Mixer Tap vs Standard Taps

Discover how to choose the perfect tap for your home. Learn the differences between mixer taps and standard taps to make an informed decision and enhance your kitchen or bathroom.

Choosing the right type of tap for your home can be challenging. Different taps might be required for your kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and shower area. You might decide to use a mixer tap in your bathroom or a standard tap in your laundry area. Either way, knowing how to differentiate between the types of taps to suit the area you need can mean the difference between having a perfectly working tap or one that does not do the job you want it to do.

How Do We Differentiate A Mixer Tap From A Standard Tap?

Here is some quick information on how to tell one from the other:

  • Mixer taps are the most common taps in Australian homes, especially in kitchens. These are the taps where you have one handle that controls both hot and cold water, which is mixed together and comes out from a single spout.
  • Pillar taps have separate spouts for both cold and hot water.
  • Traditional taps have a handle for both hot and cold water and a single spout.

So, what’s better: mixer taps, pillar taps, or traditional taps? It’s all a matter of opinion and revolves around the style you wish to portray within your house.

For Example:

  • Modern Australian homes often have mixer taps throughout the house, giving it a sleek, modern, user-friendly feel.
  • An older-style federation house will most likely have traditional taps to maintain that classic feel.
  • A retro house may choose to use pillar taps to match its cool pastel-colored basins and toilets and keep the retro feel.
When it comes to choosing tapware, both single and double taps can be equally functional. However, keep in mind that quality often comes with a higher price tag. I recommend investing in middle or top-of-the-line tapware, as this will save you money and hassle in the long run. Opting for cheaper options may seem like a good idea initially, but they tend to break down quickly, and finding replacement parts can be a nightmare. As a plumber, I suggest going with trusted brands and suppliers to ensure durability and accessibility of replacement parts.
Perfect Tap for your Home

In My Own House, I Recently Renovated and Chose the Following Styles:

  • Wall mixers in the showers.
  • Flick mixers in the kitchen, laundry, and basins.

A Helpful Tip for Outdoor Hose Taps

I would like to offer you a helpful and informative tip regarding the replacement of your outdoor hose taps. It is highly recommended to invest in a ¼ turn lever style tap, even though it may cost a bit more than traditional taps. These taps are virtually maintenance-free and have a long lifespan, making them a more cost-effective option in the long run.

One of the main benefits of these taps is that they don’t require washers, which can often cause leaks and require frequent replacement. Instead, the easy-to-use levers optimize water temperature and flow, providing a reliable and efficient solution for all your water needs. This not only saves you time and effort but also helps to conserve water, ultimately saving you money on your water bill.

In terms of options, you can choose from different types of mixer taps, such as monobloc and three-hole options, depending on your specific needs. These taps come in various colors and finishes, including chrome, stainless steel, and gold, allowing you to find the perfect match for your outdoor décor.

Overall, if you are looking for a reliable and efficient solution for your outdoor water needs, investing in a ¼ turn lever style tap is worth considering. They are particularly useful for showers and baths, providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience every time.

Standard Taps

Standard taps are the ones where you use a single lever in order to control the flow of water. You can either turn the tap to the left in order to get hot water or turn it to the right to get cold water. There is also an option to turn the lever on the side in order to present it to the desired water temperature. One major advantage of the standard taps is that you can easily control the flow of water by just lifting the lever continuously up to get a much heavy flow.

They are mostly used in bathroom basins since they are very easy to use, especially for young kids and the elderly. They also come in varying designs and colours which is one of their major advantages since they are easy to match with your kitchen sink, kitchen tap, kitchen mixer and bathroom themes and designs.

Now, you’ll have a general idea of what kind of tap to use on your property. For the installation of new taps and repair of leaking taps, call your expert plumbers right away.

Here is another article that you may find interesting in regards to “What to Check if Your Hot Water Service is Not Working Properly”.

If you need your taps serviced or need new taps installed, don’t hesitate to call us at 13 10 91 to fix the problem right away. We service areas in Canberra, Newcastle, Central Coast, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens.

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