Mixers and their types.

Choosing faucets for kitchen, bathroom, toilet

Choosing a good faucet among a wide variety is not easy. As in other areas, the consumer is faced with a dilemma: to take inexpensive Chinese or high-quality European appliances. First of all, you pay attention to design, yes, this is important, but do not forget to check the characteristics of the mixer, its principle of operation and ease of use. Choose a reliable, high-quality model and then it will serve you for a long time. Consult with a specialist, of course, the seller in the store will tell you, but he is still not a professional and partly he has his own interests.

• The most important indicator of quality is the material used to make the faucet. Traditionally, the best sanitary ware is made from brass, cast by centrifugal casting. This method of production ensures uniformity of composition and strength.
• You can distinguish a quality product by weight. German mixers hansgrohe (Hansgroe), Grohe (Groe), Bulgarian Vidima (Visible) and Italian-made plumbing are several times heavier than the products of numerous Chinese companies.
• Authenticity will be evidenced by instructions printed on white paper, color packaging and a warranty card. Sellers are required to issue a 2-5 year warranty, depending on the manufacturer's policy.
• Remember that it is not worth putting cheapness at the forefront. Practice shows that buying a cheap faucet is almost always more expensive than acquiring a quality one.

mixer function

The main function of the faucet is to mix hot and cold water. Now the plumbing market offers many design options for faucets. But let's understand what is a mixer? These are devices to which two pipes with hot and cold water are connected. But how water is mixed in the faucet depends on which faucet the faucet has. Depending on the internal design of the faucet, there are several types of mixers.

• Single lever
• Two-valve
• thermostats
• Touch

Single lever mixers.

Single-lever faucets are relatively new, but are quickly gaining popularity due to their ease of use and the wide variety available on the market. The water supply is regulated by moving the lever up and down, and the temperature adjustment is to the right and left, which is much faster and more convenient than two-valve faucets. Single-lever mixers use cartridges. They are reliable and durable, easy to change during repairs. Disadvantage: high requirements for water quality and price.

Double valve mixer.

These mixers have been known since Soviet times. However, even now they have not lost their relevance. Two-valve faucets are successfully used both for the kitchen sink and for the bathroom. The bathroom uses a faucet with a shower diverter. A two-valve mixer looks like a faucet with two valves. It will take more time to adjust the water temperature than with a single-lever mixer, but the result will be more accurate. Thanks to this, water is consumed more economically, which is important if a water meter is installed in the apartment. In two-valve mixers, rubber gaskets or ceramic discs are used as a locking element. Rubber gaskets are adapted to poor water quality, are easy to replace and are cheap. But they have a short lifespan. Ceramic discs last a long time and to adjust the water it is enough to turn the valve half a turn, which is convenient to use.

thermostats

Modern technologies do not stand still. Faucets equipped with a thermoelement that controls the flow of hot and cold water are gaining popularity. It is enough to set the necessary water temperature parameters once and they are saved, as well as a constant water pressure is maintained. Therefore, thermostats have two regulators. On one side of the mixer-thermostat, the water pressure is regulated by a handle. On the other hand, there is a temperature scale on which you can independently set the one you need.

This is very convenient if there are children in the house, you can not be afraid for their safety. Well, if you need hot water or vice versa, just change the function. Comfort and reliability are guaranteed. And you can choose the design to your taste. But, I want to add a fly in the ointment. Unfortunately, our water supply systems do not always work well. With unstable pressure, jumps and drops, thermostats do not always cope with the load, there may be failures. (this happens!) If there are no problems with pressure in the water supply, then using such a faucet is a pleasure. It works ideally when hot water is turned off for the summer period and the “boiler” heats the hot water. In this case, the temperature in both pipes is stable and has the same pressure. You use only the flow knob, and the other is always in position 36.6

Sensor mixers for sinks.

We have long been accustomed to the fact that at the entrance to the airport, train station or just a shopping center, the doors open themselves. Is it nice to wash in the sink with water at a comfortable temperature, without using any levers? The same infrared sensors are used here, only miniature ones. Let's look inside the sensor mixer, see what's there. There is a monoblock with control valves and the electronics necessary for its operation, a touch sensor and a small lithium battery. Yes, yes, it is a battery with a service life of at least two years - it is designed for the intensity of using the mixer 3000-5000 starts per month. Such a mixer is hygienic, water is used sparingly, but most importantly, you don’t have to worry if you closed the tap, you won’t flood your neighbors from below. The simplicity of the design, the absence of various connections makes it easy to install the device yourself.

And the last. What material to give preference? Most of the models offered by manufacturers are produced from become and sanitary brass. Since brass darkens over time, faucet bodies are chrome-plated. These combinations are the most reliable and convenient.

