When it comes to choosing a faucet for your home, there are many different options to choose from. You can go with a traditional style faucet, or you could choose something more modern. There are also several different types of materials that faucets can be made from. In this blog post, we will discuss 4 Types of Faucets.
A faucet is an important and functional component of your sink for regulating and turning on and off running water in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or other areas. The inside of a faucet may be quite different from that of another. It’s useful to know a thing about the inner workings of a faucet before you pick a replacement or deal with any repairs
4 Types of Faucets
The four most frequent types of faucets used in households are:
The first three (ball, disc, and cartridge) are referred to as “washerless faucets” because they don’t include rubber or neoprene washers in the assembly. To regulate water flow, a rubber washer is required for a compression faucet. We’ll go through each form of faucet and the considerations you should think about if you’re renovating, repairing, or just want an upgrade.
Ball Faucet
The first type of washerless faucet, the ball faucet, is most often used in kitchen sinks. They are identified by a single handle that moves over a spherical cap located just above the faucet spout’s base. The ball faucet has a single handle that controls a specific plastic or metal ball housed within the faucet body.
This ball has chambers or slots in it, as well as rubber O-rings and spring-loaded rubber seals. The flow and mixing temperature of water coming out of the faucet is controlled by the ball/lever assembly depending on the position of the ball.
Although ball faucets are just as durable on the outside as other types of faucets, the internal workings may not be able to withstand regular use and will require more maintenance. Because there are more parts in a ball faucet, it is prone to leaking more than cartridge or disc washerless faucets. However, becauseball faucet technology is older, they tend to be one of the most inexpensive types of faucts available.
- Sleek single handle
- Most common type of faucet for kitchens
- Affordable
- Tends to leak
- Many complicated parts
- Can be tough to pinpoint the leak
Disc (or Disk) Faucet
Ceramic disc faucets are the newest advancement in today’s popular faucet models. These faucets can be recognized by their single lever placed on top of a wide, cylindrical base. The disk faucet mixes both hot and cold water together inside the pressure balance cartridge, which functions as a mixing chamber.
The two ceramic discs at the bottom of the chamber work together to control how much water flows. The handle needs to be rotated from side-to-side in order to adjust temperatures. Though they are more expensive, these faucets use newer technology and thus are higher quality and more reliable than other types of faucets on the market that will need repairs more frequently.
You’ll barely need to touch the lever to operate your water. These faucets are extremely sensitive to touch, making them perfect for those who have arthritis or hand grip problems.
- Newer and more reliable technology
- High quality
- Stands up to extreme temperatures
- Over time, disks erode and break.
- It takes some time to get used to the faucet’s feel.
- More expensive form of technology
Cartridge Faucet
A double-handle cartridge faucet may be mistaken for a compression washer faucet. However, you can detect the difference by how the handles feel when operated. To close the water flow, you must tighten (compress) the washer on a compression faucet.
The action of a cartridge faucet is smooth and continuous, with only a half-turn required to go from off to on. With no additional force being needed, the faucet shuts off as it does with a compression faucet.
The cartridges are said to be sturdy and simple to replace, suggesting that this type of faucet may require less maintenance than other options. However, the cartridges may be pricey to replace depending on the manufacturer and model of your sink; some might cost over $100.
- Simple to use and works effectively.
- Cartridges are long-lasting.
- It’s easy to repair.
- Seals on the bottom of cartridges may still break down.
- Some brands’ replacement cartridges might be expensive.
Compression Washer Faucet
Compression washers have been in use since the inception of on-demand indoor plumbing. They may be found in older houses and are still utilized in utility sinks in newer homes today, although newer versions are becoming more common.
These faucets tend to be the cheapest to purchase, but they aren’t as long-lasting as most of them due to leaks and upkeep necessary. On the plus side, spare parts are inexpensively available.
Compression washer faucets have their own hot and cold water handles and require you to tighten the handles down to close off the water flow. These faucets are activated by a compression stem, which is essentially a glorified screw with a washer on the end that presses against a valve seat.
- Low cost
- Fits aesthetics of older style homes
- Easy to repair even though it’s quick to wear out
- Prone to leaks
- Higher maintenance
- Older
Choosing a Faucet
Faucets come in a variety of materials and styles, but they all have one thing in common: They are built to last for years. Faucet maintenance (worn protective coatings, forcing handles to operate too strongly) and environmental issues (hard water and lime scale buildup) cause them to fail sooner than necessary. A faucet’s failure is usually obvious.
The tap’s end is rusted, the finish is dull or flaking off, the handles are leaking, and the leaks won’t go away even when you try to fix them. You can replace a faucet of one sort with another. You cannot exchange the assembly of a faucet; however, you may replace an entire faucet with a single-handle design that has a ceramic disc component.
Consider your sink’s layout, too. If you wish to replace a two-handle faucet with a single-handle faucet, this is also possible, but be sure the new single-handle faucet’s base plate will adequately cover the extra holes. If you only have one hole, though, stick with a single-handle faucet.
When it comes to choosing a faucet, you should also consider these five factors:
- If you are not handy at home, pick a cartridge faucet. They’re easy to fix.
- If you have disability or arthritic issues, get a disk faucet. They’re very easy to turn on and off with just a little pressure from your wrist or palm.
- For basic single handle designs that look sleek, go for an affordable ball type faucet . Get this if you want something timeless in design but don’t want to spend too much..
- Disk Faucets are the most updated longest lasting type but they come at a higher cost and usually require professional installation or repairs down the line so only choose this option if you’re ready for that commitment financially and in terms of future repairs needed.
- If you have compression faucets in your older home and want to upgrade, it’s a good idea to consult a plumber just to be sure.