The water supply system in the home is quite complex. It contains many elements. One of them are water taps, the types of which are diverse. They can serve as shutoff valves in the system, regulate the pressure of water. But the most famous function of the crane is the intake. It is the crane that mediates between communications and the delivery of their contents to the consumer. There are many types of water taps. Each is designed to perform its tasks in certain conditions. How to choose the right type of faucet for water supply, you should understand before buying. This will help to study the purpose of each of them.
Appointment of cranes
In autonomous, local or central water supply networks, equipment is used that performs certain functions. It can serve as adjusting or stop valves. The most commonly used element for such purposes are water taps. The types of these products are designed to perform various tasks. They control the pressure and its capacity by changing the area of the pipe flow.
There are types of water taps that, with the help of a ball mechanism, perform only the opening or closing of the flow. Adjustment allows you to perform other devices. They smoothly reduce the pressure. These types of water taps are more commonly used for home use.
Where are cranes used?
Adjusting and locking types of water taps are used at the inlets of the
main pipes into the system, at the places of its branching, in the required rooms, as well as before and after various plumbing equipment. For example, it can be metering devices, pumps or points of water intake.
This allows them to be cut off from the stream. Ball varieties of water taps will allow you to disable a particular unit and, if necessary, carry out its repair, replacement or just a scheduled inspection and revision. Considering the fact that pumps, meters, and mixers (which also belong to types of water taps) sometimes break down or are actually tested, such a flow control mechanism in pipes will be needed sooner or later.
The mixers themselves are installed at the points of water intake and are also different in configuration, type of device.
Intended classification
All types of water taps can be divided according to the principle of their purpose. There are 3 large groups.
- Products for household needs, which are known to everyone as mixing and valve types of faucets for water supply (photo below).
- Equipment for household needs. These are ball or valve taps that are installed on the end of the pipe for water collection, irrigation, etc.
- Products for the needs of the water supply system, which are arranged in it. Most often they have a coupling version and very rarely are ball devices.
For domestic needs, it is important not only to control the pressure of the stream, but also its temperature. Therefore, faucets are used for such purposes. They also come in a wide variety of designs.
Household cranes are simpler. They do not need to control the temperature of the water. They just regulate the pressure. Clutch cranes do work only in the on and off position. They do not regulate the pressure, they simply supply or close the water.
Types of construction
There are 4 types of crane designs. They are worm, ball, ceramic valve boxes or ceramic lever cartridges.
Varieties of worm-type water taps are almost never used. Their design is unreliable, requires constant replacement of rubber gaskets.
The device of ball valves has a plug inside with an axial slot. It fits snugly into the saddle. The cork has the shape of a ball, hence the name. A spindle is attached to it, which rotates the mechanism with a slot to the lumen of the channel, or in the opposite direction.
In ceramic mechanisms, it is not the spherical part that moves, but one plate with respect to the other. However, ceramic boxes and cartridges are sensitive to water quality, so they put a filter on the input in such devices.
Material
There are many materials from which products can be made. Water taps are of such types as metal or plastic. In the first case, copper, brass, alloy steel or cast iron are used for the manufacture of equipment.
For cold and hot systems, similar water taps are suitable. Plastic types are used only for cold flow.
Cast-iron devices are quite durable, but quite massive. If a hanging sink is used in the kitchen, it may not be able to withstand such powerful "animal" fittings. Therefore, today instead of the type of material presented, alloy steel has been used.
But the most popular of the materials are still recognized as brass products. They tolerate even very extreme situations and have a relatively low cost. Copper has the same qualities, but the tap looks richer in appearance. Their cost is quite high.
Plastic products are often used for street water supply or for cold flow systems.
Popular sizes and types
Depending on the purpose, there are various water taps. Types, sizes and other parameters are determined by a special ratio. The diameter of the cross-section of plumbing communications affects the dimensions and equipment.
