The word plumbing can also be used to describe the various fixtures and pipes installed for the purposes of bringing clean water into the house and, in turn, removing waste water from the house. The term is reserved, however, for classifying the pipes and fixtures in a single home or building and would therefore not include any attached sewage or water lines that are designed to serve multiple locations.

Plumbing History – Ancient Times

In order to fully understand the history of plumbing as we know it today, one must trace the origins back to Ancient times.

Babylon

In the time period between 6,000 B.C. and 3,000 B.C., Western civilization as we know it was being formed in the lands of Babylon. It was a lush land, full of rich crops and several practices that would go on to create the basis for modern plumbing.

Babylonians stored their personal water supplies in large clay jars or pots, built by the locals and filled from the nearby river. Bathrooms consisted of holes cut into the floor that emptied into local cesspools and the act of bathing was often done in the rivers and canals for the lower class. Upper class households, on the other hand, often had private bath areas where servants would pour water over their masters’ heads in the first known recorded incident of showering. These wealthy homes also developed seats that were placed over the cesspool access to allow for a greater comfort level, establishing the foundation for the creation of toilets as we know them today.

Drains also originated during this period and were often comprised on clay pots which had either had their bottom portion removed, or had small holes punched into their bottoms. They were, in turn, placed over various holes in the floor that either led directly to the river, or emptied out into the streets.

Early plumbers during this period worked most often with clay and straw that had been combined to form a malleable material that would dry to become fairly durable. Eventually, items such as copper, lead, and bronze were available for use as well. A thick liquid that dried into a solid, commonly known as antimony, was used to patch holes in early plumbing fixtures or canal walls, as needed.

Crete

The next civilization to make significant contributions to modern plumbing was Crete. Between 3,000 B.C. and 1,500 B.C., significant advances were made in the areas of bathing and sewage handling. The Minoan capital of Knossos was home to many of these innovations.

Crete is also believed to be home to one of the first formal bathtubs. Made from clay and then painted, the tub resided in the queen’s bathroom and was surrounded by statues and large wall reliefs and frescoes. While the size and shape of the tub closely resembles modern fixtures, there was no drainage capacity and it had to be filled and emptied by hand. The waste water was emptied into an opening in the bathroom floor which did connect directly to the main waste lines.

Crete was also home to one of the first known ‘flushing’ toilets. Known as water closets at the time, they relied on stores of rain water or river water that were collected and used to force waste water down into the sewers, replacing the discarded water with a fresher supply. The earthquake that hit in 1,400 B.C. damaged or destroyed many of these examples of ancient plumbing techniques, as the city of Knossos was leveled.

Egypt

It really is no surprise that early Egypt contributed a great deal to the history and modernization of plumbing. While Crete was becoming renowned for their use of bath tubs and complex sewage systems, Egypt was concentrating on advancing drain and pipe technology, along with attempting to finally harness the power of the Nile.

Egyptians were some of the first to rely on deep wells to access clean water supplies deep underground. Often times, these wells were dug through solid rock, quite an accomplishment given the more primitive tools of the time. The Well of Joseph is one of the most remarkable examples of this technique.

Egypt was also one of the first civilizations to begin incorporating metals, such as copper, lead, brass, and bronze, into their plumbing as more than just accent materials. Examples of both lead and bronze drains have been found during numerous archaeological digs. Copper and brass pipes were also found in many areas, replacing the traditional clay pipes being used in the rest of the world at the time.

Elsewhere

Greece was home to some beautiful tiled bathrooms, as well as some of the first self draining bathtubs. These tubs were often very ornate and ceremonial in nature, typically made from fine stone such as marble or granite. While baths and showers were typically done with room temperature or slightly cooled water in other parts of the world, the Greeks relied heavily on hot and cold water for bathing purposes. Hot baths, however, were often reserved for the females and the upper class males.

Jerusalem was known for their innovation with sewer systems. Since cleanliness was such a strong part of their religious beliefs, it was very important to always have sources of clean water to bathe and wash in. In order to accomplish this task, they built separate plumbing systems and aqueducts to bring clean water in and then dispose of wastewater afterwards. Jerusalem was also the first to explore the concept of reclaimed water, any water that was disposed of would have its solid waste separated from its liquid waste. The solid waste was used as a fertilizer on the crops, and the liquid was, in turn, used to water the harvest.

