Mixing taps – Hot and Cold water | Whats your style?

Most homes have a water heater installed in their bathrooms. And most people like to have a hot shower. But not too hot to scald your skin. It is a known fact that choosing the optimum temperature setting on your heater is a very tricky subject. What options we have?

a) Set the optimum temperature which meets an individuals needs.

Pros – Mixing of hot and cold water is not necessary. The heater doesn’t work overtime to heat the entire water and thus can save electricity. Chances of burning oneself is minimized.

Cons – All people may not have the same preference for the temperature. If too many occupants are there at home, then the heating of water can take a longer time because of frequent switching of the heater.

b) Setting the maximum temperature on the heater and then choosing the water mixer (hot and cold) to get water to one’s liking.

Pros – Individuals have their own comfort in choosing the heat levels of the water. Multiple people can shower with one time heating.

Cons – Mixing of water can be a tricky affair. Often you may end up getting too hot or too cold water. Electricity bills may be higher.

So we are just going to focus on the “mixing taps” option in this article. There are two types:

a) Individual taps for hot and cold water.

Image Courtesy : eparryware.com

In the type shown above, there are two taps for hot and cold water. There is a valve in the middle which can be used to regulate water flow either to the shower head or to the tap below. So people who want to use conventional methods of bathing, i.e. with bucket and mug can do so also.

b) Single lever

Image Courtesy : eparryware.com

In this type, you have one common level which when in its centre position and lifted up will give 50% of cold water and 50% of hot water (an ideal mix). The pressure is varied by the amount of lift you give to the level. When pressed completely into the wall, the shower doesn’t function at all and when it is pulled out almost 90 degrees, you get full pressure.

Similarly turning the level completely to the left will normally dispense hot water (100%) and cold water (0%) and turning the lever completely to the right will dispense cold water (100%) and hot water (0%). *

* – this can change from one model to another. Please see the accompanying instructions before and after installation!

So what are you going to choose for your bathroom?

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Posted by Vivek on Apr 4 2008 Filed under Bathroom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry