A tap is a tap and it’s not like it would matter whatever type you use for your bathroom, right? Wrong.
While seemingly small and ornamental, plumbing taps are an essential part of your system. They are available in a thousand different designs and prices, and determining the right one for you should be based on several factors like your water pressure.
In this article, discover why finding the right tap is something that shouldn’t be overlooked.
The Factors that Determine the Right Plumbing Tap For You
Water Pressure
When you’re working on your bathroom design or updating your fixtures, you should first check your water pressure because this would determine which taps are possible to fit with your plumbing system. For example, low-pressure water systems tend to be gravity-fed.
It means you’ll have to use taps that are specifically designed to work on low pressure. For this situation, two separate taps that are mounted directly on the washbasin would be better than mixers and wall-mounted taps as these two require relatively more water pressure.
Spouts
This may seem like a no-brainer, but there’s nothing more frustrating than a sink where you can barely place your hands under the running water. Therefore, it pays to take note of the size and height of the spout for your basin. How big is the basin? How far away from the basin’s edge are the tap holes?
For compact basins, consider a tap with a shorter spout and one that extends as far as the plughole. But, for larger ones, a longer spout—one that swivels—may be more appropriate.
Type
It’s easy to get caught up with style, but before you could think of aesthetics, make sure that you find taps that work with the number of holes you have in the basin. For example, if you have a single tap hole, a monobloc or single-lever tap would do. The water will flow through a single spout and will be controlled by one or two handles.
If you have two tap holes, on the other hand, you would be able to choose between pillar and mixer taps. Whatever is the case for you, you can rest assured that there’s a wide range of styles in different price points that are available to you.
Aesthetics
In terms of choosing the right tap for you, it’s crucial that you choose something that’s in tune with the rest of the fittings in your bathroom—whether it be a total match or contrast with them.
More often, the material and finishing of your tap have to do with it and you have at least three options: chrome, metallics, and coloured lacquer. Whereas chrome offers a timeless finish, metallics such as brass and gold are perfect for achieving a vintage look in heritage-style bathrooms. Coloured lacquers, on the other hand, lend a unique vibe to your room that can match almost any theme.
Your taps and fixtures are put under daily wear and tear and often aren’t the easiest or cheapest thing to replace. It matters that you invest in high-quality ones and work with a licensed plumber who is knowledgeable in determining the right one for your bathroom. Furthermore, having a plumbing contractor on stand will give you security as plumbing accidents and problems can surface anytime. Note that only professional plumbers with years of experience can provide excellent tap repairs, clogged drain fixes, or pipe relining services.
Now that you have some of the precise technical indications to guide you in determining the right plumbing tap, feel free to find the one that matches that of your ideal bathroom. You could be overwhelmed with the number of options in your local hardware, but this information should keep you guided as you narrow down your search.
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