History Of Faucets

Plumbing systems have already existed during ancient times. In fact, at around 1700 BC, The Minoan Palace of Knossos in Crete first featured a terra cotta-based piping that provided water for faucets, as well as faucets made of marble, gold and silver. During the Roman period, personal bathrooms and lead pipes have already existed (1000 BC - 476 AD). Rome's public baths were already equipped with silver faucets along with fixtures made of gold and marble.

Since then, public systems have changed, including faucets. For many decades, faucets had two handles - one for hot water, and the other for cold water. In 1937, however, this design changed, and this change was initiated by a college student named Al Moen. One fine day in 1937, he turned the faucet handle to wash his hands but scalded them since the water came too hot. This gave him the idea of designing a single-handle faucet.

Between 1940 and 1945, he designed various kinds of faucets: from a double-valve faucet to a cylindrical design, and finally he sold his first single handle mixing faucet in the latter part of 1947. By 1959, his design was used in a million homes in the United States and sold in around 55 countries all over the world. Today, single-handle faucets are popular and can be found in about 50% of American homes.

Aside from single-handed faucets, Al Moen also came up with other inventions in his lifetime, which included the replaceable cartridge (to eliminate washers in the faucets), push-button shower valve diverter, screen aerator, flow control aerator, pressure balancing shower valves and swivel spray. Aside from Al Moen, Landis Perry was also involved in doing innovative faucet designs. In 1945, he designed his first faucet ball valve which aimed at providing a combined blending control and volume with an effective means for sealing valve elements. This design was patented in 1952 and was first introduced in 1954 by Delta faucets (who bought the patent beforehand). Four years henceforth, their sales topped a whooping $1 million.

About two decades later, Wolvering Brass patented the ceramic disk for water control. Unlike rubber-based cartridges, ceramic discs are lapped and polished in such a way that their flatness is only measured in light bands. Ceramic disks tend to last a lot longer than cartridges since they have high wear resistance and are able to provide a more accurate control. These disks are widely used today.

More recent innovations in faucets include built-in cartridges used to reducing the level of lead, cysts and chlorine, built-in pull out sprays, electronic faucets as well as those designed for disabled people. Electronic faucets were introduced in the early 1980's for hygienic and water conservation purposes, and come with infrared beams that detect motion. When a person happens to put his hand underneath the faucet, the infrared beam is disrupted, and this disruption triggers the water to run. In addition, battery-operated electronic faucets have also been distributed. More developments will surely come in and improve the lives of many homeowners.

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The Best Ways To Pick The Right Bathroom Faucets

Bathroom faucets are obviously one of the important parts of any bathroom. Without these, there is no sink, shower, or tub. While all bathroom faucets are meant to serve the very basic purpose of carrying water, they now also come in a wide array of shapes and styles. Finding the right design can be difficult, but it's well worth the effort of the search.

Before buying bathroom faucets, there are several things you will want to think about. First and foremost, you will want to consider which type of design is appropriate and what type of design you want. What kind of handle do you want for your faucet? Do you want a bathroom faucet with a large round knob that you can adjust either way for increased hot or cold water, or do you want a pull handle? Even beyond that, do you want one handle, or two (one for each temperature of water)?

A second serious consideration with bathroom faucets is finding a style and a finish that you want. A good style and finish can add a certain respectable elegance to your bathroom, but you want to make sure they don't clash with the rest of the bathroom, otherwise any positive effect will be lost by its seeming completely out of place. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of choices, and whatever style you decide to choose, you will want to make sure to consider if they fit into your bathroom, will function at maximum capacity, and also how easy they are to use. If they look nice that's all good and well, but if they're really hard to use, is it really worth it?

Also, a very important consideration with bathroom faucets is expense. Obviously you may find a bathroom faucet you love, but if it is three times the cost of your budget, then that's not going to work. There are some very basic bathroom faucets, and then there are very elegant, expensive bathroom faucets. Don't overspend--you can find plenty of good functional faucets that are also aesthetically pleasing for a reasonable price.

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Dealing With The Leaking Bathtub Faucet

Drip, drip, drip. A leaky bathtub faucet is a common problem in many homes. If you have one, the good news is they are usually fairly simple to take care of.

The repair of leaky faucets is another often minor plumbing job that can be done by yourself with a minimum of effort and with no special tools. Although this may be true, it is an extremely important job. A single pinhole leak in a water pipe can waste up to 70 gallons of water per day. A badly leaking faucet can waste even more. This is a serious environmental issue today. There are some who claim that the very population levels of the world are depending on the supply of potable water. And we are already running behind.

There are two major types of faucets. The most common one in older homes is called the compression faucet. This faucet uses a rubber washer that is compressed when the valve is closed. The compressed washer expands and seals off the water flow. This process is hard on the washer and after a time they will wear out and need to be replaced.

When you go to replace the washer, you must first shut off the water supply to the faucet. Sometimes it is possible to do this at a more local spot close to the faucet, but other times it is necessary to shut off the main water supply to the home to isolate the faucet. It is a good idea to protect the enamel of the bathtub with towels to protect it from chips from dropped tools. Another good preparation idea is to cover drains to prevent small pieces from being dropped into them.

When you take apart the faucet to get to the washer, make diagrams or notes of exactly how you do so. This will make it easier to put it back together. Normally, the replacement of the washer will solve the leak problem. Keep spare washers handy in your tool box. You will need them again before long.

The newer type of faucet is called a washer less faucet. The name tells it all. The valve opens and shuts by an actual physical closing of the valve. You can usually tell if your faucet is compression or washer less just by feel. A compression faucet needs to be tightened to get it closed. The washer less faucet glides easily into place and does not need additional pressure to cut off the flow. There are fewer problems with leaking on washer less faucets. They tend to be either working or not. When they wear out, or do not operate properly, they should be replaced.

Fred Linson is with PlumbingStop.com - providing basic plumbing information and more resources.