A comprehensive guide to faucets

A comprehensive guide to faucets

A faucet consists of several components, including the main body, valve core, handle, water filter, water outlet, and installation parts. Some faucets may also include check valves, aerators, fixing bolts, fixing copper sheets, gaskets, bent feet, hoses, through gauges, and stop gauges. The specific components may vary depending on the type and design of the faucet.

The core component of a faucet is the ceramic disc cartridge, which serves as the heart of the faucet, controlling the water flow switch, flow rate, and the mixing ratio of hot and cold water. The quality of the valve core determines the functional reliability and lifespan of the faucet.

Faucet valve cores are classified based on material and function:

By material:

• Rubber valve core
• Shaft roller valve core
• Ceramic valve core
• Stainless steel ball valve core

By function:

• Manual valve core
• Thermostatic valve core
• Magnetic induction valve core

Faucets with rubber valve cores are typically found in cast iron faucets with spiral openings, which have now been largely phased out. Ceramic valve cores represent a new generation of valve core material, offering excellent sealing performance, stable physical properties, and long service life. They are generally designed to withstand over 300,000 open-close cycles. Assuming 30 uses per day, a ceramic valve core faucet can remain drip-free for over 20 years. Today, most faucets on the market use ceramic valve cores.

Ceramic valve cores are available in five main diameters: 25mm, 35mm, 40mm, 42mm, and 47mm.

Notable Valve Core Brands:

Ceramic Valve Cores:

• SEDAL (Spain)
• KEROX (Hungary)
• FLÜHS (Germany)
• Hydroplast (Italy)
• NTK (Japan)

Thermostatic Valve Cores:

• Vernet (France)

Other Common Brands:

• Kangqin (Taiwan)
• Mingzhan (Taiwan)
• Hanyou (Taiwan)
• Mingshi (Zhuhai, China)

Based on their structure, faucets can be categorized into several types:

• Single-joint faucets: These have only one water inlet pipe and can be connected to either a hot water pipe or a cold water pipe. They are commonly used in kitchens.
• Double-joint faucets: These can be connected to both hot and cold water pipes simultaneously and are mainly used for bathroom basins and kitchen sinks with hot water supply.
• Triple-joint faucets: In addition to hot and cold water pipes, these can also be connected to a showerhead, making them ideal for bathtub faucets.

Faucets can also be classified based on handle design:

• Single-handle faucets: These allow users to control both water temperature and flow with a single handle.
• Double-handle faucets: These require separate adjustments for hot and cold water, as each handle controls a different water pipe.

Faucets can also be classified based on their opening method, including:

• Spiral type: Requires multiple rotations to open and close.
• Wrench type: Usually needs to be turned 90 degrees to operate.
• Lift type: Water flows by simply lifting the handle.
• Press type: Activated by pressing down.
• Touch type: Water flows when the faucet is touched.
• Induction type: Uses infrared sensors to automatically release water when a hand is placed under the faucet.

Additionally, there is a delayed closing faucet, which allows water to continue flowing for a few seconds after being turned off, ensuring that hands can be rinsed clean after operating the faucet.

Induction Faucet Power Supply

Induction faucets operate using infrared sensing technology and are powered by either AC or DC:

• AC power: 220V/50Hz or 110V/60Hz.
• DC power: Operates on four AA batteries (6V).

Based on the water outlet temperature, faucets can be classified into the following types:

• Single cold faucet: Only provides cold water.
• Hot and cold mixed faucet: Allows the mixing of hot and cold water to adjust the temperature.
• Thermostatic faucet: Maintains a constant water temperature by automatically adjusting the balance of hot and cold water.

A thermostatic faucet is equipped with a thermistor at the outlet of the thermostatic valve core. This temperature-sensing element controls the movement of the valve core, opening or closing the hot and cold water inlets, ensuring that the outlet water temperature remains constant.

Thermostatic faucets commonly use three methods to achieve temperature regulation: memory alloy, paraffin, and pressure-stabilizing valves.

The water pressure requirements for thermostatic faucets typically range from 0.1 to 0.5 MPa, and the pressure difference between hot and cold water should not be too large. If the hot water pressure is below 0.05 MPa, the thermostatic faucet is not suitable for use. The hot water temperature should generally be between 49°C and 80°C, and the temperature adjustment knob can be set between 35°C and 65°C.