Pompeii went down in history for the many examples of lead bathroom fixtures, such as ornate bathtubs and sinks. The composition of the items, thankfully, allowed them to survive the great eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Plumbing History – Developments In Toilet Design

While it seemed that bathtubs, sinks, and drains had all been fairly well developed, there was still one basic plumbing fixture that still needed a lot of work before it was up to par with modern standards. A true flushing toilet was found in Crete during an archaeological dig. The ruins under which it was piled, however, delayed its discovery for many years, leaving the technology and design buried along with it. For the rest of the world, it was back to square one. The development of the toilet as we know it today is definitely an interesting timeline. In fact, it took until the 19th century for the next true flushing toilet to be completed.

Sir John Harrington designed the plans for a flushing toilet in the late 1500s. The unit relied on running water to flush away debris and a valve at the base of the toilet to control the flushing itself. Since running water was extremely limited at the time though, his invention remained fairly stagnant. In 1775, Alexander Cumming developed the S shaped toilet base that many are familiar with today. This trap eliminated the need for a valve and used water levels to determine when water flow should be stopped or started. Two years later, Samuel Prosser created the plunger component for the toilet, allowing waste to be disposed of and sealed off to prevent the odor from re-entering the room. The use of valves returned in 1778 when Joseph Bramah created the first hinged valve and float valve to further improve toilet operation.

JG Jennings went down in history as the first to introduce the toilet to the public on a large scale. After making improvements of his own, he placed a number of his flushing toilets on display at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The units were installed in the Crystal Palace and allowed attendees to try them for a nominal fee. Nearly 900,000 participants got the chance to use Jennings’ design at that event.
In the 1880s, the siphoning system was invented, designed to empty the toilet’s cistern for more effective flushing. These modifications were made by Thomas Crapper. While it is a common misbelief that Crapper invented the toilet himself, as you can see from the names and accomplishments that came before him, he merely helped to improve on the basic design.

Plumbing History – Developments In Shower Design

While there were many examples of showers during ancient times, they were all very similar in the fact that they were composed of small quarters the bather would stand in while a slave or servant proceeded to pour large buckets or jars of water over their head. Needless to say, that is far from the concept of a shower as we know it today.

One of the earliest showers, as well as one of the most elaborate, was said to be located within a wealthy English manor house built in the early 1800s. Known today as the English Regency Shower, this piece was not only beautiful and ornate in its design, it was also massive in its scale. Measuring in at just over 12 feet high, the unit was unlike anything thing else seen or built during this time period.

The English Regency Shower was made from various metals which were then painted by hand in order to appear as bamboo from a distance. The base of the shower was a large bowl with a built in drain that was then connected to the upper water tank with the metal poles, measuring nearly 10 feet on their own. The unit was created with an integrated pump system that took the water as it drained down the basin and pushed it back to the upper holding tank. The tank would then disperse the water, creating a recycling effect. While it was not the most hygienic means of bathing, it apparently served its purpose well enough.

The bather was given privacy by means of a curtain that was hung on poles surrounding the upper water tank, the forerunner to the modern shower curtain as we know it today. The English Regency Shower was also the unit behind the invention of one of the first shower caps. Unlike modern shower cap designs, this version was a tall cone shaped metal hat the bather would wear to keep his or her hair dry. While bathing practices had become more frequent during this time period, washing the hair was often done with the use of scented oils and herbs, not soap and water.

The Golden Age of Plumbing

The tail end of the 19th century, particularly between 1880 and 1899, has long been considered the dawn of the golden age of plumbing. This was not only one of the first times that plumbing was recognized as its own trade, it was also the first time that plumbers began to be considered skilled tradesmen. In fact, it is only in the last hundred years or so that the plumbing industry has flourished, leading to the creation of multiple trade associations and plumbers’ unions. The National Association of Master Plumbers was founded in 1183 and both the Mechanical Contractors of America and United Associated Plumbers Union were established in 1889.

Some say it was the mastery of the toilet design that led to this prosperous boom that seems to still be going strong. Once the sanitation and odor issues that had long plagued toilet design were eliminated, the concept of indoor plumbing spread faster than anyone could have ever imagined. Also, once manufacturers had perfected their basic designs as best they could for the times, greater emphasis was once again placed on the visual aspects of the plumbing fixtures, as these were now just as important to people as the functional aspects of the devices. Sinks, tubs, and toilets gradually became standard fixtures in nearly every home, followed closely behind by true showers. Coincidentally, the overall public health seemed to improve greatly as well during these times. Many experts often contribute this more to the improvements made in sanitation and hygiene practices that were being made, as opposed to advances being made in the medical sciences.

