Four Most Common Types of Residential Faucets

Faucets are one of the most commonly found and widely used plumbing fixtures in a home. It is essentially the first thing that comes to a homeowner’s mind when they consider home plumbing fixtures. They facilitate smooth and reliable water (hot or cold) delivery in bathrooms and kitchens sinks from the home plumbing system. Residential faucets are available in several different shapes, sizes, styles, technology, and finishes, and selecting the right one may seem overwhelming. Modern faucets are not only about functionality. They also play a crucial role in adding to the aesthetics of the space where they are installed.

Though there is an infinite number of residential faucets available in the market, most of them are broadly classified into four major types. Knowing the different faucets and how they work facilitates buying decisions and easy identification of issues and their repairs. 

Here is an overview of the four most common residential faucets:

Ball faucets

Ball faucets come with a single adjustable handle to regulate the water pressure (up and down) and temperature (left and right). A rounded ball-shaped cap sits at the top of the faucet spout base, offering it the desired flexibility. The ball contains rubber seals, rubber O-rings, chambers, and slots.  They are known as the earliest version of a washerless faucet. Easy to identify, ball faucets are most commonly installed in kitchen sinks and other areas with high-water use. Since these faucets have several parts, especially the rubber parts, which are more prone to corrosion and wear and tear, they leak more and require frequent repairs and maintenance than other washerless faucets.

Disc faucets

Disc faucets are the recent and possibly the best development in modern faucet technology. Homeowners can identify these faucets by their single handle and a large, cylindrical-shaped body. They have a mixing chamber, called a pressure balance cartridge, to mix hot and cold water. Two ceramic discs at the base of the cartridge control the water pressure, and the handle rotates side-to-side to control the temperature. Disc faucets are incredibly durable, reliable, require occasional repairs, and little to no maintenance.

Cartridge faucets

Double-handles cartridge faucets are very much similar to compression washer faucets. However, cartridge faucets operate more smoothly and consistently. Commonly found in bathrooms, they use a cartridge that controls the water flow through up and down movement. 

Compression washer faucets

Compression water faucets are the oldest residential faucet type, yet they remain popular and are in high demand. Commonly seen in older homes, their newer and updated versions are often used in utility sinks of modern washrooms. They have separate hot and cold water handles and a compression stem with a rubber washer to allow water flow. The water shuts off when the homeowner compresses the washer by forming a tight seal. While moving the handle, one can feel them noticeably getting less pressurized while turning on, and the motion gets tighter while shutting the water off. Compression water faucets are budget-friendly and widely available but are more prone to leaks, maintenance, and repairs.

Contact a professional plumber to know more about different residential faucets or other faucet installation and repair needs.

Frontier Plumbing of Las Vegas is a full-service commercial and residential plumbing company offering a full spectrum of plumbing services. We are determined to exceed your expectations! Call 702-602-6705 today!