Some tips from us:
- The most important indicator of quality is the material used to make the faucet. Traditionally, the best plumbing fixtures are made from centrifugally cast brass. This production method ensures uniformity of composition and strength.
- You can distinguish a quality product by its weight. German faucets hansgrohe, Grohe, Bulgarian Vidima and Italian-made plumbing fixtures are several times heavier than the products of numerous Chinese companies.
- Authenticity will be indicated by instructions printed on white paper, color packaging and a warranty card. Sellers are required to issue a warranty, the period of which is 2-5 years, depending on the manufacturer’s policy.
- Remember that you should not prioritize cheapness. Practice shows that buying a cheap faucet is almost always more expensive than purchasing a high-quality one.
Which company should you choose?
For 2021, German and Italian manufacturers have proven themselves well in the market.
These include Grohe, HansGrohe and WasserKRAFT . These brands are synonymous with durability. Their main goal is to ensure that each of their products is hardy, durable and stands the test of time. Faucets from these manufacturers use at least 20% less water than the industry standard.
Lemark and Flap are great budget options.
They produce very high quality products at an affordable price. Among Russian brands, IDDIS and Bronze de Luxe are very popular.
Single lever mixers.
And here's another single-lever mixer
Single-lever faucets appeared relatively recently but are quickly gaining popularity due to their ease of use and large selection on the market. The water supply is regulated by moving the lever up and down, and the temperature adjustment is to the right and left, which is much faster and more convenient compared to two-valve faucets. Single-lever faucets use cartridges. They are reliable and durable, easy to replace during repairs. Disadvantage: high requirements for water quality and price.
General recommendations
There are different types of faucets. They are designed for certain conditions. Recommendations from experts will help you choose the appropriate option. It is also worth considering customer reviews. This will help you choose not only a functional, but also a durable faucet. This determines whether it will be convenient for you to use your new acquisition. Otherwise, you will soon have to change the mixer, which will lead to additional costs.
The mixer design may be different. The choice of one type or another depends on your needs and the area of use of the product. In addition to functional differences, they differ in the type of material from which they are made, the method of fastening, cost and a host of other characteristics.
Of course, many buyers choose a faucet solely based on its appearance. This is also an important aspect, since the plumbing fixtures must match the chosen interior style. There are many universal faucets on sale. They are suitable for many interior styles. However, there are special models that have a rather narrow scope. There are faucets in high-tech, classic, modern, eco-style, etc.
Appearance is, of course, important. But you can’t skimp on the quality of the mixer. Cheap models, often made in China, do not have a long service life. If a leak occurs, which often happens when the owners of the house are away, a flood may occur. Due to a low-quality faucet, your renovation, as well as the finishing of your neighbors below, may suffer. This will lead to enormous costs. Therefore, never skimp on the quality of the faucet.
Two-valve mixer.
These mixers have been known since Soviet times. However, even now they have not lost their relevance. Two-valve faucets are successfully used for both kitchen sinks and bathrooms. The bathroom uses a faucet with a shower diverter. A two-valve mixer looks like a faucet with two valves. It will take more time to adjust the water temperature than with a single-lever mixer, but the result will be more accurate. Thanks to this, water is consumed more economically, which is important if the apartment has a water flow meter. In two-valve faucets, rubber gaskets or ceramic discs are used as a closing element. Rubber gaskets are adapted to low water quality, they are easy to replace and are cheap. But their service life is short. Ceramic discs last a long time and to adjust the water, just turn the valve half a turn, which is convenient to use.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
In the video below you can hear a competent opinion on the factors that need to be taken into account when selecting a faucet for a kitchen space:
When selecting a mixer, it is important to take into account both technical characteristics and its design. The convenient model greatly facilitates routine kitchen manipulations, which allows the housewife to save time.
No less important is the appearance of the product, which should be combined not only with the sink, but also with the decoration of the room as a whole. A correctly selected faucet can become an important detail of the interior, emphasizing its style and placing accents.
Please write comments in the block form located under the text of the article. Tell us about how you chose a faucet for your own kitchen, share the guidelines that were decisive for you personally. Ask questions about points of interest, post photos on the topic.
Thermostats
Modern technologies do not stand still. Faucets equipped with a thermocouple that controls the flow of hot and cold water are gaining popularity. It is enough to adjust the required water temperature parameters once and they are saved, and a constant water pressure is also maintained. Therefore, thermostats have two regulators. On one side of the thermostat mixer, the water pressure is regulated by a handle. And on the other there is a temperature scale on which you independently set the temperature you need.