Modern Plumbing

Today’s plumbers are still considered highly skilled tradesman and still have a wealth of private and public associations and unions which cater to their needs. Becoming a licensed plumber not only requires several years of experience, it can also include various levels of schooling and certifications, as well as the need to successfully pass a series of detailed exams on various aspects of the plumbing industry. Their jobs also entail much more than just the basic bathroom fixtures, such as baths and toilets. Plumbers are now responsible for more modern designs, such as water heaters, swimming pools, residential septic systems, and irrigation systems.

Plumbers can choose to do general contracting work, becoming certified to handle any general plumbing repair or installation needs within the home, or they can opt for a more specialized career in a specific niche market within the industry itself. They can also choose to focus on strictly residential plumbing tasks, or choose to handle larger scale commercial and industrial applications.

Modern Plumbing Tools

In order to perform their job correctly, a plumber must be well equipped with the proper tools. While it is common to have a mini-tool kit specific to plumbing needs around the house, often equipped with a wrench or two, some plumbing tape, and a hand full of washers, the professional plumber’s arsenal of tools is much more extensive.

Wrenches

Fixed Wrench

Plumbing wrenches come in two basic designs, adjustable wrenches and fixed wrenches. As their names imply, fixed wrenches are designed to fit specific sizes of pipes, valves, bolts, etc.

Adjustable Wrench

Adjustable wrenches, on the other hand, can be made to fit a number of various sized items, with each wrench covering a small to moderate range on the overall sizing scale. The most common wrench size for residential applications has a 12” handle.

Stillson Wrench

Stillson wrenches are one of the most common types of wrenches used for rounded surfaces, primarily plumbing pipes. Stillson wrenches tend to be fairly affordable and rely on adjustable steel jaws set into a housing to grip and move the piping. Like general wrenches, Stillson wrenches are commonly found in the 12” variety, however, 18” Stillson wrenches are also quite common.

Pipe Wrench

Pipe wrenches are another type of wrench used for rounded surfaces. Unlike Stillson wrenches, pipe wrenches tend to be slightly more costly, particularly since they are subject to much less potential distortion. They consist of a section of heavy chain which is attached to a steel handle. The chain is placed around the pipe or rounded item that needs to be adjusted and then tightened in place. The notches on the handle, also known as teeth, help to grip the pipe securely, while the pipe is held firm by pressure of the chain. A pipe wrench can also be used on other items, including angled and irregularly shaped pipes. This versatility stems from the fact that the chain can be made to fit and conform to a variety of shapes other than just round pipes.

While Stillson wrenches and pipe wrenches are the two most common types used for plumbing repairs and installations, there are several other varieties of wrenches that a skilled plumber will rely on in his day to day activities.

Plumbing Strap Wrench

When dealing with softer pipe materials, such as plastic, aluminum, or lead, a strap wrench is recommended. A strap wrench works on the same basic principle of the pipe wrench but uses a leather or fabric strap to wrap around the item instead of a chain. Using fabric eliminates the need for the teeth and chain which can cause extensive damage when used on softer materials.

End wrenches are used in smaller areas or where pipes have been mounted in close quarters to one another. Their slim design helps them to better fit into confined spaces and between close set pipes.

Plumbing Nipple Wrench

Nipple wrenches, also known as extractors, are also heavily relied on in smaller work areas. They rely on hex fittings for ease of use.

The hex setting itself is, of course, most commonly found on hex wrenches. The basic design of a hex wrench features an end that is designed to fit a variety of square or multi-sided objects. The hex wrench fits over the item needing to be tightened or loosened, wrapping around it firmly to ensure a proper grip. Because of their snug fit and soft surfaces, hex wrenches are also preferred for more decorative finishes, such as chrome, as they are less likely to scratch the surface as many standard wrenches may.

Seat Wrench

Seat wrenches also feature hex settings and are used specifically for a variety of faucet seating shapes and sizes.