The minimum pipe size for water supply is 1/2 inch. For domestic needs this is enough. Sometimes they use communications with a cross section of 3/4 inch. However, for highways there are pipes up to 12 inches in diameter.
As for the most popular varieties of faucets, they should include single-valve, two-valve, a mixer with a thermostat, as well as a single-lever ball type.
For a sink, sink, bathtub or bidet, its own type of device is used. Their principle of operation is similar, but there are a number of characteristic differences. To understand the variety of products presented by manufacturers, you should consider each of them.
Single valve tap
Monovent types of water taps have a mono-controlled structure. Such products are designed to supply only cold or only hot water. Most often, they are installed over a sink or kitchen sink. They are very popular in catering places. Such a crane is easy to install and has many options. The design is rotatable.
For their manufacture, various materials and the design of the locking mechanism are used.
The cheaper the cost of the crane, the shorter its life. This is due to the manufacturer using cheap, but less durable materials and structures. Therefore, not wanting to change the tap again after a few months, you should give preference to even more expensive, but high-quality device.
Dual valve faucet
Optimum for a bathroom or kitchen are considered two-valve water taps. Types (photos are presented in the review) of configurations will allow installing such a crane in a room with any type of interior.
It will make it possible to mix hot and cold water, control the temperature of the stream.
Cartridges are controlled by opening or closing two valves. Water is discharged through the nozzle in which the aerator is installed . This part prevents water splashing and additionally filters water from large inclusions. For the bathroom, varieties are used that have a shower in their composition. The flow is switched by a special lever. These are the most popular types of water taps for the home. But in public places in the bathrooms they can often be found.
Single lever ball valve
Another popular type of control and shutoff valves is a mono-controlled ball valve.
Outwardly, it looks like a single lever type. But his principle is different. Unlike the option considered above, a spherical version of the device can mix cold and hot water using its own mechanism.
Water opens when you raise the lever up. It mixes in a spherical plane and goes to the consumer. A variety of design allows you to harmoniously fit water taps into the interior. Single-lever ball types have a spherical locking element.
The device consists of a housing with holes for connection, a pressure and temperature control lever, an aerator, gaskets and a ball mechanism. Depending on the pressure in the house, you should choose the type of crane. It can have different bandwidth.
Thermostatic mixer
Thermostatic faucets are gaining popularity . They allow you to simplify the procedure for choosing the required water temperature. The set of such a device includes a mechanism that determines in what proportion it is necessary to mix the flows in order to obtain a given indicator.
The user sets the settings independently. Thermostatic types of water taps, faucets contain a control unit. It consists of a valve and a paraffin rod. Due to expansion during heating and narrowing during cooling, the substance of this unit exerts pressure on the system, which determines the required amount of cold and hot water.
This is a very convenient device. Its appearance will give the interior modernity. Well suited to high-tech and modern styles.
Their cost is higher than that of conventional varieties of plumbing devices. However, they will help control the flow of pressure and its temperature, ensuring the optimization of energy costs.
Installing a wall mixer
The most popular type of faucet installation in the bathroom is wall mounting. Installation on the sink is quite simple. But on the wall, the connection process is worth considering in more detail.
Pipes are taken out of the wall. They make thread internal type. Eccentrics are screwed into the pipes. The threads are sealed with fum tape or linen.
Then you should assemble the mixer housing and bring it to the eccentrics. Water taps, the types of which are installed in apartments and houses, are set so that they coincide with the union nuts of the inlet channels. Decorative overlays are wound on the thread. Next, the mixer is attached with union nuts. They must not be tightened very much so as not to damage the rubber gaskets.
Then connect additional elements, if any. After turning on the water, it is necessary to check the operation of the system. Leaks, of course, should not be anywhere.
Having studied the presented taps, the types of which allow you to install in any room, in a variety of plumbing communications, it's easy to choose. Depending on the purpose of the devices, as well as their mechanism, it will be easy to determine which type of equipment is optimal. It is better to choose a little more expensive copies, but better ones. They are much more durable.