This is very convenient; if there are children in the house, you don’t have to worry about their safety. Well, if you need hotter water or vice versa, just change the function. Comfort and reliability are guaranteed to you. And you can choose the design to your taste. But, I want to add a fly in the ointment. Unfortunately, our water supply systems do not always work well. With unstable pressure, surges and drops, thermostats do not always cope with the load and malfunctions may occur. (this happens!) If there are no problems with pressure in the water supply, then using such a tap is a pleasure. It works ideally when the hot water is turned off in the summer and the hot water is heated by a “boiler”. In this case, the temperature in both pipes is stable and has the same pressure. You only use the flow knob, and the other is always in position 36.6
Touch sensor faucets for sinks.
We have long been accustomed to the fact that when entering an airport, train station or just a shopping center, the doors open on their own. Is it nice to wash your face in the sink with water at a comfortable temperature, without using any levers? The same infrared sensors are used here, only miniature ones. Let's take a look inside the sensor mixer and see what's there. There is a monoblock with control valves and the electronics necessary for its operation, a touch sensor and a small lithium battery. Yes, yes, it is a battery with a service life of at least two years - it is designed for an intensity of use of the mixer of 3000-5000 starts per month. Such a faucet is hygienic, water is used sparingly, but most importantly, you don’t have to worry about turning off the tap, so you won’t flood your neighbors below. The simplicity of the design and the absence of different connections makes it easy to install the device yourself.
And one last thing. Which material should you prefer? Most models offered by manufacturers are made of steel and plumbing brass. Since brass darkens over time, faucet bodies are chrome plated. These combinations are the most reliable and convenient.
Bath faucets
We combine the design you like with the necessary functionality (not to the detriment of the latter.) Bathroom faucets differ in that they are combined with a shower. In a small bathroom we use a faucet with a swivel spout, which makes it possible to use it for both the bathtub and the sink. Usually these are faucets with a hand shower, which can, if desired, be mounted on a holder installed at the height you need. In a country house or modern houses with a large bathroom, you can give free rein to your imagination in choosing styles and decorative designs. and also by installation method; wall-mounted, floor-mounted, table-top, built-in wall. You can install a cascade mixer. It is installed directly on the side of the bathtub. The bathtub will fill several times faster. This mixer is compact, practically does not create splashes, and is silent. True, the most inexpensive one costs twice as much as the usual one. In addition to the listed devices, electronic contact faucets are now used in luxury bathroom interiors, which are configured using buttons on the panel. When it comes to materials, there is no place for stereotypes. Starting from inexpensive but high-quality plastic, silumin, ceramic cases and ending with glass, stone, cases with wooden design. In terms of functionality, the housing can be cast or prefabricated. The cast body has little functionality in terms of mobility, but is the most durable, moreover, it is more hygienic, easier to care for, and there are no different connections. Faucets with a prefabricated body are functional, but the greater the functionality, the more connecting nodes, which means less strength and more difficult to clean. Faucets with a telescopic spout have appeared, which can not only rotate left and right and along their axis, but also extend and even take different positions.
Bath and shower thermostats Click here, you won't regret it!
How do you like it? Do you feel like taking a shower? Shower mixer . It differs from a bath faucet primarily in its size, being more compact. This is due to the absence of a spout and a bath-shower switch. The water flows directly into the shower set, mixing there and reaching the desired temperature. Installation of such systems can be either external or hidden.
Basin mixer.
Basin mixer . One of the main requirements for a basin faucet from customers is not so much technical excellence, but compatibility with other existing bath or shower faucets, i.e. creating a harmonious ensemble in the bathroom. Like similar mechanisms designed for bathtubs, sink faucets are designed for one hole or three. The latter option requires special plumbing. The first remains more common because its installation is somewhat simpler. This type of faucet must be equipped with a special kit for quick installation, as well as a connection. You can choose a rigid line using chrome-plated brass tubes or a flexible line with stainless flexible hoses. Some models of sink faucets are equipped with a special drain set. With its help, you can open or close the sink drain hole by pressing a small lever in the faucet body. Another interesting equipment is known - these are faucets equipped with a pull-out spout to provide simple and effective care for the surface of the sink. With such a mechanism, the plumbing fixtures will retain their original appearance for a long time, and cleaning will not take much time and will not require significant effort.
