A water faucet is a plumbing device that mixes, regulates and supplies water. Depending on the purpose, type and place of application, faucets can be of different mechanisms, shapes and designs.
Most often, faucets are made of brass or a special alloy, and then chrome-plated. Faucets made of stainless steel are also quite popular.
Types of faucets
By operating principle
- With separate taps – the faucet mechanisms consists of two separate taps – for cold and hot water. By adjusting each tap, you can achieve the required temperature and pressure of mixed water supplied from the spout.
- Single-lever – the faucet is equipped with one lever, which simultaneously controls the supply of both cold and hot water. When turning to the right and left, the volume of cold and hot water is adjusted, and when raised upward, the flow of already mixed water is adjusted. The design of such a faucet can be of two types:
- Ball – the water is regulated by a metal ball with three holes, changing the position of which, relative to the cold and hot water connection holes, changes the pressure and temperature of the already mixed water.
- Ceramic – here the water is regulated by tightly pressed, polished plates with holes, made of metal ceramics. The movement of the lever changes the position of the plates relative to each other and accordingly the volume of cold and hot water.
- Thermostat – the faucet automatically maintains the set water temperature. Equipped with two handles – one for setting the temperature, and the second for adjusting the water pressure. The device uses a sealed capsule with a special substance inside, which can change its volume when the temperature changes and thereby set in motion the mechanism for supplying the volume of cold-hot water.
- Electronic faucets can open and close water by signals from various sensors, for example, in public places, when you put your hands under the tap. These devices can also perform other functions – remember the values of temperature and water pressure, maintain a set temperature during fluctuations, turn on the backlight, etc. But for the electronic faucet to work, it is also necessary to connect to electricity.
By place of use
- For a sink in a bathroom or toilet, a faucet with a fixed (not swivel), small or medium spout is most often used. It is installed in a hole in the sink itself, and is connected to the water with flexible hoses.
- For a kitchen sink, a faucet with a swivel, high spout is usually used, so that it is convenient to use the sink for washing dishes, food, filling a pot with water, cooking, etc. The faucet is attached to a hole in the sink itself or in the kitchen countertop, and is connected to the water with flexible hoses.
- With a flexible or pull-out spout. For ease of use in the kitchen, various models of faucets have been developed – for example, with a flexible spout, which allows you to direct the flow of water to the desired location. And a faucet with a pull-out spout is equipped with a flexible hose like a shower, which hides under the countertop and extends when necessary.
- With a double spout – this faucet has an additional tap for supplying filtered water. In fact, these are two taps in one, there is a separate connection for filtered water and it is discharged through a combined spout with two streams.
- For a shower and a bath, a faucet with a small spout or no spout at all is used if it is only a shower. However, there are combined faucets on the contrary with a long, swivel spout that can be turned into a bath or a sink. The faucet is firmly attached to the wall, which is initially provided with a cold and hot water supply. But the mechanism of the shower itself may differ depending on the geographic location:
- In Europe, shower faucet with a flexible hose and a single-lever mechanism are usually used, which can control both the temperature and the water pressure.
- In the USA, Canada, Australia, the shower head and faucet are built directly into the wall, and the faucet lever rotates in one plane and cannot regulate the water pressure separately from the temperature.
- The bidet faucet is equipped with a short spout on which a rotating head is installed, allowing you to direct the flow of water. A faucet with a flexible hose, installed on the wall next to the bidet, can also be used.
- Special – various faucets with special functions used in production, medicine, public places, etc.
