Water tap: types, varieties, sizes, photo

The water supply system in the dwelling is rather complicated. It contains many elements. One of them are water-supply taps, the types of which are diverse. They can serve as shut-off valves in the system and regulate the water pressure. But the most famous function of the crane is water 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 under certain conditions. How to choose the type of the tap for the water pipe, you should understand before buying. This will help to study the purpose of each of them.

Purpose of the cranes

In autonomous, local or central water supply networks, equipment is used that performs certain functions. It can serve as an adjusting or shut-off valve. The most commonly used element for such purposes are tap water faucets. The types of these products are designed to perform various tasks. They regulate the head and its throughput by changing the flow area of the pipe.

There are such types of water taps, which with the help of the ball mechanism perform only the opening or closing of the flow. Adjustment allows you to perform other devices. They smoothly reduce the head. Such types of water faucets are more often used for home use.

Where to use the cranes

Adjusting and shut-off types of water taps are used at the inputs of main pipes in the system, in the places of its branching, in the required premises, as well as before and after various sanitary equipment. For example, it could be meters, pumps or water intake points.

This allows them to be cut off from the flow. Ball types of water faucets will allow to disconnect a certain node and in case of need to carry out its repair, replacement or just a routine inspection and revision. If we take into account the fact that pumps, meters, and mixers (which also belong to the types of water faucets) are sometimes broken down or surrendered for verification, such a flow control mechanism in the pipes will be needed sooner or later.

Mixers themselves are installed in the points of water intake and also are different in configuration, type of device.

Classification according to purpose

All types of water faucets can be divided according to the principle of their designation. There are 3 large groups.

1. Products for household needs, which are known to everyone as mixing and valve types of water supply faucets (photo is presented below).
2. Equipment for household needs. These are ball valves or faucets, which are installed on the end of a pipe for recruiting water, performing irrigation, and so on.
3. Products for the needs of the water supply system, which it is arranged. Most often have a box version and very rarely a ball device.

For domestic needs, it is important not only to control the head of the flow, but also its temperature. Therefore, mixers are used for this purpose. They also come in a variety of options.

Household cranes are simpler. They do not need to control the temperature of the water. They just adjust the head. Coupling cranes also work only in the switched on and off position. They do not regulate the head, they simply feed 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 practically not used. Their design is unreliable, requires constant replacement of rubber gaskets.

The device of ball valves has inside a stopper with an axial slot. It fits snugly against the saddle. The cork has the shape of a ball, hence the name. A spindle is connected to it, which turns the mechanism by a slot to the channel lumen, or in the opposite direction.

In ceramic mechanisms, not a ball-shaped part moves, but one plate with respect to the other. However, ceramic boxes and cartridges are sensitive to water quality, so a filter is placed on the input in such devices.

Material

There are many materials from which products can be made. Water faucets are found in such types as metal or plastic. In the first case, copper, brass, alloy steel or cast iron is used to make the equipment. For a cold and hot system, these tap valves are suitable. Types of plastic are used only for cold flow.

Cast-iron devices are durable enough, but rather massive. If the kitchen uses a pendant sink, it can not withstand such a powerful "animal" fittings. Therefore, today instead of the type of material presented, steel was used.

But the most popular materials are still recognized as brass products. They suffer even very extreme situations and are relatively inexpensive. Copper has the same qualities, but the crane looks richer. Their cost is quite high.

Plastic products are often used for street water supply or for systems with a cold flow.

Popular sizes and types

Depending on the purpose, there are various tap-valves. Types, sizes and other parameters are determined by a special relationship. The diameter of the plumbing section affects the dimensions and equipment.

The minimum size of water pipes is 1/2 inch. For domestic needs this is enough. Sometimes a 3/4 inch cross section is used. However, for the mains there are pipes up to 12 inches in diameter.

As for the most popular varieties of cranes, it should be attributed to one-man, two-valve, mixer with a thermostat, as well as a single-lever ball type.

For a washbasin, sink, bath or bidet, your device type 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-tap

Single-type types of water taps have a structure with mono control. Such products are called upon to serve only cold or only hot water. Most often they are installed over a sink or kitchen sink. They are very popular in places of catering. Such a crane is easy to install and has many options. The design is able to rotate.

For their manufacture, various materials and the construction of the locking mechanism are used.

The cheaper the cost of the crane, the less its service life. This is due to the use of the manufacturer of cheap but less durable materials and structures. Therefore, not wanting to change the tap again after a few months, we should give preference to a more expensive, but qualitative device.

Two-valve crane

Optimum for a bathroom or kitchen are two-valve water taps. Types (photos are presented in the overview) of the configurations will allow to install such a faucet in the room with any type of interior. It will allow you to mix hot and cold water, control the flow temperature.

The cartridge is controlled by opening or closing two valves. The water is discharged through a spout in which an aerator is installed . This part prevents water splashing and additionally filters water from large inclusions. For the bathroom used varieties that have a shower. The flow to it is switched by a special lever. These are the most popular types of faucets for the house. But in public places in the bathrooms they can often be found.

Single-lever ball valve

Another popular type of control valves is a ball valve with mono control. Outwardly it looks like a single-lever type. But his principle is different. Unlike the variant considered above, the spherical version of the device can mix cold and hot water with its own mechanism.

Water opens when the lever is lifted up. It mixes in the ball plane and enters the consumer. A variety of design allows you to harmoniously fit into the interior tap water faucets. The spherical single-lever types have a spherical locking element.

The device consists of a housing with holes for connection, a lever for controlling the head and its temperature, an aerator, gaskets and a ball mechanism. Depending on the strength of the pressure in the house, you should choose the type of crane. It can have a different bandwidth.

Mixer with thermostat

Mixers with a thermostat are gaining popularity . They make it easier to select the required water temperature. A set of such a device includes a mechanism that determines in what proportion it is necessary to mix the streams in order to obtain a given index.

The settings are set by the user himself. Thermostatic types of water taps, mixers contain a control unit. It consists of a valve and a paraffin rod. Due to the expansion of the heating and narrowing upon cooling, the substance of this unit puts pressure on the system, which determines the required amount of water cold and hot.

This is a very convenient device. Its appearance will give the interior a modernity. Well suited for high-tech and modern style.

Their cost is higher than for conventional varieties of water supply devices. However, they will help control the flow of pressure and its temperature, ensuring the optimization of energy costs.

Wall Mixer Installation

The most popular type of mixer installation in the bathroom is wall mounting. Installation on the sink is quite simple. But on the wall the connection process should be considered in more detail.

From the wall lead pipes. They are made of internal thread. The eccentrics are screwed into the pipes. The thread is sealed with a felt tape or flax.

Then you need to assemble the mixer body and bring it to the eccentric. Water tap valves, the types of which are installed in apartments and houses, are exposed so that they coincide with the union nuts of the input channels. On a carving wind up decorative overlays. Then the mixer is attached with nakidnymi nuts. They need to be tightened not very strongly, so as not to damage the rubber gaskets.

Then attach 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 water-supply faucets, the types of which allow to perform the installation in any room, in various plumbing communications, it is easy to choose. Depending on the purpose of the devices, as well as their mechanism, it will not be difficult to determine which type of equipment is optimal. It is better to choose a bit more expensive specimens, but also better ones. They are much more durable.