Nut Socket Wrench

With regards to bath and shower repairs and installations, packing nut socket wrenches are a staple in any plumber’s tool kit. These wrenches are typically found in large sets and feature double ended hex settings designed to fit the full range of standard tub and shower faucet stems. The hex settings are crucial as almost all tub and shower faucet stems are made from pliable brass which is too easily damaged by standard wrenches. A damaged faucet stem is also nearly impossible to replace without damaging or taking apart the wall that the faucet stem is mounted into.

Pliers

Another top category of plumbing tools is pliers. Locking pliers, slip joint pliers, and expanding jaw pliers are some of the most common types in use.

Locking Pliers

Locking pliers are often included in the wrench category as their method of operation is very similar. They are fully adjustable and, once in the right position, can be locked down with a firm grip on the pliers handle.

Slip Joint Pliers

Slip joint pliers and expanding jaw pliers, on the hand, are slightly more manual in their operation.

Expanding Jaw Pliers

While slip joint pliers are used to grip down on pipes and fittings, expanding jaw pliers are placed into an opening, such as a sink drain, and expanded outwards to loosen the fitting from within.

Other Pipe Tools

When working with pipes, it is often essential to have a tool to hold the pipe firmly in place. A pipe vise does just that.

Yoke Vises

Yoke vises are designed for pipes ranging from 1/8” in size up to 6” in size and uses two V-shaped grips, one on the top of the pipe and the other on the bottom, to hold the pipe in place.

Chain Vise

A chain vise, on the other hand, is smaller in overall size but can hold pipes between 1/8” and 8” in size. Chain vises rely on the same V-shaped jaw on the bottom portion of the tool, but use a chain laid across the top of the jaw to hold the pipe firmly in place.

Pipe Cutters

Pipe cutters are another essential tool in the plumber’s tool kit. Pipe and tube cutters are not only more efficient than standard saws, they also provide a much more uniform cut. They are typically designed to cut pipes ranging in size from 1/8” to 6” in diameter and use a cutting wheel guided by rollers to make quick and accurate cuts. Tube cutters are used specifically for softer and thinner metals and plastic pipes, while pipe cutters are designed for harder and thicker metals.

Plumbing Reamer

Once the pipe has been cut, the edges are cleaned with a reamer. While standard files are generally used to smoother the semi-rough outer edges of a pipe that has been recently cut, a reamer is designed to smooth the inner edges of the pipe. Because of their cone shaped design, reamers can also be used to widen holes in flat items to help ensure the proper fit of various pipes and fixtures. The deeper into the hole the reamer is pushed, the wider the opening will end up being. Reamers can be found in both manual and electric designs.

Plumbing Pipe Threader

The newly cut and sanded pipe must sometimes need to be threaded as well. Threading is the slightly angled series of lines carved into the outer edge of the pipe or cut into the inner edge. They are designed to help the pipe fit snugly with other components, making it much easier to ensure a water tight seal. The tool used to create the threading on the pipes is naturally called a threader. The pipe is held in place by a vise while the threader work to carve or cut the correct series of lines into or onto the pipe. Like reamers, threaders come in both manual and electric designs.

For both commercial and residential applications, snakes, augers, and plungers are also must have plumbing tools. A plumbing snake is a long piece of flexible coiled wire that can be used to help unclog blocked drains. One end of the snake is forced into the drain and pushed through until it reaches, and breaks through, the material that is causing the blockage. Plumbing snakes can reach upwards of hundreds of feet, designed for both residential and commercial plumbing lines. Augers, on the other hand, are smaller versions of plumbing snakes that are enclosed in a plastic casing for more sanitary use. Since they are smaller in their overall design, they are designed more for sinks and other plumbing fixtures where the blockage tends to be closer to the drain itself.

Common Plumbing Fittings

Plumbing Fittings

One of the most crucial aspects of plumbing involves securing various pipes and components together in a way that prevents leakage. Most pipes must be secured to one another with one of the many types of plumbing fittings available. Each fitting is designed to work for a specific connection and come in a variety of sizes to fit the standard pipe sizes on the market.

Elbow Fittings

One of the most popular types of plumbing fittings is the elbow fitting. As the name implies, an elbow fitting is designed to connect two pipes at either a 45° or 90° angle. The greater the bend in the elbow fitting, the sharper the angle will be. The two ends of the elbow fitting can also be made to accommodate different sizes of pipe, allowing a reduction or increase in pipe size through the connection itself.

