical kitchen sinks made of artificial granite or marble, you can purchase a matching faucet with the same outer covering. Special enamel very accurately conveys the “natural” texture of the stone. Faucets with gilding - for particularly “vintage” interiors. Anyone who wants to create a special chic in their kitchen has the opportunity to purchase a gold-plated faucet. As a rule, these are expensive exclusive models, usually supplied to order. However, there are also faucets with a shiny gold finish and at a reasonable price, but they are not particularly in demand - they are too shocking.
Differences in type of fastening. In addition to design features, there is a division of types of kitchen faucets according to installation method. The location and method of installation of the faucet influences which model to choose for a particular kitchen. Mixer wall mount. The models are laconic and easy to use, but there are a number of difficulties with their installation: a special water supply and subsequent wall repair are required. The unit can be secured in three ways:
- In the sink hole is the most common and easiest installation method, which you can do yourself. Any designs are suitable.
- You can also install valve, lever or touch models with swivel spouts in the countertop. But before that, a hole corresponding to the diameter of the devices is drilled in the table.
- Fastening directly to the wall - only special models are suitable. The housing for such installation must be massive, and the connection with the pipes hidden in the wall must be rigid.
Fixing in a horizontal position is carried out when lever mixers are installed with pins threaded into threaded holes on the body, onto which a shaped half-washer is tightened with a nut. When installing crane-axlebox structures, a split threaded bushing is secured to the surface of the base with a nut. A faucet mounted into a sink is the most common mounting option. The most acceptable method of connection to the water supply system is through flexible hoses. In cases where it is necessary to connect to pipes coming out of the wall, eccentrics are used to ensure correct positioning, and the fasteners are hidden with decorative conical covers.
Design
Previously, bathroom faucets were only available in chrome, but now there are models available in the market, such as white, black or gold, that perfectly match the original decor of the interior. The color option of the product that you choose, of course, depends on the finish of the bathroom. It is also worth mentioning that in addition to bathroom faucets with simple, classic shapes, you can also find them in retro styles. Typically, such faucets have two handles, one of which is responsible for regulating hot water, and the other for cold water.
Variety and features of colored kitchen taps
Faucets of any type of control today are presented in all sorts of shades. For traditional two-valve ones, the color range is not so wide. The most common are bronze, copper, gold and their combinations.
Often the metal is artificially aged, creating the effect of an “object with history.” The so-called antique bronze or patinated dark copper is very popular. These and other classic solutions fit perfectly into retro interiors.
Black and white two-valve faucets with chrome elements look gorgeous, for example, the snow-white model of the Swiss brand KorDi White Calcium White/Chrome.
Noble matte black combined with muted gold, used in the Brimix 1075 mixer, will create a complete ensemble with an anthracite sink and granite countertop.
Additional charm is provided by the use of enamel or porcelain inserts: white, colored or finely painted valves and levers look wonderful with metal spouts.
A Provence-style kitchen will be perfectly complemented by a faucet that looks like ceramic, for example, painted in the color “Champagne” or muted light green tones “Sahara” and “Safari” (models from the Lava brand).
Laconic single-lever mixers will fit into any modern interior styles, so they can be made in all imaginable colors.
And if the desired option is not available for sale, then companies offering services for painting plumbing products in the colors of the RAL palette will come to the rescue. The guarantee for such spraying is about 8 years.
Faucets with a long flexible spout, which is made in the form of a silicone tube, are becoming increasingly popular, allowing you to comfortably draw water into a tall vase or direct the stream to any area of the sink.
Silicone elements of such designs can be of the most cheerful colors: blue, turquoise, pink, yellow, green. Caring for colored faucets is not particularly difficult.
Options in white, beige and other light colors are very comfortable to use - stains and drops of water are invisible on them. Matte powder coatings require care - it is not recommended to use highly abrasive cleaners or metal brushes.
Source: https://vplate.ru/kuhnya/santehnika/smesiteli/cveta/
Bathroom faucets at good prices
Before you start looking for a specific model, it's worth determining how much you can pay for it. Bathroom faucets are available at a variety of prices in stores, so you can easily find options that fit your budget. The cheapest are conventional monolithic sink faucets, the price of which is about 1,300 rubles. Free-standing models and products designed for installation near the bathtub are more expensive. You'll also have to pay more for fittings that use the latest technology, including: ensuring less water consumption.
Don't go for cheap
No matter how trivial it may sound, price is one of the main indicators of the quality of a mixer. A standard faucet for a sink or washbasin at retail cannot cost less than 70 dollars, for a bath - less than 100. Moreover, this is true not only for Belarus, but also neighboring Lithuania and Poland, from where compatriots proudly bring faucets for 15 dollars.
“Once we came across such an imported specimen, in the watering can of which the manufacturer forgot to make... holes. The client installed it himself, and then called us - he couldn’t understand why the water wasn’t flowing.”
