Types Of Faucets You Can Find

Like any other accessory in the bathroom or kitchen, the faucets too need repair or replacements. As there are different designs of faucets, one has to know the type under use for having it replaced.

The most often used faucets could be any of theses: disc type, cartridge type, ball type, or compression type. Of these, the first three do not incorporate any neoprene or rubber washer, and are thus known as “washerless faucets”. Most of the households though have compression type faucet.

Ball Faucets

The most basic are the ball faucets and are generally used in kitchen sinks. These comprise of a single hand moving over a ball shaped cap right over the base of the spout. One major disadvantage of ball faucets is that they are prone to develop leakages more frequently than the other designs of faucets.

Disc Faucets

If ball faucets were categorized among the primary kind of faucets, the disc faucets are the latest ones. These are not difficult to identify due single lever over a cylindrical body. Generally they come with two ceramic discs housed in a broad cartridge that slide over each other and thus control the flow of water and temperature. Unlike ball faucets they don’t become leaky too soon and are more reliable.

Cartridge Faucets

These faucets are designed to operate with a stem cartridge that moves up and down and gives a regulated flow of water. These are identifiable not by their looks alone, but also by the way they operate. In their case the flow of water is a adjusted by moving them up and down while the temperature is adjusted by moving them sideways, left and right.

Compression Faucets

Compression faucets are just the opposite of latest disc washers, being perhaps the oldest kind of faucets. They would have separate handles for hot and cold water. When you want to control the flow of water, the handle needs to be tightened down. That makes them different from the cartridge design where you are not required to exert pressure for turning them off.

Having known the different designs and the functioning of faucets should help you to identify your requirements when you decide to replace them or they need repairs.