Tee Fittings

The tee fitting is also a common sight. This fitting has three openings and is designed primarily to combine two water flows into one or separate a single water flow into two directions. Some tee fittings also have a built in diverter which allows the water flow to be channeled to one side or the other while in use. The same diverter control can also be used to regulate the force of the flow being directed towards the various outputs or inputs.

Plumbing Caps and Plugs

Caps and plugs are also common plumbing fittings. The cap is designed to fit over the end of a pipe, usually through a threading design, while the plug is designed to fit into the pipe. Both are used to seal off the end of a pipe.

Types Of Plumbing Pipes

Aside from the various tools used by modern day plumbers, there are also a number of materials that can be used to make various plumbing pipes from. While some materials are designed for specific applications, others become a matter of personal preference. The three most common materials used to make metal plumbing pipes are copper, stainless steel, and galvanized steel. PVC, CVPC, and PEX, on the other hand, are the three most common choices for plastic plumbing pipes.

Copper

Copper Pipes

At one point, copper was one of the most commonly used materials for plumbing pipes and fittings. Copper is not only easy to work with, it is also very lightweight and can withstand frequent use. Heavily relied on in warmer climates, copper pipes can handle extremely high temperatures and are fairly rust or corrosion resistant. Copper pies are not, however, recommended for areas prone to extremely low temperatures as they are susceptible to splitting in freezing temperatures. Copper piping also requires soldering, making it more labor intensive than some other types of piping. Cutting copper piping requires a high level of accuracy. Because of the high demand for copper over the years, it has also increased in value, making it a great source of income for scrap metal, but also a likely target for theft from construction sites.

Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel Pipes

Stainless steel may not have many suitable plumbing applications, but it does serve its primary one very well. Since stainless steel is more expensive than copper, as well as being much more difficult to work with, it is not commonly found in either residential or commercial plumbing applications. The primary benefit of stainless steel piping, however, is its high level of resistance to corrosion, particularly when it comes to salt water. This characteristic makes it ideal for maritime applications where constant exposure to salt water is a factor.

Galvanized Steel

Galvanized Steel Pipes

Before copper became the metal of choice for residential piping in the early 1960′s, galvanized steel was the main material used to make pipes from. Galvanized steel pipes were particularly preferred due to their ability to resist rust, making them ideal for underground applications where low maintenance was a priority. Galvanized steel piping’s durability was also important when it came to the frequent use of the materials to handle liquid and solid waste removal from homes. While the pipes were extremely rust resistant, they did tend to be prone to other types of corrosion which often lead to pipe blockages. They also frequently had issues with leakage, eventually giving way to copper for the preferred plumbing material for pipe making.

PVC

PVC Pipes

With regards to plastic pipes, polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as PVC, has long been the material of choice for plumbing line applications. PVC is ideal for moderate climates and can be used in high pressure scenarios. The main problems with PVC lie in the fact that it is prone to freezing, like copper, while also being unable to handle extremely high temperatures, as it can bend out of shape fairly easily when excess water temperatures are reached. In most setups, the PVC piping will be used for cold water applications while a more heat tolerant material, such as copper, will be used for carrying hot water.

CPVC

CPVC Pipes

Chlorine polyvinyl chloride, also known as CPVC, is a PVC alternative that has a slightly higher tolerance for extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. Its formulation increases the temperature of hot water it can accommodate without warping, while also decreasing the temperature of cold water it can be used for without the likelihood of freezing and splitting. The primary downside to CPVC is that it cannot be run underground and must be used only for above ground plumbing applications.

PEX

Plumbing Pex Pipes

In order to take advantage of the cost effectiveness of PVC, while also addressing the main problems its usage created, a variation on polyethylene pipe, commonly referred to as PEX, was introduced on the plumbing market in the 1920s. PEX pipes offer the same hot and cold handling ability as copper at a fraction of the cost. Its flexible nature eliminates the need for multiple joints, reducing the chances of leaking at various connection points. The primary downside to PEX piping is the fact that it is much less attractive than copper, often found in either blue or red styles, and therefore not intended for pipes in open areas where aesthetic appeal is a factor.

Cast Iron

One material no longer in active use today is cast iron. While cast iron plumbing pipes and fittings were extremely durable, their overall weight made them somewhat difficult to work with. When cast iron plumbing lines and fittings are found in older homes, they are typically replaced with PVC. This is due largely to the fact that PVC sections can be fitted into cast iron plumbing lines rather easily when certain repairs to individual sections are needed.

Plumbing Connection Types

Along with various fittings and types of pipe used in the plumbing industry, the types of connections used to join various components together also play a key role. Overall, there are three basic types of connections used to secure various plumbing fixtures, pipes, and fittings together. There are also three additional components used in conjunction with the connections to hold the pipes in place.

Threading

Threading

Threading is one of the simplest connection types used in plumbing. The threading on a pipe can be on either the outside of the pipe or the inside and consists of a number of lines either carved onto or etched into the pipe that are designed to twist onto similarly threaded pipes to create a seal. While threaded pipes are not always completely watertight, items such as plumber’s tape and caulk can often provide the extra sealant needed to prevent leaks.

Coupling

Plumbing Coupling

Coupling is another method used to connect various pipes in plumbing lines. Coupling connections basically slide over each end of a pipe, joining the two pipes together within the coupling device itself. Coupling connections can be used to fit two identical sized pipes together. They can also be found in reducing designs that are intended to connect two different size pipes together. Some styles require additional soldering or welding to hold them firmly in place, while other designs rely on compression to create a firm seal. Compression couplings basically use force placed on each pipe or fixture the coupling is connected to in order to eliminate any potential leaks.

Union

Union

Union connections are very similar in overall design to couplings but are, instead, designed to have a somewhat quick release capability that allows the pipes they are connecting to be easily separated from one another when needed. Unlike traditional couplings, unions do not require the need for additional soldering or welding to hold their pipes in place.

Additional Components

Compression, as mentioned earlier, is a method by which force is used to securely hold connections between pipes in place.

Solvent Welding

Solvent welding is another form, relying on chemical compositions that, when placed in contact with the various pipes and fittings, begin to slowly dissolve the surface they are in contact with. When two pieces of material that have both had solvent applied to them come into contact with one another, the chemicals helps them to essentially chemically weld themselves together, creating a water tight seal at the connection point.

Soldering

Pipe Soldering

Soldering is an alternative method used to reinforce plumbing connections. In place of a chemical material, soft metals are used to hold connections in place. The metal is often wrapped in a coil and placed over the area needing the connection in small portions. A high heat torch is then used to essentially heat the metal to its melting point, allowing it to create a seal at the connection points where it has melted.

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3. Shower Heads: A Definitive Guide

What Are The Benefits of Submersible Pumps?

One of the primary problems with traditional jet pumps for many applications was accommodating for the fact that water or other liquid often needed to be transferred from areas below the level of the pump. The higher the jet pump was from the surface needing to be drained, the harder the pump had to work to suction the area clean. Submersible pumps, on the other hand, are placed into the area needing to be drained, such as an oil well or swimming pool and, in turn push the water up from below, eliminating the risk of pump cavitation. One of the biggest advantages of submersible pumps is that they are not susceptible to pump cavitation which is essentially the pulling of air bubbles into the main lines which, in turn, reduce total pressure and decrease effectiveness of the pump itself.

Common Submersible Pump Uses

One of the most common areas around the home where a submersible pump would be used is in the backyard. Submersible pond pumps, for example are frequently used but rarely seen pieces of machinery. For smaller ponds, a small submersible pond pump can be placed on the bottom of the area to help keep a constant flow of water in the pond, eliminating the chances of stagnation. The pump rests on the bottom of the pond area, slowly pulling water from the pond into itself and, in turn, pushing back up from the top of the unit. This not only eliminates stagnation, as mentioned before, it also discourages many of the ill effects that can result from lack of water movement, such as algae build up or insect attraction. These types of pumps are typically camouflaged to allow them to blend into the bottom of the pond, decreasing the chance of the pump itself becoming an eyesore.

For larger decorative ponds, submersible pond pumps can be used to create a beautiful waterfall effect, yet another way of increasing water flow and eliminating the chances of stagnation. These pumps are cleverly disguised in the rising rocks that will eventually create the waterfall itself. The pump, placed into the portion of the rocks that are resting under water, once again pulls water from the bottom of the pond and forces it upwards. The upward movements lets the water back out at the top of the rick structure, at which point it begins to cascade back down the rocks naturally. These waterfalls not only make for a beautiful focal point, they can also be extremely soothing and relaxing. These pumps can also have commercial uses as well, particularly in large water features used in hotels, business complexes, or a number of other venues.

Like the pond pumps, submersible fountain pumps can also have both residential and commercial applications. These pumps work in a similar manner to the waterfall pumps, however, they tend to release the water with slightly more pressure behind it. A submersible fountain pump is a popular accessory for pools, both small and large. The pump works to pull water from the bottom of the pool, or other water feature, and force it upwards with high pressure, creating beautiful fountain effects. The fountains themselves can often be customized by a number of various water patterns for creating the perfect look. They can also be placed on timers for intermittent use and even illuminated by a series of lights that are built into the fountain device itself. Submersible fountain pumps are also common in larger scale commercial locations, such as lakes. They are also a common sight at many theme parks and water parks around the nation.

Another common use for submersible water pumps involves pools as well, along with basements and other areas of the home. A submersible water pump is what is commonly used in situations that require an area to be drained. This can include times when an in ground swimming pool needs to be emptied for cleaning or refinishing. It can also include cases of home flooding, particularly when basements are involved. Since there is typically such a large different in height between ground level and the bottom of the pool or the floor of the basement, traditional jet pumps do not work in these scenarios. Instead, a submersible water pump is placed in the area needing to be rained and then, in turn, connected to a hose or series of hoses that are run up to ground level and placed in or connected to the area that the water will be collected into. Larger pumps can also be used in similar industrial or commercial applications as well, as nearly any building is subject to flooding at some point. They are also used to drain ponds and even lakes when the occasion deems It necessary.

For a more proactive approach in underground areas, submersible sump pumps can be installed. A submersible sump pump is nothing more than a standard submersible water pump that is designed to be a permanent installation in basements or other underground areas. The submersible sump pump has a built in sensor that can help it detect when water levels reach above an acceptable point at which time the pump will automatically turn on and begin moving the water to an output location. These installations are ideal for those who have frequent flooding issues, primarily because they do not require anyone to be home and manually operate the pump should flooding begin.

The concept of the submersible well pump can have very different uses, each of which work on the same basic principle. For starters, many homes do not pull their water from city or country water supplies and, instead, have their own well which is used to supply the house with water. The wells are typically fairly substantial in size and draw their supplies form other underground water sources, such as aquifer systems and underground water tables. While this water may not always be of the highest quality, it is free for most people as long as they are willing to pay any maintenance costs to keep the well itself in working order. The water is pulled into the house’s plumbing lines by means of submersible well pumps which are housed in the well itself. These pumps rest on the bottom of the well and work to pull water from the bottom of the well and push it up into the home’s plumbing lines, as needed. While repair costs and replacement costs on well pumps may be high, given the nature of their location and accessibility issues, they are built to be extremely durable and able to operate for long periods of time with little to no maintenance at all.

Another common use for submersible well pumps comes from the oil industry. Once an oil well is discovered, it is fitted with a submersible well pump below the oil surface itself, often hundreds of feet below the surface. The pump is the connected to a hose or series of hoses which allow the pump to take the underground oil and pump it upwards to a holding tank or other containment area. As the well surface begins to dry up, the hole is drilled deeper and the well is reinstalled even further below ground level. These submersible well pumps come in a range of sizes, designed to operate on oil wells both small and large.

One of the other common uses for submersible utility pumps involves sewage and waste water applications. A submersible utility pump can not only be used for clearing waste water and sewage collection areas, they can also be used for emergency clean ups when accidental overflow occurs. One of the ideal qualities of a submersible sewage pump is that it is often able to separate solid form liquid wastes. Jet pumps tend to pull in everything around them. Submersible sewage pumps, on the other hand, rest at the base of the area needing to be drained and work to pull in the waste water, frequently able to filter the material enough to leave solid waste behind for separate clean up at a later time. This is typically not only the fastest way to clear sewage areas, it is also one of the most efficient, as cleaning water and solid debris separately tends to be much easier than separating the two from one another after the fact.

Submersible pumps are not only efficient in operation, they are also extremely effective. While their cost may be slightly higher upfront when compared to other types of pumps, they are also designed to require much less maintenance over time and operate for extended periods of time.

