Kitchen tap

[alimayz]

I have to replace my single hole kitchen tap and am thinking whether it would be better to get a single lever tap rather than separate h&c. I understand the mechanism is more complex - does this make them more expensive,unreliable and leak more? Is any make more reliable than the others, eg Bristan? I live in London so suffer bad limescale. Thanks for any tips or suggestions.

Alan T

 

[motorbiking]

The real issue is water pressure and flow rate - a tap you describe can cost as little as £20 https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/neptune-single-lever-sink-mixer-with-swivel-spout-chrome

Do you have mains pressure hot water? Or Hot water from a hot tank fed from a tank in a loft.

 

[alimayz]

Thanks motorbiking, hot water is gravity fed from tank, so lower pressure than cold - hasn't been an issue so far. Current tap was fitted by kitchen fitters.

 

[motorbiking]

Then choose carefully as many, many taps are designed for 1-3 bar water pressure and can have piddly input hoses, which will affect flow rate. My guess is you have a approx. 0.4-0.5 bar input assuming the kitchen is on the ground of a 2 story house. I'd measure your current flow rate by say timing how long it takes to fill a 2 litre coke bottle or similar and then check if your new tap will achieve similar.

reliability etc is really down to materials / brand etc

 

[alimayz]

cold tap fills a 2 litre bottle in 10 seconds, hot takes 22 seconds. Doesn't this just mean you turn the cold on less than the hot? What brands do you like to fit?

 

[slippyr4]

Doesn't this just mean you turn the cold on less than the hot? What brands do you like to fit?

To an extent, but some mixer taps have tiny inlet hoses which you're unlikely to be happy with the flow rate from.

 

[alimayz]

Thanks, Slippyr4, I'll look for taps suitable for low pressure.

 

[muggles]

Buy a Franke branded tap - great quality and easy to repair when spares are needed

 

[alimayz]

Thanks Muggles

 

[Aquaheat]

Bristan are good quality and the after service has always been impeccable for me. Warranty is long especially when registered and covers parts and labour. Can't remember what the taps are but the TMV showers are 5 years on both when registered.

Jon

 

[alimayz]

Thanks Jon, I got a Bristan catalogue. Also Astracast sound good as they can do low pressure - are they ok?

 

[Aquaheat]

Can't vouch for Astracast as I've never installed or used. Only reason I recommend Bristan for a Mid to High end fitting for a modest price is because I use them and fit them. I could honestly say they pi55 all over Mira at the same price level and still do until you get the expensive end of Mira and even then its still close.

The back up is what you want and I was fortunate enough to live by their main office for years and have a few friends that work there but the service is the same for anyone. They do actually pride themselves on that. Even had spares sent outside of warranty free to the customer.

Low pressure then you are limited to ranges but they operate down to 0.1 bar.

Is your cold mains fed? A mixer will struggle if pressures arent balanced. I think Bristan state a 1 bar differential but would need to check. Ideally, and if finances allow, get the hot upgraded and have balanced supplies. You will love the difference!

As for London, again depends on finances but get a softener of some sort. The more you pay the better the results. Guys on here recommend Monarch though not tried one myself yet.

Jon

 

[alimayz]

Thanks, Jon, you've been a great help
A