Mixer taps to fill baths and basins have been a popular choice for many years. They are practical and look great.
This article will help you choose the right mixer tap for your bathroom.
Single Lever Mixer Taps
One lever mixer taps are the most practical and popular. They are simple to use and move around to adjust the water temperature and flow.
They are especially useful for parents with young children as they only require one hand to operate the single lever mixer tap. These are great for dog owners who plan to bathe their pets in a tub or basin.
These mixer taps often have a flow valve that helps with water efficiency. You can also have a valve fitted that prevents the temperature from rising too high to avoid scalding.
Dual/Double Handle Mixer Taps
These taps are more common in kitchens than bathrooms. They have handles on either side that provide hot water or cold water. Between the handles, the main tap outlet is located in the middle.
There will be blue and red markings on each handle to indicate hot or cold taps. This is helpful to ensure you don't burn yourself.
Two rotating handles mean that you will need two hands to get the right temperature.
Many dual-handle mixer taps have ceramic valves. This makes it easy to turn the levers and requires only minimal rotations to turn off the water flow. If you are looking for something more traditional, there is still a selection of older-style taps that have rubber washer valves.
Thermostatic mixing valves
These taps are commonly found in showers and usually take the form of a sleek, baton-shaped bar. The rotational tap controls water flow, while the temperature control tap controls the other.
The valves have markings at the ends that indicate temperature and flow rate. This is to prevent skin from being burned by hot water. Thermostatic valves are able to detect when cold water is flowing and cut off the hot water supply to the tap.
These taps are best suited for heating systems that use storage water heaters. Over time, these types of taps may start to reflect incorrect water temperatures. This should be taken into consideration.