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Bathroom Sink Faucets 101: A Breakdown of Different Types and Features

· Home and Decor

The bathroom faucet, often overlooked as a basic plumbing fixture, plays a crucial role in the overall room's design. It's essential to choose one that not only complements your household aesthetics but also fits within your budget. If you're searching for bathroom sink faucets, here's a short list of some of the most popular types.

Type of Faucets

Bathroom faucet

Single-Hole Faucet

These types of bathroom sink taps are specifically designed to be installed into a single hole on the back of a sink or vanity. They usually come with a single handle, lever, or knob that allows you to control the water flow and temperature. However, some designs feature two separate controls. One of the advantages of single-hole faucets is that they offer more precise control over the volume and temperature of the water. Another benefit is that they are much easier and quicker to install compared to other types of faucets. In cases where you want to use a single-hole faucet that has a three-hole installation layout, you can use an escutcheon or a deck plate to conceal the other two holes. Single-hole faucets are typically available with one handle, although sometimes you may find models with two handles. They are particularly well-suited for smaller bathrooms due to their sleek and simple design.

Centerset Faucet

This installation type is quite popular due to its adaptable design that complements bathrooms of all sizes. The centre bathroom sink faucets feature a unified design where the faucet spout and handles are combined into a cohesive unit. Each faucet provides controls for hot and cold water, ensuring precise temperature adjustments with each use.

  • Two handles facilitate effortless operation
  • Suitable for sinks with three holes and 10cm or 15-cm faucet centers
  • The spout and handles are securely attached to a base unit that is directly mounted on the sink.

Widespread Faucets

Widespread faucets are known for their reliability and wide range of styles and options. Unlike other faucet types, the handles of widespread faucets are installed individually and are not attached to the spout-mounting base. Instead, they have three separate pieces installed in a three-hole basin. This unique design allows for a larger basin, with some faucets having a centre distance of up to 40 cm wide. Additionally, widespread faucets often feature unique escutcheon plates that are specifically sized to fit the individual handle and spout base, rather than using a one-piece escutcheon for all three faucet parts. It's worth noting that most widespread faucets come with two handles, making them the most commonly found and popular installation type. The faucet centres of widespread faucets can range from 15 to 40cm wide, providing flexibility in terms of installation.

Vessel Faucets

Vessel faucets are designed with a taller spout to match the raised lip of above-the-counter vessel sinks. Due to their increased height, vessel faucets are often found as single-hole faucets, often featuring a lever handle for ease of use.

Wall-Mounted Faucets

These provide a modern and stylish option compared to traditional sink-mounted faucets. They'll free up space on the vanity or sink, making them an ideal choice for freestanding vessel sinks or inset basin sinks. Installation requires a wall-mounted valve connection, which may be more costly as the water supply line needs to be directed to sink height inside the wall. It's crucial to measure the spout carefully to ensure it aligns with the sink's height and depth to avoid any water spillage on the floor. These faucets can be mounted with one or two handles, adding versatility to the design.

Different Types of Faucet Handles

Faucet handle

The various types of faucet handles play a crucial role in defining the characteristics and functionality of your faucet. These handles help regulate the flow of water from both the hot and cold water lines, allowing for the perfect blend of temperatures before it cascades into the sink.

Single Handle

Faucets with a single handle provide an excellent balance of temperature and volume control. Just turn the handle to adjust the water temperature to your liking. Additionally, lifting or lowering the handle allows you to modify the water pressure, ensuring a comfortable and customized experience.

Two Handles

Two-handle faucets typically offer a broader selection of designs and dimensions, featuring handles either on opposite sides or adjacent to the spout. This arrangement allows for independent control of the hot and cold water supply.

Touchless Faucet

The touchless faucets often have no handle at all. The water temperature on touchless faucets is usually set at a steady temperature upon installation. These work on electronic sensors that can detect movement, so the water turns on and off when the faucet senses a hand in front of it. Some touchless faucets are electric powered while others can be battery operated.

Touch-Activated Faucets

Just like touchless faucets, these eliminate the need for handles. Instead of waving, touch-activated faucets just require a gentle tap on the sensor to activate or deactivate the flow of water. The temperature can be pre-set or adjusted manually using a knob or handle for control.