Did you know that an average family wastes more than 9,000 gallons of water annually due to a faucet leak? That’s why it’s important to ensure that all the faucets in your home are working correctly. Most faucets last a decade or more, but if there’s a sound coming from your faucet or it’s dripping and spitting, it’s time to replace it.
Have you recently installed a new faucet but still experienced a water leak? Seek the help of a certified plumber from 5 Star plumbing in Sacramento today.
The Difference Between a Tap, Faucet, and Mixer
“Faucet” and “tap” both refer to a regulator controlling the water flowing from a reservoir’s pipes. The only difference is the “faucet” is American English while the term “tap” is British English. On the other hand, a tap mixer is a type of water tap or faucet where you can have hot and cold water in one device.
A shower mixer tap combines cold and hot water in the valve before releasing it into the shower head. Mixer taps used in the kitchen have raised neck spouts that rotate to have hot and cold water in more than one direction. There are also basin mixer taps usually installed in washbasins fixed to a wall or pedestal.
Things to Consider in Choosing the Right Mixer Tap
Picking the right mixer tap to use at home is vital because buying the wrong one can cause bigger problems and waste your money. To help you choose the most appropriate kitchen or bathroom faucet for your home, we’ve listed the things to consider before purchasing a mixer tap below:
Budget
There will always be a tap that’s within your budget. You only need to be patient and scrutinize what best works for you. You should also balance the value of money against the total cost. A cheap faucet can be low quality, not durable, and won’t take long to replace after a few years. Instead of getting a cheap or expensive faucet, choose a mid-range product with good reviews and brands.
Style and Design
Selecting a suitable tap mixer can be complicated due to the number of styles. These days taps are available in traditional, contemporary, and modern designs with sensor and LED features. There are also vintage and colored zinc mixer taps such as gold, rose gold, matte black, and copper, but these products are easy to scratch and quickly look old. But the best way is to pick the faucet that matches the interior design of your kitchen and bathroom.
Control and Versatility
When buying a tap mixer, choose one you can use more than what it is for, just like the pull-out and pull-down kitchen sink mixers. Because of its pull-out sprayer, cleaning foods, dishes, and large pots have become faster and easier. For the bathroom, there is also a two-way shower tap connected to the water heater and spout, and this bathroom fixture usually has a hose attached for cleaning purposes.
Convenience
Get a tap mixer that’s easy to use and adjust it to get a balanced water temperature. It’s a bonus if you can install it yourself. People prefer single lever over double levers because it’s convenient to use and install, only takes small space, and is modern and affordable. A gooseneck kitchen sink mixer is also popular because of its sleek and curved design, which makes cleaning larger items easy.
Water Efficient
Less water consumption not only helps in saving the environment but also your budget. Look for a mixer tap that is water efficient or comes with a flow limiter. If you save more water, your monthly water bills will be lower.
Warranty and Customer Support
Faucets, especially expensive ones, should have a warranty in case the product poses issues weeks or months after purchase. If you don’t have a warranty, you will be required to buy another mixer tap.
The brand should also have an available and helpful customer support team to assist with your inquiries and solve common mixer tap issues.
Conclusion
Thinking about budget, convenience, and style first is better than rushing to buy a mixer tap, so you won’t regret it later. Choosing a suitable tap mixer can be complicated, but it will ensure that your faucet serves your needs well and remains durable for a long time. For installation, it’s better to get a plumbing professional who is well-trained and experienced to avoid improper faucet installation and prevent issues such as water leakage.