It has been noticed that high-quality faucets most often have simple, one might even say nondescript, packaging, but various types of consumer goods are packaged like a Christmas tree: in colorful boxes, with photographs, advertising inscriptions, etc.
Bathroom faucet - buying guide, rating and testing
Read the ratings below if you want to know which bathroom faucets consumers recommend. We are confident that you will easily find a product that will fit into the style of your bathroom and will serve you for a long time. It is worth considering purchasing Grohe Eurosmart Cosmopolitan bathroom faucet , which has a scratch-resistant StarLight chrome finish. It is smooth and not only protects the surface, but also helps keep the product clean. The head is made of the highest quality ceramic materials, so it is not prone to breakage. Second place in the ranking goes to Kerasan Retro bathroom faucet . This is a model with two handles and an automatic stop.
Peculiarities
White faucets are an industrial product that is suitable for many stylistic decisions and interior ideas. These are plumbing products that differ in the type of material used and the method of applying the shade.
Today, manufacturers make faucets white in several ways.
Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Polishing. This method is considered the most labor-intensive, although the most reliable. It is designed for steel faucets and allows you to achieve a glossy finish on products. Due to the high density of the metal, it is possible to obtain a stable color when polishing it with special pastes. In this case, no auxiliary coatings are used. The method cannot create a matte type of texture, although this is the best technology known, thanks to which faucets retain their white color for a long time.
- Chrome plating. This method is intended for products made of brass, bronze and stainless steel, to which a copper base is applied before the main color change. After this, it is covered with a thin layer of a special decorative coating based on chromium. Due to the use of electrochemical technology, only metal parts are subject to such processing. The chrome coating itself is quite durable, but over time it can peel off from the base.
- Nickel plating. In fact, this technology is not much different from the previous one. However, you won’t be able to get an equally shiny finish using it. Products created using this method will cost less than chrome-plated models. But their durability is also lower, which is important to consider when buying a plumbing accessory for a bathroom or kitchen sink.
- Coloring. Surface painting is the most cost-effective technology for obtaining white color. This is its only advantage, since it is less durable than other technologies and, over time, peels off from the base, thereby worsening the appearance of the mixer. However, this technology is used where the use of other methods is impossible. For example, painting is the best way to change the shade of plastic or silumin, since they do not involve galvanic treatment.
FAQ
Q1: Bathroom faucets - can you install them yourself?
For people who have never installed bathroom faucets before, this procedure may seem daunting. However, in most cases, you can do it yourself without having to hire a professional and waste money. How to do it? The first step is to read the instructions carefully and gather all the necessary tools and accessories. As a rule, installation requires keys No. 8, 9 and 19. When installing a floor-standing mixer, check the number of holes. Most often these are single-lever models, but there are others. The sink should have a factory-made hole, but if necessary, you can make it yourself.
Q2: How to clean bathroom faucets?
Bathroom faucets must be cleaned regularly to prevent limescale deposits on their surfaces, and if they appear, quickly remove them. Various types of milk and special liquids are well suited for caring for plumbing fixtures. When buying a detergent, pay attention to its composition. The product must not contain substances such as acids or various types of solvents. Chlorine-free detergents are also recommended. Some people use special scouring powders, but these have granules that can sometimes slightly scratch the surface of the hardware. The bathroom faucet should be cleaned with a soft sponge or cotton cloth.
Q3: Where to buy bathroom faucets?
Bathroom faucets are available in many places, so finding the right one for you shouldn't be a big problem. A large selection of products can be found in construction stores. You can also take advantage of specialist advice on site, which is important for many buyers. However, more and more consumers are choosing online shopping because they believe it has many more benefits. One of them is that you don't have to leave your home to make a purchase. What's more, items are often available at lower prices than in brick-and-mortar stores, meaning you can save money. However, if it turns out that the bathroom faucet you ordered online does not meet your expectations, you can return it without any problems.
Q 4: How to clean the faucet from deposits?
Sometimes limescale appears on the surface of your bathroom faucet. There is usually no problem removing it at first, but if you wait to clean it, maintenance may become more difficult. What to do if using a regular plumbing cleaner does not help? Firstly, you may decide to buy special descaling products. You can also try making a homemade solution. Lemon juice works well in bathroom faucets. Squeeze the fruit and moisten a cotton pad in the resulting juice and apply it to the seed. After an hour, simply remove and rinse the faucet with warm water. Another way is to make a 1:1 solution of water and vinegar.
Eyeliner method
There are two methods of eyeliner, the first method is a rigid eyeliner, the second method is a flexible eyeliner. As with the installation of any filtration system, the appropriate thread diameter should be taken into account. In other words, you cannot use a filter with a 1/2-inch thread with a water pipe with a diameter of 3/4-inch, and all similar variations, despite the availability of adapters, squeegees, etc. in stores.
