Taps

What Room Are Your Taps Going In?

Whether it's the bathroom or the kitchen, the room your taps will be fitted in is your first consideration. A tap that is perfect for a bathroom basin will not necessarily look the part or work well at a kitchen sink.

Bathroom taps are designed for washing your hands, filling the basin or running a bath. Kitchen taps have to do a lot more: washing dishes, rinsing vegetables and filling pans, so they tend to be taller, with a longer reach, and some add spray nozzles, filtered water or instant boiling water.

Check what water pressure your system supplies, too. Most taps work well at standard pressure, but some, such as bath shower mixers and freestanding taps, need more. Your plumber can tell you what your system gives, and every tap shows its minimum pressure, so the Minimum Pressure filter quickly finds the ones that suit your home.

What's Your Style?

Choose from clean-lined contemporary designs, from understated to the very latest in interior design, or traditional taps with crosshead and lever handles that echo the bathrooms of the past while using modern ceramic disc valves inside.

Match the tap to the basin, too: smaller basins need smaller taps, and a tall basin mixer suits a countertop basin. Count the tap holes in your basin or bath so you choose a tap that fits them.

Remember Installation

Fitting a tap is not the hardest job in the bathroom, but it depends on the type of tap and how comfortable you are with plumbing. If you have any doubts, ask a qualified plumber to fit it for you.

Keep it Clean

You don't need special cleaning products to keep your taps sparkling. Wipe them with a soft cloth and warm water, then dry them with a clean, soft cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners, as they can damage the finish.

Deciphering the Jargon

Here are the terms we use to describe taps.

Basin taps - Taps for a washbasin in the bathroom or cloakroom.

Bath taps - Taps that fill the bath.

Mixer taps - A single tap that mixes hot and cold water together to get your perfect temperature.

Freestanding taps - Tall taps that stand on the floor beside the bath. Perfect for a freestanding bath.

Bath shower mixer - A bath tap with a shower handset. A diverter switches the water between the spout and the handset.

Wall mounted taps - Taps fixed to the wall above the basin or bath instead of to the basin or bath itself.

Pull-out kitchen taps - Taps with a spray head that pulls out on a hose, so you can guide the water wherever you want it. Ideal for a busy family kitchen.

Instant hot water taps - Kitchen taps that give boiling water on demand, so you don't have to boil a kettle.

Infra-red taps - Taps that run when you pass your hand in front of a sensor, and shut off on their own.

Ceramic disc - A hard-wearing valve inside the tap that replaces the old rubber washer, greatly reducing the risk of drips and leaks.

Pop-up waste - A waste that opens and closes with a simple control, in place of a plug and chain.