Types of bathroom faucets with shower

Are you standing in front of a display window and can’t choose a bathroom faucet with shower? Have you looked through all the online catalogs, but still can’t figure out what will suit you best? Let's try again, with feeling, with sense, with arrangement.

Criteria for selecting mixers with shower

In order not to make a mistake, pay attention to all the properties they have. Think about what is more important to you, prioritize and only then... No, don’t go to the store. Now each of them has their own website, first go there and check out the assortment. And this time, take into account each parameter, “assembling” the mixer of your dreams from them. And as soon as you find it (and ideally, several options), write down the name and go to the store. There you can already inspect the product with your own eyes and finally make sure whether it suits you or not.

Important! If you go to the store right away, there is a chance that annoying sales assistants may sell you something that you don’t need at all, filling your head with knowledge about non-existent magical functions.

What should you pay attention to? First of all, you need to decide on the type of faucet - with a low spout, with a universal tap or without it at all?

Next you need to understand where exactly you want to install it.It will be a plus for you if you take all the measurements right away so that you pay attention to the dimensional parameters. The faucet can be located on the side of the bathroom, on a counter or on the wall.

Of course, a reliable manufacturer is important. Ruthlessly Google everything you learn about the companies you see. At the end of the article I’ll tell you about my favorites, you can look at something from them too. In the meantime, let’s find out in more detail what types exist.

Types of Bathroom Faucets

The most obvious difference is how they are managed. Many consider models with two valves to be outdated, but they are still in demand among buyers, because they allow finer control of the water temperature than lever valves. More modern models may not only be intimidating with their unusual operating principles, but also may not suit your design. For example, in retro style only valve mixers can be used, and no others.

Lever models have now also become familiar to consumers. They are convenient because they adjust the temperature much faster: just one movement may be enough. This saves not only time, but also water. It’s unlikely that anyone now doesn’t know the principle of their operation, but just in case, for the eternal “fan” fans, let me remind you: turning left or right adjusts the water temperature, and up and down adjusts the jet pressure.

Touchless and sensor faucets are just beginning to gain popularity. But since their cost is much higher than the previous two, not everyone can afford them, so many could only see such models in some modernly equipped public toilets (or when visiting wealthy friends).

These faucets respond to the warmth of your hands, which activates the water flow. In some models it lasts for a certain specified time, and in some, more modern ones, it depends on the position of the hands. Temperature and pressure are controlled by lever. This is convenient because you can set a setting that is convenient for you once and not adjust it again, except in certain cases. This also saves time and water.

And finally, the highest hi-tech - a mixer with a thermostat. You initially set a range of temperatures and pressure beyond which it should not go - in some models using levers, in others - on a special screen. This is a salvation for families with small children, but it is by no means cheap.

Features of different switching mechanisms

This is what redirects the water flow from the faucet to the shower and back again. There are as many as six types of them.

An eccentric is a banal handle that, when turned, opens and closes one or another connector. It works exclusively mechanically and really pleases with its price and versatility, since it is suitable for any mixer, even an ultra-sophisticated one, as long as the dimensions of the parts match. But, of course, it also has its disadvantages: connections become loose over time, and gaskets wear out and require replacement.

A cartridge is also a pen, but it works on a different principle. I won’t delve into uninteresting technical details, the main thing is that it is more durable than the previous version. However, the eccentric one has the advantage that if it breaks, it can be repaired, but the cartridge one will only have to be completely replaced.

With ball diverter. Even more reliable than the previous one, but even here there are more problems during repair. The only solution is to replace the entire locking device.

With plug diverter. Its operating principle is the same as that of the eccentric one, but it looks different - it’s a cap over the tap that needs to either be pulled up or pressed so that it goes down. In theory, it can be repaired, but the problem is that it is almost impossible to find parts for it.

Push-button mechanism. Outwardly, it is no different from the previous one, but has one useful function: it automatically switches from the shower back to the tap after turning off the water.

What material is better to choose a shower mixer from?

To answer this question, let's get acquainted with all the existing ones (or at least the most popular ones). This:

• silumin;
• stainless steel;
• brass;
• bronze;
• ceramics;
• any of the previous materials + plastic.

Important! I highly recommend not buying the first option! It looks nice on the display, but in terms of its quality... You can buy it only if you urgently need at least some of the cheapest faucets for the first time, while you are looking for a normal one. Because the service life of a silumin device is at most one or two years. Then it begins to rust, break and other horrors.

All others are quite suitable for long-term use. Of course, brass and bronze are especially reliable, but they also have a corresponding price.

Faucet coating

Of course, appearance matters too. And it is achieved precisely by coating.

The only material that is already luxurious enough not to need it is bronze. Brass itself is also beautiful, it looks like light gold, but it does not suit every design, so it is often coated with chrome-nickel plating. It can be mirror or matte, silver or other metals.

Spectacular options are obtained with an enamel coating.

Imitation of natural stone is also in demand.

Popular manufacturers of shower faucets

Finally, let’s talk about those thanks to which we see such diversity on the plumbing market. I'll start with foreign companies that are loved by consumers:

1. Grohe.
2. Hansgrohe.
3. Jacob Delafon.
4. Roca.
5. Lemark.
6. Zorg.
7. Mofem.
8. Oras.
9. Paffoni.

If you want to support a domestic manufacturer, I hasten to disappoint you: they are far from Western quality. However, everything is compensated by a more affordable price. Currently, the highest quality faucets on the Russian market are produced by Iddis.

I hope now you won’t get lost either on plumbing websites or in the store. As you can see, in order to choose the mixer of your dreams, it is not necessary to have deep technical knowledge, the main thing is to understand which properties are your priority.