Perplexed by the Different Types of Bathroom Sink Faucets? Faucets 101 to the Rescue
Ready to replace that leaky bathroom sink faucet, but dumbfounded by all the terminology? Not to worry. After you take just a few minutes to read this article you will be a pro and know exactly what type of faucet will suit your needs. No more standing in the home improvement isle with a glazed look staring at all the boxes of bathroom sink faucets without a clue which one you need.
There are basically four terms with which you will want to become familiar. These terms are widespread, centerset, wall-mounted, and single hole. Following is a description of each, along with its inherent features.
Widespread
A widespread faucet in layman’s terms is a double-handle faucet. There are three parts, a cold water handle, a hot water handle, and a spout. The parts appear to be separate pieces. The distance from the center of one handle to the center of the other handle is usually 8 inches. Therefore, a widespread faucet is often referred to as a widespread 8″ faucet.
Widespread faucets feature separate hot and cold water handles. A two-handle model faucet with separate hot and cold water handles gives the greatest control, having independent controls to adjust the water volume and water temperature.
Centerset
Centerset bathroom sink faucets have a separate handle for hot and cold water, with a spout located between them. This is a good model if you are looking for an economical choice, as prices can be very modest. It is also great for smaller spaces because the handles are situated close to one another.
These models require three-hole installation. The spout and the valves are combined as a single basin unit.
Wall-mounted
Wall-mounted faucets as its name entails are installed on the wall above the bathroom sink. They offer great flexibility as they can be placed at any height. If you have a wall-mounted sink or an above-counter vessel sink, you can’t go wrong with a wall-mounted faucet. They are also a fantastic choice to save that valuable counter space.
Single hole
A single hole faucet derives it’s name from the fact that it requires one-hole installation sinks. It is a single post. You are able to choose from two designs with this model. The first is a single post with a single lever. The second is a single post with two handles.
A single post with a single lever will control both the volume of the water and the temperature of the water. A single post with two handles will allow you to control the hot water with one handle and the cold water with the other handle. If your preference is to have a more precise temperature and volume control, a single post with two handles will give you this option. This variety offers a space-saving and sleek design.
A single hole faucet is often referred to as a post-mount or centerset faucet.
Electronic Sink Faucet
Advances in technology bring advanced design with electronic controls. One such type is a motion-detection faucet like is often found in commercial bathrooms. Another type of electronic sink faucet is controlled via a touch pad. The touch pad also controls the water temperature and the volume of the water.
There you go. Everything you always wanted to know about bathroom sink faucets, but were afraid to ask.