Your moderne colonne de douche may look like a tiny detail, but it contributes to the elegance and functionality of the bathroom. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on where you sit, the market has many different faucet models.
While this availability is good, it makes it challenging to choose the best shower faucet set for your bathroom. Several factors like shower valves, water pressure, and type will influence the type of faucet you buy. Thankfully, this guide will help you select the right fixture for you.
Whether you are renovating your bathroom or setting a new one, here are some tips to help you choose the right faucet if you are buying online.
#1. Decide on the Type of Faucet You Want
The types of shower faucets available are differentiated by their controls. As such, there are three main types of shower faucets;
- Single Tap Mixers
These are common in homes and hotels. They feature a single lever that balances the input of cold and hot water and the flow rate. But, there’s also an alternate style of this tap that comes with two separate levers for temperature mixing and controlling the flow rate. These styles draw hot and cold water into the mixer and bring the levels either up or down, depending on the user’s predetermined temperature before water comes out of the faucet.
- Traditional Two Tap Mixer
These were the only options for quite a long time. It comes with two separate levers for cold and hot water. The water only mixes once hot, and cold water enters the pipe to the showerhead.
- Panel
These are fairly new options that are a bit more expensive. They come with a vertical panel that has plumbing connections to control several body sprayers, a handheld shower faucet, an overhead shower faucet, and even a bathtub faucet. However, they need a home to have high water pressure to work.
#2. Consider the Flow Rate
Flow rate describes how much water comes out of the faucet. It’s measured in gallons/minute or GPM. A low flow rate in your shower can be frustrating because the spray might not reach you. As such, you have to struggle with inconsistent water streams while you are showering.
Most shower faucets offer a minimum of 1 GPM to avoid reducing the water pressure of a house. However, experts recommend purchasing shower faucets with higher flow rates of 1.5 GPM and 2.5 GPM. There are other shower faucet sets with a higher flow rate than 2.5 GPM. However, most people don’t need a heavy flow. Plus, it can increase your water bills.
#3. Consider the Ease of Installation
Before you start shopping for a shower faucet, you should decide whether you will install it yourself or hire someone else to do it. Your decision will play a huge role in influencing the shower faucet you chose.
For example, if you are going the DIY route, you won’t have many options for replacing a traditional two-tap mixer since the products selection isn’t that wide. But when working with a professional, you don’t need to worry about your shower configuration.
Shower faucets sets can be easy to install or more difficult to install. Therefore, individuals with little knowledge in plumbing will be better with a shower faucet set that includes a user guide and, if possible, an instructional video, as well as a helpline call if one is stuck.
Most products that need a professional plumber to install usually indicate this on the packaging or products details. Therefore, you should look out for this requirement if you don’t want to hire a plumber.
#4. Reliabilities and Warranties
This is where online reviews come into play. They can give you an idea of a faucet’s reliability and the seller’s customer service. Also, check the consumers publication ratings and ask for a recommendation from your plumber.
Experts recommended purchasing a faucet with construction and finish warranties. These show that the faucet is of high quality. Read the warranty to ensure that you know what is included and what is not.
Again, bear in mind that some lifetime warranties are only useful if the faucet buyer owns the house that it was installed in.
To make your warranty more effective, avoid buying from unauthorized vendors, improper installation, and care. Note that these things can void your warranty.
#5. Consider Your Budget
Before you set out to buy a shower faucet, ask yourself how much you have to spend. You can be tempted to purchase a highly-priced faucet because of its elegance. If you were unprepared for it, this purchase can hurt your finances.
Therefore, come up with a budget. Since there are different types of shower faucet sets, research the ones you want and find out whether they match your budget. What’s important is to buy a high-quality and functional faucet at the price you can afford.
#6. Think of the Material
The material of the shower faucet is a significant factor in deciding the design you want. While different metals have different durability, the types of metals used for making a shower faucet set shouldn’t be heavily relied on when deciding whether or not to buy it.
Most shower faucet sets use basic stainless steel or chrome finish. But if you want a more stylish material, opt for a set with brass, bronze, or nickel. Or, if you want minimal cleaning, opt for a matte black finish that doesn’t show fingerprints or dirt.
#7. Measure the Spread
The spread refers to how far apart a faucet’s outer two holes are. For a faucet with three holes, one hole is for water, and the other two are for the knobs or handles. Measure the handles or knobs’ distance from the furthest end to end. Note that you will need these measurements to decide on the faucet that’s right for your shower. If your faucet has only one hole, measure the hole’s spread from edge to edge.
Conclusion
Your shower system needs a functional faucet to be completed. If the faucet is faulty, you may not have a relaxing time in the shower. Plus, it will also waste water, which increases your energy bills. Therefore, use these tips to get the best shower faucet set for your bathroom.