Bidet mixer.
Bidet mixer . In terms of its technical and functional characteristics, it is in many ways similar to a sink faucet. In most cases, the faucet is mounted directly on the side and can have one or three holes. The only difference is that the bidet faucet kit includes a special aerator with a ball joint, which allows you to change the direction of the stream and makes the use of plumbing simpler and more comfortable. Another modification of the classic bidet faucet is complemented by a hygienic shower. This function allows you to use a regular toilet as a bidet. To do this, you need to have a sink nearby. If the bathroom is not large, this is an excellent way out. The hygienic shower can also be connected to a standard shower mixer, including a concealed mixer. You can also use special thermostats for bidets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le67aIUEuZ8
How to recognize a “Chinese” faucet? Why quotes? There are decent manufacturers in China. I mean the artisanal production of cheap goods. These faucets are not only cheaper, but also lighter. For their production, advances in powder metallurgy are used and plastic and aluminum powder are often used. In the best case, the Zamak material is used - an alloy of zinc, aluminum, steel and 7-10% brass. Naturally, there is no need to talk about guarantees and service life of such mixers.
Due to the increase in prices for housing and communal services and the installation of metering devices, the demand for sensor faucets for home needs has increased. The most in demand today are non-contact thermostatic mixers , which allow you to set the temperature and water pressure with high precision.
Materials
Brass remains the best choice for making faucet bodies. The sealing plates of the operating valve - the basis of the ceramic cartridge - are made of wear-resistant aluminum oxide, fired under pressure at a temperature of 12000C. Some manufacturers subject these elements to ultrasonic grinding (for example, SUPERGRIF, Spain). High-strength ceramics increase the faucet's resistance to water hammer. Fastening parts and ball regulators in single-lever versions are made of stainless steel. Western companies use plastic with might and main - they make casings for cast brass bodies, handles of single-command (single-lever) faucets, shower heads and other parts from it. The outer parts of the fittings are nickel-plated to protect against corrosion, and then covered with chrome, white or colored enamel. Coatings come in gold (matte and shiny), bronze and marble. When designing handles in one style or another, designers use glass, crystal, wood, natural marble, polished onyx, as well as combinations of various materials.
Which coating is preferable? The enamel is beautiful, but not very durable - it breaks off. Nickel can cause allergies, and gold is expensive and requires special care. Chrome is considered optimal. The fact is that no microorganisms can live or multiply on the surface of this metal, and although housewives often complain that water stains appear on shiny polished taps, we still recommend this particular coating. And to care for the mixer, you can purchase a special liquid, for example, from GROHE at a price of about $8 per bottle.
Types of touch faucets.
Depending on the area of application, different models of mixers are installed in the house. For the kitchen we install a mixer with lever and touch controls, since we need constant adjustment of the water temperature. This mixer is equipped with a valve or levers.
The package may include an aerator, but a watering can and a pull-out spout are not included with inexpensive models.
The latest models of kitchen faucets are a modern multifunctional device that can be turned on and off with a button or from a touch panel, equipped with an aerator or timer to save water, and also have a pull-out spout for a pot or kettle.
In the bathroom, you can install touchless washbasin products and a sensor shower. To turn on the water supply, you need to be in the working area of the sensor, which can be configured using the remote control. Sensory showers have an undeniable advantage in saving water consumption. The delivery set includes a touch panel with a built-in touch sensor. If quite recently sensory mixers were considered an expensive purchase, now a sensory mixer can be found from 9,000 rubles. But the best choice is, of course, value for money. Touch faucets differ in the type of sensors that operate on photocells and infrared rays. The latter have a significant “plus” since they do not require special distance calibration during installation. This becomes possible due to the absence of dependence on the distance of the object. The faucets are powered by a 9V series lithium battery with a two-year lifespan. It is capable of cycling water on and off about 4000 times. Usually the battery is sold complete with the mixer.
Benefits of sensor faucets
- Using a touch-sensitive faucet allows you to stop worrying about whether you've turned off the tap. Setting a suitable temperature eliminates the need to constantly mix cold and hot water.
- If there are small children in the house, you will not be worried about the child getting burned.
- And of course, it saves water
How to choose a mixer
By type of installation:
- Wall
- Single or multiple hole mounting.
- Mixer tap for free-standing basins.
