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How To Choose
The Right Taps
Author:
A.Jeffers
Date Written:
15-Oct-07
Copyright © 2006 www.click4bathrooms.com
We have progressed much over the last few thousand years - even more if you take the Darwinian stance, but when it comes to sanitation, staying clean is a fundamental human need. Even in our fancy high-rise apartments with chrome-plated taps, we have merely brought the source of water nearer to us. Essentially, all we have progressed to is a smaller sealed aqueduct.
Taps are no longer just turn on, turn off spindle heads. Whilst the more traditional taps are still available, the more recent models are often multi-functional and in some cases “space age” in design.
To aide in the development and use of such tap/faucets, plumbing technology has also progressed considerably. More accurate and sensitive control mechanisms are now available – both mechanical and electrical.
With the vast range of types, and designs within those types, the big question is which do you choose, or which tap is right for you? In answering you should establish the reason behind the purchase. Are the new taps being purchased to replace older ones due to wear and tear? This could be external wear and tear, for example chrome plating peeling off. On the other hand the replacement may be down to internal brake down, for example a blocked spout, loose spindle or poor seal/leaking/dripping. Another question to ask may be are the taps for a completely new bathroom? If so, you will want them to compliment the new installation design/theme. If you live with a disabled person you may want them to feel more comfortable and incorporate BRE and Building Regulations for DDA compliance.
The following questions are some of the most frequently asked in regard to tap/faucet selection, installation and maintenance:
Why do some taps cost more than others?
As with anything you buy, some taps are simply made better than others in terms of material and functionality. Look for taps made of copper, brass or other high quality metals. These taps are usually superior in terms of performance and durability. While you may pay more for quality taps, it will be worth it in the long run. However, this is all circumstantial, because if you are temporarily decorating a room to make it useable as opposed to aesthetically pleasing, there is little point spending the earth on taps on the basis they will last for decades and they look nice. The old saying, “you get what you pay for” is especially true for plumbing and sanitaryware equipment.
What should I look for in new taps/faucets?
Modern taps do more than just regulate the flow of hot and cold water. For installation in a bathtub, appearance is usually the deciding factor. First we tend to choose a type for the purpose in hand, for example, a shower mixer tap where a separate shower cannot be accommodated, and then we choose the one from the available shower mixer taps that looks the best. These factors are closely followed by cost.
Another factor to consider is whether there are matching accessories, for example towel bars, toilet paper holders and robe hooks readily available to promote a more integrated and complimentary bathroom environment.
If you regularly re-decorate your bathroom and would like a plug and play plumbing installation for simplicity of tap replacement, manufacturers such as Moen offer user-friendly solutions i.e. their M-PACT system. This system offers revolutionary valve architecture whereby the tap body can be replaced by simply unscrewing the old and screwing on the new. The base is a standard “fit-all” piece of kit. Of course, this means you are obliged to purchase your new taps from Moen again if you have installed the Moen base.
Will any taps fit my existing sink?
Most tap manufacturers offer a wide selection for any bathtub or sink/basin setting. To determine what type of taps you need, a good place to start is by counting the number of holes you in your sink. It may prove difficult to see the holes if the existing taps are covering them, so try looking under the sink.
With bathtubs, the taps are typically set at 4 inch or 8 inch widths. 4 inch settings are best suited to centre-set or mini widespread set-up. To determine if your new tap choice complies with this, consult the manufacturers literature or speak to the manufacturer. If the holes are set at 8 inches or more, the configuration is referred to as a “widespread”. When you choose your new taps, you can change from the existing style, but will have to purchase a new tap/new taps with the same size/width, otherwise you will have to replace the sink or bathtub to accommodate the new hole configuration.
Will my existing hot and cold water supply pipework connect ok?
Take time to determine the size of the hot and cold water supply pipework currently in place. The typical size is 15mm diameter, which works out at ½ inch in imperial units and domestic plumbing installations are normally completed in copper. However, nowadays, plastic is being more frequently used for simplicity, cost and speed of installation and is ideal for domestic installations. Problems may be encountered with plastic on an industrial scale, but in the domestic environment they are suitable. Plastic does connect to taps using different fittings than copper, so tell the tap seller to which plumbing system you will be connecting. They should be able to guide you in terms of fittings. For more information on connecting copper taps see here.
Can I replace a two-handle centre tap with a single-handle centre tap?
This is possible in the vast majority of cases. All centre/single-piece taps require a hot and cold water supply regardless of the number of handles they may have. The handles operate valves within the tap body and work like a thermostatic mixing valve only without a safety setting.