To enhance safety, thermostatic faucets are often equipped with a 38°C safety button to prevent scalding.

According to the installation structure, it can be divided into: integrated type, split type, concealed wall type, and waterfall type.

Based on the installation hole size, wash basins can be classified into three types:

• Single-hole basin faucets: These can only be installed on single-hole basins.
• Double-hole 4-inch basin faucets: These are the most common, and most faucets are designed for 4-inch basins. The small hole in the middle is typically used to install the pull-up rod for draining.
• Three-hole 8-inch basin faucets: These basins can accommodate both 8-inch faucets and single-hole faucets. If a single-hole faucet is installed on an 8-inch basin, a cover plate is used to cover the remaining holes on the left and right sides.

Based on the surface treatment method, copper faucets typically undergo various finishes such as chrome plating, titanium gold plating (Ti-PVD), green bronze antique ORB, red bronze antique ORB, painting, porcelain, and brushed nickel.

Stainless steel faucets are usually finished with either sanded or polished surfaces.

The accessories that come with a faucet include drains, pull rods, showers, hoses, decorative covers, angle valves, tees, floor drains, and other bathroom accessories.

Drains are generally divided into three types: pull-up, bounce, and flip.

The pull-up drain is equipped with a pull rod, allowing you to drain the water by pulling the rod without getting your hands wet.

The bounce and flip drains both require you to touch the drain with your hands to open or close it.

The calibers of hose nut connectors are mainly divided into four types: 1/2", 3/8", 9/16", and 3/4". The German market uses 3/8", while 1/2" is universal in other countries.

Shower heads can also be divided into many types, mainly fixed and handheld. They can also be divided into nozzle type and shower head type, or single-function and multi-function such as massage water, spray water, shower water, bubble water, mixed water, etc.

Q: What is the function of the deck plate?
A: The deck plate is used to cover extra holes on a basin when installing a single-hole faucet. If the basin has 2 or 3 holes and you want to install a single-hole faucet, the deck plate covers the unused holes.

Q: What is the reason for the faucet leaking? What should I do?
A: Most people assume that a leaking faucet is due to an issue with the valve core. However, if the faucet is used properly, the valve core is unlikely to be the cause of the problem. Therefore, the leak should be analyzed more thoroughly. Here are some possible causes and solutions:

1. The faucet still flows water after the valve core is closed:
This may be caused by a loose pressure cap, which prevents the valve core from sealing properly. The solution is to remove the handle and decorative cover, then tighten the pressure cap. Another possibility is that the rubber ring at the bottom of the valve core is deformed and cannot seal the water. In this case, remove the valve core, check and reset the rubber ring, and reinstall it.

2. Water seeps out from around the valve core:
This could be caused by the looseness or displacement of the valve core. The solution is to remove and reinstall the valve core.

3. Water seeps out from the middle of the valve core:
This is likely due to the damage of the valve core. The solution is to replace the valve core.

4. Water leaks from the bottom of the faucet:
This is generally caused by the O-ring of the water inlet pipe not being installed correctly or being deformed. The solution is to unscrew the hose. If the O-ring is not deformed, reinstall it and the water inlet pipe. If the O-ring is deformed, replace the O-ring.

Q: Can the induction faucet only be single temperature?
A: No, there are two types of induction faucets: one with a single temperature and one with both hot and cold water outlets. The latter allows you to adjust the water temperature.

Q: What is the flow requirement of the faucet?
A: Under a dynamic pressure of 0.3 MPa ± 0.02 MPa, the flow rate of the bathtub faucet (without accessories) should not be less than 0.33 L/s, while the flow rate of other faucets such as basin and washing faucets (without accessories) should not be less than 0.20 L/s. For basins, washing, and kitchen faucets (with accessories), the flow rate should not exceed 0.15 L/s under a dynamic pressure of 0.1 MPa ± 0.01 MPa.

Q: What is the installation hole distance of the exposed shower faucet?
A: The installation hole distance is 15 cm. With a pair of curved feet, it can accommodate an installation hole diameter of 12-18 cm.

Q: What is the normal water pressure of the faucet?

A: 0.3-0.5MPa, too high water pressure will make people feel uncomfortable.