Bath mixers

We combine the design you like with the necessary functionality (not to the detriment of the latter.) Bathroom faucets differ in that they are combined with a shower. In a small bathroom, we use a faucet with a swivel spout, which makes it possible to use it both for the bathtub and for the sink. Usually these are faucets with a hand shower, which can, if desired, be mounted on a holder installed at the height you need. In a country house, and houses of modern buildings with a large bathroom, you can let your imagination run wild in the choice of styles and decorative design. as well as by the method of installation; wall, floor, desktop, built into the wall. You can put a cascade mixer. It is installed directly on the side of the bath. The bathtub will be filled several times faster. Such a mixer is compact, practically does not create splashes, and is silent. True, the most inexpensive one costs twice as much as the usual one. In addition to the listed devices, electronic contact faucets are now used in elite bathroom interiors, which are configured using the buttons on the panel. As for materials, stereotypes have no place here. Starting from inexpensive, but high-quality plastic, silumin, ceramic cases and ending with glass, stone, wooden cases. In terms of functionality, the case can be cast or made. The cast body is not very functional in terms of mobility, but it is the most durable, besides it is more hygienic, it is easier to care for it, there are no different connections. Mixers with a prefabricated body are functional, but the more functionality, the more connecting nodes, which means less strength and more difficult to clean. Faucets with a telescopic spout have appeared, which can not only turn left and right and along their axis, but also lengthen, even take different positions.

Bath and shower thermostats

How are you? Wanted to take a shower? Shower faucet. It differs from the bath faucet, first of all, in its size, being more compact. This is due to the lack of a spout and a bath-shower switch. Water enters directly into the shower set, mixing there and reaching the desired temperature. Installation of such systems can be both external and hidden.

Basin mixer.

Basin mixer. One of the main requirements for a washbasin faucet for customers is not so much technical excellence, but compatibility with other available bath or shower faucets, i.e. creating a harmonious ensemble in the bathroom. Like similar mechanisms designed for a bath, sink faucets are designed for one hole or three. The latter option requires special plumbing. The former remains more common because its installation is somewhat easier. This type of faucet must be equipped with a special kit for quick installation, as well as an eyeliner. You can choose a rigid connection using chrome-plated brass tubes or a flexible connection with stainless steel flexible hoses. Some models of basin mixers are supplied with a special drain set. With it, you can open or close the drain hole of the sink by pressing a small lever in the mixer body. Another interesting equipment is known - these are faucets equipped with a pull-out spout to provide simple and effective care for the surface of the sink. With such a mechanism, plumbing will retain its original appearance for a long time, and cleaning will not take much time and will not require significant effort.

Bidet mixer.

Bidet mixer. In terms of its technical and functional characteristics, it is in many ways similar to a sink mixer. In most cases, the mixer is mounted directly on the side and can have one or three holes. The only difference is that the bidet faucet comes with a special aerator with a ball joint, which allows you to change the direction of the jet and makes the use of plumbing easier and more comfortable. Another modification of the classic bidet faucet is complemented by a hygienic shower. This feature allows you to use a regular toilet as a bidet. To do this, it is necessary that there is a sink nearby. If the bathroom is not large, this is a great way out. The hygienic shower can also be connected to a standard shower faucet, including a concealed faucet. You can also use special bidet thermostats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le67aIUEuZ8

How to recognize a "Chinese" faucet? Why quotes? There are decent manufacturers in China. I mean the handicraft production of cheap goods. These faucets are not only cheaper, but also lighter. For their production, the achievements of powder metallurgy are used and very often plastic and aluminum powder are used. In the best case, the zamak material is used - an alloy of zinc, aluminum, steel and 7–10% brass. Naturally, there is no need to talk about guarantees and service life of such mixers.

In connection with the increase in prices for housing and communal services and the installation of metering devices, the demand for sensory faucets for household needs has increased. Most in demand today touchless thermostatic mixers, allowing you to set the temperature and pressure of water with high accuracy.

Types of sensor mixers.

In the house, depending on the area of ​​​​application, different models of mixers are installed. For the kitchen, we install a faucet with lever and touch control, as we need constant adjustment of the water temperature. Such a mixer is equipped with a valve or levers.

The package may include an aerator, but a watering can and a retractable spout are not included with inexpensive models.

The latest models of kitchen faucets are a modern multifunctional device that can be turned on and off with a button or from a touch panel, equipped with an aerator or a timer to save water, and also have a pull-out spout for a pot or kettle.

In the bathroom, you can install contactless products for the washbasin and sensory shower. To turn on the water supply, you must be in the working area of ​​the sensor, which can be configured using the remote control. Sensor showers have an undeniable advantage in saving water consumption. The delivery set includes a touch panel with a built-in sensor. If quite recently sensor mixers were considered an expensive purchase, now a sensor mixer can be found from 9,000 rubles. But the best choice is of course value for money. Sensor mixers differ among themselves in the type of sensors that work on photocells and on infrared rays. The latter have a significant “plus”, since they do not require special distance calibration during installation. This becomes possible due to the absence of dependence on the distance of the object. The faucets run on a 9V series lithium battery with a two-year lifespan. It is able to cycle water on and off about 4000 times. Usually the battery is sold complete with a mixer.

Benefits of sensor mixers

• Using a touch mixer allows you not to think about whether you have turned off the tap. Setting an acceptable temperature saves you from having to constantly mix cold and hot water.
• If there are small children in the house, you will not be worried about how the child does not get burned.
• And of course, it saves water.

How to choose a mixer

To make the mixer convenient and suitable for you in terms of parameters, decide how you will use it. For the kitchen, faucets with an average, and preferably a high spout, are suitable, then it will be easy to substitute a large pot or a tall flower vase. Accordingly, the sink (sink) should be deep. In the bathroom, if in addition to washing your hands and brushing your teeth you will not use the faucet for other needs, a faucet with a low spout and a short spout is quite suitable.

When choosing a wall mixer, it is important to pay attention to such an indicator as the angle of incidence of the jet. Depending on this, fix the mixer in height relative to the sink.