A mixer is a tap that draws from both hot and cold water supplies, mixing the flow together, before pouring out of a single spout. The more traditional method is drawing water through separate hot and cold pillar taps, keeping the flow separate. Aside from its aesthetic appeal, mixer taps also afford buyers a host of other benefits, including being incredible versatile, space-saving, and easy to use.
One of the biggest draws of a mixer taps is that it can work equally well on a bath or a bathroom sink or basin. You could even mix or match, with a mixer tap on the bath and separate hot and cold taps on the basin. Mixer taps can be yet more versatile if you add a shower mixer, allowing you to switch between flow from the taps and a shower attachment. This can be hand-held or mounted to make a shower bath, and is particularly useful where there isn’t room for a separate bath and shower enclosure.
Mixer taps also allows users more control over the flow and temperature of their water. With two separate taps, you are limited to two flows of water—hot and cold. Your control over the temperature of the hot water will be limited to your heating settings although you can, of course, mix the hot and cold water to different degrees in the bathtub or basin itself. With a mixer tap, you can set the temperature as it flows from the taps. This makes it far easier to precisely control the temperature of your water, whether you are running a bath, washing or shaving with water as it emerges from the tap.
With increased control comes increased convenience, especially when it comes to running a bath. With separate taps, one common method is to run both taps simultaneously, usually with the hot water tap opened more fully than the cold. It can be difficult to get the mix right however and many people find they have to either stand guard or keep checking back.
Running hot and then adding cold water is another common tactic but this can lead to a potentially scalding bath; especially dangerous if you have kids. By finding the optimum temperature with a mixer tap, you can leave the bath to run itself in confidence. Just don't forget about it entirely, or you could end up with a flood on your hands!
Since they're fitted with a flow limiter to prevent too much water being taken from the hot and cold pipes at once, mixer taps are also much more economical than regular taps. In practical terms, you are likely to use less hot water when mixing it into a single flow, which is good for both your energy bills and the environment.
Interested in learning more or changing out your bathroom fixtures and fittings? Here's a handy list of some of our favourite local suppliers to get your started today!