Finding the right faucet – This is what matters

If your old faucet is dripping, splashing or just looks unsightly, it’s time to install a new faucet. However, finding the right faucet presents challenges for many consumers. After all, although this can be replaced in a few simple steps, it must match the dimensions of the sink.

But what specifically should consumers look for when purchasing a faucet?

• Connections
• Sink height
• Model (high or low pressure fitting)
• Operability
• Design

In addition, those who want to integrate a modern water filter to benefit from clear, pure water without lime and toxins should take into account that it must also be connected to the new faucet.

In addition, the water can be positively charged by crystals. You would like to
find so called water crystals
? In online stores are available charged stones that affect the water, but do not oxidize.

High pressure fitting or low pressure fitting?

Homeowners or tenants who heat their water using an instantaneous water heater and a central water heating system require a high-pressure faucet with two connection hoses. High-pressure faucet with water pressure up to 10 bar is considered standard version and has two holes on the bottom to provide blue cold water and red hot water supply.

Through the two connection hoses, the faucet is connected on the one hand to the cold water supply via the angle valve, and on the other hand to the hot water supply via the angle valve. The mixer taps mix the cold and hot water from the pipes so that the desired water temperature is achieved. Thus, the warm water comes out directly from the pipe.

The low-pressure faucet, on the other hand, has a single cold water connection. It is used when the water is treated by a hot water tank (boiler). The low-pressure fitting has not two, but three connection hoses. Only under-sink water filters may be installed with these fittings.

The additional connection is used to connect to the cold water pipe, while the other two connections lead to the hot water tank. The connection of the shower is not included here.

When hot water is needed, the cold water is fed into the boiler and pushes the stored heated water up. In addition, the following applies: faucets with low pressure usually drip. This is because heating in the boiler produces water vapor, which escapes through the fitting. So a minimally dripping faucet is not uncommon. The product is marked with a red lightning bolt .

Water filter for low pressure faucet

Connect faucet – the planning

The change or initial installation of a faucet does not require much effort and can be done within a short time. But everything stands and falls with the planning phase. This is because it is important to specify your own needs and find the right model on the basis of these needs.

After that, the material requirements should be determined. Immediately before installation, moreover, it is useful to prepare the faucet and attach the connections. Furthermore, it is important to close the house water connection and open it again after installing the faucet.

Materials & Tools

The following materials and tools are needed:

• Mixing taps
• Hose extensions if necessary
• Wrench
• Pipe wrench
• Water pump pliers
• Bucket

Prerequisites before assembly

If it is a first-time installation, it should be checked in advance whether the faucet should be placed on the sink or mounted on the kitchen countertop behind it. The good news is that the hole diameter corresponds to standard dimensions for faucets and mixers.

What water connections are needed?

Typically, residential properties have a cold water connection and a hot water connection. The simple angle valves under the sink can be used to connect the connections of the faucet with the pipes.

However, it may happen that further connections are required. Examples are the hot water mixer tap, the cold water mixer tap, the shower (cold water) and the dishwasher (cold water and hot water). If multiple connections are used for a water line, the simple angle valves must be replaced with combination valves.

In this case, the height of the corner valve should be from 52 to 56 centimeters . Measurements are taken from the floor edge. Therefore, amateur DIY enthusiasts or beginners are best to take measurements before buying to avoid making a wrong purchase or having to purchase missing elements later.

If you want to find out which faucet connection is cold and which is hot, you can set the faucet to either cold or hot. Subsequently, blowing through the pipes. Here’s what it shows: you can’t blow through the cold water connection if the mixer tap is set to “warm.””

Do you need hose extensions?

It is possible that hose extensions will be required. Normally, this is not the case, because the water hoses are of sufficient length. In exceptional cases, however, even this length is not enough.

Connecting the faucet – a step by step guide

If you’ve never installed a faucet before, you’ll face the challenge of connecting all the individual parts correctly and ensuring that the faucet doesn’t leak after installation. But how do consumers go about it?

Turn off the water

The first step is to turn off the water at the corner valves. The following should be noted: A fitting is rarely changed. For this reason, the old angle valves may no longer be tight. Therefore, even before removal, a targeted check should be carried out to ensure that the water actually stops flowing.

Possibly dismantle the old faucet

In the second step, the screw connections of the connection hoses are opened . In some cases, these have an additional lock nut. Now disconnect the hoses in the upper part of the mixer tap.

Then remove the shower so that the hose can be removed through the opening in the sink. To do this, loosen the union nut on the old faucet with the wrench or water pump pliers. Now the entire faucet can be pulled out up through the opening in the sink.

Install the new faucet

Now it’s time to install the new faucet. In this context, the union nut of the fitting must first be loosened and the lower sealing ring removed . The upper sealing ring, on the other hand, remains in place. The next step is to place the faucet.

Then attach the rubber seal from below and tighten the union nut. Also, to get the faucet in the right position, it may be worth asking a second person for help.

And soon it becomes apparent: A new
faucet with filter
is not too much of a problem, even for non-professionals. Thus, the entire family can access freshly filtered tap water again within a short time.

Order water filter now!

But be careful: per day, the consumption should be limited to 3 liters. Otherwise, there is a risk of hyperhydration. Since the
symptoms of water intoxication
are nonspecific, it is often not associated with high water intake and is treated incorrectly.

Connect the water hoses

The water hoses are divided into two types. Some have a sealing ring, while the others have a union nut with an inserted seal. The gasket is first greased and then tightened with the wrench. The same procedure is followed with the angle valve connection and the tap connection.

Fix the faucet and check for leaks

Nothing is as annoying as a leaky faucet and water damage in the kitchen cabinet. For this reason, it is important to securely fix the faucet following installation. For this purpose, the shower is screwed as a counterweight. The final step should be to check as closely as possible that the angle valves are closing and that no water is leaking from the new faucet.