The faucet for a freestanding sink is installed on the surface adjacent to it, while for wall mounting the piping and faucet body are usually hidden inside the wall. Therefore, when installing a faucet for a free-standing sink, you can choose the position of the faucet at your discretion.
To make the mixer convenient and suitable for you, decide how you will use it. Faucets with a medium or, preferably, high spout are suitable for the kitchen; then it will be easy to place a large saucepan or a tall flower vase. Accordingly, the sink (sink) should be deep. In the bathroom, if in addition to washing your hands and brushing your teeth you will not use the faucet for other needs, a faucet with a low spout and a short spout is quite suitable.
When choosing a wall-mounted mixer, it is important to pay attention to such an indicator as the angle of incidence of the jet. Depending on this, fix the mixer in height relative to the sink.
Foreign or Russian manufacturers
The plumbing market is conventionally divided into three levels: budget, medium and premium. Over 70% of cranes in the budget category are produced in China. Russian companies offer products in the budget and mid-range categories. Czech companies have firmly occupied the middle level, and Germany has supplanted Italy, occupying the premium segment.
| ADVICE! Plumbing fixtures from China, which can be found on the shelves of Russian stores, often do not have certificates or they are fake. Many products are coated with compounds that are hazardous to health, and low-quality consumables are used. It is not advisable to buy such products. |
Advantages of Russian-made goods:
- Price. The service life is shorter, but the cost of the mixer is attractive.
- Availability of spare parts. You can find consumables even in small towns. Components for premium devices will have to be ordered from regional centers.
- The products are adapted to the quality of piped water. They will provide pressure even if the water pressure in the pipeline is minimal. German and Italian products require additional installation of filters. Some products are designed for a strictly specified water flow. The product warranty is valid only if the operating conditions are met.
Imported faucets are preferable for most consumers. This is due to the environmental safety of the products, long service life and ease of use. Manufacturers try to equip models with reliable locking mechanisms and fastenings.
| ADVICE! Before choosing a mixer, study the technical features of the device. All other parameters are a matter of buyer taste. |
The TOP includes plumbing brands Grohe, Jacob Delafon, Hansgrohe, Zorg, LM. Among the domestic brands, Iddis, Santekhpribor, Rossinka, and Edelform stand out. Below we will tell you how to choose a good faucet for your bath.
Choosing material for bathroom faucets
The body and elements of plumbing fixtures are made from different materials:
- Brass. It is resistant to corrosion and durable. If the manufacturer wants to make the appearance of the faucet better, then they cover the product with a different metal. Brass products are heavy. The composition of brass cannot be checked. But avoid red elements with dark spots. Good metal has a uniform yellow color.
- Steel. Rarely used, as it is an impractical material. Has a low service life.
- Plastic is used to make handles and other structural elements. They are additionally coated with chrome, enamel, and gold plated. It is better to take a product with a chrome finish. It will not cause allergies, does not wear off, and is considered durable.
The faucet made of plastic without additional coating is light weight and corrosion resistant. The downside is the fragility and appearance. Buy a plastic faucet for a rented apartment or cottage.
- Ceramics, granite, stone. Used for individual parts of the bathroom faucet. The product is resistant to high temperatures. Can be combined with ceramic and stone countertops. There are no fingerprints or water drops left on the matte surface.
- Bronze. Metal is suitable for a retro-style bath. But over time, bronze becomes covered with a green coating.
- Silumin. It is an alloy of silicon and aluminum. Service life – up to 2 years. Hot water has a destructive effect on metal.
Pay attention to the wall thickness of eccentrics and fittings. Thin ones can push through the gaskets, which will cause a leak, or simply break off along the thread. Products with short threads are easy to break. Reliable fittings are turned elements made from rolled bronze, since brass may contain hidden pores.
It is better to take flexible wiring and shower hoses from stainless steel with anti-twisting devices. Choose aerators and watering cans made of silicone. They are easier to clean. The last details are necessary to save water by saturating the jets with air.
Handles and valves of products can be decorated with stone, plastic elements or glass. It should be noted that the price of the mixer depends on the coating and material. Focus on decor taking into account your purchasing budget.
| ADVICE! If you use a system with old geysers at home, then it is better to install two-valve mixers for the bathroom. When the single-lever mechanism closes, a water hammer occurs. As a result, the water flow pressure may exceed the permissible values of the heat exchanger. |
