The time comes and you are faced with the difficult question of the need to purchase a completely new faucet, and whether we want it or not, but in order to purchase the necessary product, we rush to the store, although in most cases we do not even imagine any differences in these plumbing mechanisms. You do not buy a faucet just to have it – there is always a good reason. And there are very few reasons that prompted you to buy: either you are renovating your apartment and you want a new modern device for supplying water to be installed in your bathroom or kitchen, or the old faucet has become unusable and leaked.

Where should you start? First, you must clearly know where you will install the faucet, if they are considered by classification, then we can name two main groups used in everyday life: for the bathroom, and kitchen.

Let’s consider a faucet for the kitchen. It allows you to wash, first of all, dishes, vegetables and fruits and other products. The spout of the kitchen faucet should be high, so you will see that large dishes and other items can be placed under the faucet. Faucets on a high spring suspension with a pull-out hose are very popular for the kitchen.

For a double sink, you can use a separate type: a faucet with a high spout, it is placed between two sinks in the center; and you can choose a faucet with a flexible hose, install it in a place from where you can reach any corner of the sink.

Let’s also consider a bathroom faucet. Bathroom faucets can be divided into several subtypes:
– for a sink;
– with a mode switch for a faucet or shower, which has both a shower hose with a shower head and its own spout;
– two independent separate faucets, one of which is located on the wall and functions as a shower, and the second is responsible for filling the bath with water;
– shower stand;
– It is also worth noting a separate shower head, the so-called mixers with a hygienic shower, which is a mixer used for a sink, which has a third outlet for supplying cold and hot water with a self-closing valve to the hygienic shower head. The shower head is connected via a flexible hose to the mixer.

You should have an idea of ​​the types of mixers. The first to mention is the classic, which includes two-valve mixers, they have separate handles for cold and hot water, switching to a shower is done with a handle located in the center. All valves of this mixer are a replaceable tap-box, which is a certain water shut-off device, mainly manufactured in two types – with rubber cuffs or with ceramic plates.

A small turning stroke has a ceramic tap-box, from the closed to the open state of the tap, a smooth turn of the handle, which does not require any effort at all. Such products are not subject to repair, in case of breakage, a complete replacement of the box is necessary. In terms of service life, a tap box lasts longer than a device with cuffs, they are also exposed to sand, and their service life depends on the water and its quality.

Tap boxes with rubber cuffs have a long turn of the handle, when closing the tap at the end, a little effort is required. Wear of rubber gaskets forces owners to fix the breakdown by replacing the gaskets. Maintenance is inexpensive, since the gaskets are cheap.

The leader in the plumbing market remains the two-valve mixer, and its main valve system makes it possible to smoothly regulate the temperature and water pressure, unlike some types of mixers.

Relatively recently, but confidently, single-lever mixers have entered our everyday life. Temperature and water pressure control is provided by one lever. A single-lever faucet consists of a cartridge, which is divided into two types: ceramic and ball.

The advantage of a single-lever mixer is the ability to control the temperature and water flow with one hand. A plastic or ball cartridge is a hollow ball made of metal with holes. When tilted and turned on the mixer lever, the holes in the ball are aligned or shifted parallel to the mating part of the cartridge, where water is supplied through the holes and comes out through the spout. A mixer with a thermostat is a combination of practicality and modern technology.

The water temperature in such mixers is monitored by a thermostat, which supplies water at the temperature set by the user and, even when the cold water supply is suddenly shut off, the thermostat will immediately shut off the hot water supply, protecting against an ice shower and burns. Such a mixer is convenient for small children and the elderly.

What should you pay attention to when buying a mixer? Reliability and quality are the most important criteria when buying a mixer. When buying a mixer, each buyer wants not to return to this issue in the near future. Proper maintenance

and using the mixer, with a responsible approach to selection and installation – the device will serve you for many years.

When choosing, do not forget that an important factor in the mixer is the body and the coating applied to the surface of the tap. In most cases, the body is made of brass, then a chrome coating is applied to the surface by galvanization, although the shell is often made of stainless steel. When choosing, pay attention to the weight of the product and its massiveness, a good mixer should not be thin-walled and light. Scratches and abrasions quickly form on a thin and poor-quality coating.

When buying plumbing equipment, various add-ons included in the kit can be a good addition. Therefore, always when choosing, inquire whether anything else is included with the product. The most common mixers with a long service life are produced by the AZIN BRONZE trademark. Undoubtedly, you will find worthy products from this company, or you can use the products of other companies. The choice is always yours!

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