Hard eyeliner. For rigid liner use a copper, steel, or brass tube. When connecting the system using a rigid line, you need to take into account the exact length of all pipes and corners; there must be a tee for distributing cold water to the filter and to the tap.
This liner is more reliable, can withstand pressures of up to 50 bar and temperatures of 150 °C, has increased resistance to dirt and chemical reactions, and is more durable. We should not forget that after installing the filter to the mixer, you will no longer be able to move the system, so the installation location must be carefully considered.
- Flexible eyeliner. This is the most popular wiring. It is very easy to install and easy to maintain. There are two types of flexible hoses: reinforced and bellows. The reinforced hose is made of synthetic ethylene-propylene rubber and has a braid of stainless wire or aluminum. It is not recommended to use a hose with galvanized wire braid. This is the weakest and most unreliable hose. This hose does not stretch, so the distance from point to point must be strictly taken into account. The bellows hose is made of alternating stainless steel rings of different diameters. It is considered a more reliable and durable hose. It can stretch well, although this should not be done to the limit. The manufacturer specifies the minimum and maximum stretch limits of the bellows hose, for example 140-250 mm.
Technical parameters of flexible hoses.
How to choose sink faucets? It is important to know!
First of all, the mixer must match the design and - unless you are planning a major renovation - the existing hydraulic installations . Of course, if you can afford big changes - we have all models within reach.
Secondly, the faucet must match the ceramic . And not only aesthetically, but also in terms of parameters . The size and angle of the spout are important - there is nothing worse than a tap that is too big or too small in relation to the washbasin or bath, as well as the features that the model offers - such as the presence of a shower head. Although it seems very simple, even such mistakes can be made in the hustle and bustle of repairs.
Also consider using other solutions
A mixer with a thermostat guarantees you to avoid inconvenient temperature settings , and with a thermal lock - the flow of too hot a stream and possible burns. This is very important, especially if the bathroom will be used by small children or elderly people. The presence of a rain shower guarantees comfortable bathing, and a touchless faucet with a motion sensor will eliminate the risk that the water will not turn on , for example, for a preschooler. It is also necessary to ask the seller about the durability and quality of the models we are interested in and his opinion about the brand. The length of the warranty provided by the manufacturer may be a certain indicator of quality. The longer the better.
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The best foreign and Russian manufacturers
It is clear that a good product cannot be cheap, but the cost of the best kitchen faucets is not always beyond the realm of possibility. When choosing, you should focus not only on the price, but also on the brand. Well-known manufacturers produce both budget and luxury models. At the same time, their established reputation means much more to them than petty savings, therefore, regardless of the price, faucets from such brands are always of high quality. The quality, durability and convenience of your plumbing fixtures depends on the manufacturer’s brand. If we look at the rating of kitchen faucets by country and specific manufacturers, we will see that the first places are distributed as follows:
- Germany – SIEMENS ag, Grohe, Dornbracht, Viega, Kaldewei, Hansa, Schock, Axor, Ideal Standard, Hansgrohe, Franke, Blanco;
- Italy – Jacuzzi, Rifra, Piados, Duka, Zucchetti, Roca, Webert, Bonomini, Carlo Frattini, Webert;
- France – Jacob Delafon;
- Finland – Oras;
- Sweden – Alfa Laval;
- Bulgaria – Vidima;
- Switzerland – Gustavsberg;
- Spain – Roca;
- Denmark – Damixa.
Among Russian companies producing plumbing fixtures, the products worthy of attention are Sunmix and Santekhpribor. Products from these manufacturers guarantee long-term and convenient operation, are reliable and can work for a long time without breakdowns.
Description
Black color has always been an indicator of luxury, prosperity and refined taste. This applies not only to the decoration of walls, floors or textiles, but also to faucets.
Such products are immediately visible in the kitchen; they harmoniously complete many style trends. In addition, such faucets are unusual, and not everyone has them, which becomes an additional plus.
Black faucets are made from high quality materials, so their only drawback is the price. However, such models do not show fingerprints, minor damage, scratches and dust.
A special enamel is used for the coating, which protects the faucet from damage, since it turns out to be very durable.
System dimensions
When choosing a filter with an under-sink connection system, it is also important to take into account the dimensions of the spout. The deeper the sink, for example, the lower the faucet spout can be; it is also called the “gander,” and vice versa. Also choose the mixer control knobs and their location for yourself. With swivel or fixed spout. The kit, which should include hoses, seals, gaskets, etc. This should also include the ratio of the dimensions of the sink to the filters. It is important to know how many flasks with filters can fit, so that you can easily service them in the future. If you plan to install a reverse osmosis system, then you should also take into account the volume of the storage tank; it can be 2 liters, 5 liters, 7 liters.
