7 signs of a quality and durable mixer
Going to the plumbing shop for a faucet, it is easy for a person uninformed to get confused by the breadth of the assortment and glossy brilliance of new appliances. But there are seven selection criteria, considering which, you can buy a really convenient and reliable product.
Cost
Of course, I want the purchase to be both high-quality and inexpensive. But in this case it is impossible to combine these two desires. The fact is that good plumbing has a high cost, since whole institutes work on its development and production.
The most expensive mixers are European, especially German and Italian. More affordable, but still quite durable are domestic devices, as well as models from Turkey, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states. Faced with a device from China, you should not count on high quality.
Material
The life of the mixer depends primarily on the material. Cheap devices are usually made from an alloy of silicon and aluminum (silumin). This metal is heterogeneous, under the influence of hydraulic pressure, cracks quickly appear on it.
For high-quality mixers, brass is used (a strong alloy of copper and zinc), and spraying is performed on top. Corrosion to a device made of such metal is definitely not scary. A good and more affordable material is steel.
You can understand what the mixer is made of by its weight: short-lived models are much easier than reliable ones.
Logo
When buying a mixer, pay attention to how the manufacturer’s logo is applied to it. If the name is simply painted, then most likely the device belongs to the category of “disposable”. For quality products, the logo is applied by laser or by engraving.
External coating
Chrome, bronze or copper - it is better to choose a mixer with a spraying of these materials. Copper and bronze coatings are used to give the model a “antique look”.
Before buying, be sure to consider the device in good light: the surface should be perfectly smooth, without any sag, with a uniform color.
Internal details
Ask the seller to disassemble your favorite mixer model so that you can evaluate the quality of the internal parts. The thread should be clear, the gaskets should be flexible and strong, and the edge of the connecting elements should be flat. No seams from welding should be visible.
Equipment
Here you should pay attention to four points:
- whether the cardboard box is attached to the mixer (should be attached);
- is there any accompanying documentation in Russian;
- whether spare parts are included in the package;
- that with a guarantee (if the mixer is of high quality, then its period is at least two years, and sometimes five).
Functionality
A faucet is a daily necessity item, so it should be convenient to use. In this regard, much depends on personal preferences.
Single lever mixers have long been in trend, since it is easy to regulate the water pressure and its temperature with one movement of the hand. But a valve model is also suitable for a kitchen sink, because here often there is a need to open only cold or only hot water. A slight turn of the valve will require less effort than lifting, and then turning the lever. And in the kitchen, faucets with an exhaust spout have proven themselves to be excellent - with their help it is convenient to wash dishes and draw water into large containers.
It is wise to install a powerful cascade mixer in the bathtub to save time on filling. If water pressure drops often occur in your home, then it is better to purchase a device with a thermostat and automatic temperature control. So you will avoid unpleasant situations in the shower when someone opened the faucet in the kitchen, and at that moment you were scalded or doused with ice water.
Faucets with additional functionality, as a rule, are high-quality and reliable. Cheap models made of short-lived materials are not equipped with such capabilities.