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Bathtub Faucet Styles

All in all, there are four unique styles of bathtub faucets that each work in one of two designs. While some of the styles are designed for specific bathtub styles, others are more versatile in nature. The two basic designs are somewhat interchangeable and often a matter of personal preference and price range more than anything else.

Single Lever Bathtub Faucets

Single lever bathtub faucets contain a single waterspout and a single water control lever. The up and down movement of the water control lever adjusts the water pressure, increasing or decreasing the flow of water coming through the spout. Side to side movement if the lever controls the amount of hot and cold water being used, effectively controlling the overall water temperature. Single level controls are almost always wall mounted and are ideal for smaller spaces where fixture size may be an issue. Some single level faucets also control a shower unit as well, if one is present. They will often be fixed with a plunger device that controls whether the water should be diverted to the shower head or the bath tub spout. Delta bathtub faucets are frequently found in single lever designs, as are Kohler bathtub faucets.

Double Lever Bathtub Faucets

Unlike single level bathtub faucets, double level faucets have individual controls for the hot and cold water supplies. The lever on the left is typically used to control hot water, increasing or decreasing the flow of the hot water in order to create the ideal temperature. Likewise, the cold water lever is almost always mounted on the left side and controls the flow of the cold water. A balanced temperature is reached by adjusting both flows until the hot and cold water supplies are in ideal balance. Like single lever designs, double lever designs can also be used to control attached shower units as well and are typically mounted onto the wall behind the bathtub. Many styles of faucets, such as those included on many of the Kohler bathtub faucet collections, operate in a double lever manner. Delta bathtub faucet collections also contain a large percentage of double lever designs.

Roman Bathtub Faucets

Unlike both single and double lever designs, a roman bathtub faucets mounts to the inner wall of the bathtub itself, as opposed to being attached to the wall. Since the mounting height of this style of faucet is therefore lower, adjustments are needed to the overall style of the faucet to accommodate. This is typically done by adding a high are to the water spout itself, allowing it to rise above the top of the tub and then arch back down slightly. Roman tub faucets are almost double lever models, having separate controls for hot and cold water controls. Roman tub faucets are so named for the fact that they were originally used with Roman tubs. These were essentially designed as stand alone bathtubs without built in shower features. Since there were no walls surrounding the bath tub, mounting the faucets to the tub were the easiest option.

Free Standing Bathtub Faucets

Similar to Roman tub faucets, free standing bath faucets were designed to be used on stand alone tubs that were not wall mounted. Unlike Roman faucets, on the other hand, the free standing faucets were not mounted into the tub but, instead, completely separate fixtures altogether. Free standing faucets were very popular in the 1800s and are still found to day in use when a vintage or antique feel is being sought. Often built with copper or bronze piping for a more visually appealing design, some free standing faucets even incorporated the means to use a shower feature in a free standing tub. They were typically connected to plumbing lines that had been run in the floor and relied on their own piping to build a framework for the faucet fixture that would extend over into the tub itself. Some models relied on the same piping to extend above standing level, allowing the water to flow vertically from above the head for a shower effect. Lighter piping was also used to circle the tub itself, allowing for a privacy curtain or drape.

Bathtub Faucet Designs

As stated before, the majority of all bathtub faucets on the market work in one of two designs, compression faucets and washerless faucets. Compression faucets rely on caps, valves, and washers to control water pressure. Found in both single and double lever designs, the valves on compression faucets are opened and closed as the levers are turned, increasing or decreasing the water flow. Washerless faucets, on the other hand, use valves as well, but also use faucet diverter cartridges in place of the caps and washer mechanisms. Washerless faucets are the more modern of the two designs and, while currently being slightly more costly to purchase, they are believed to be growing enough in popularity to eventually replace compression faucets as the fixture of choice for bathtub faucet needs.

Another modern day feature added to the majority of newer bathtubs faucets is a built in anti-scald device. This piece prevents the water from reaching a temperature that could potentially cause burns or other injuries, regulating the flow of the hot water to ensure the water flow never reaches above a pre-set temperature. For older faucets without anti-scald mechanisms, this is often dealt with on the water heater itself, where controls can be adjusted or added that place additional regulations on the water temperature as well.

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Evolution of the Pull Out Kitchen Faucet

The concept of a pull out sprayer for the kitchen faucet has actually been around for quite some time and were once extremely popular in kitchens everywhere. Originally, the sprayer nozzle was mounted into the base plate of kitchen faucets as a separate unit. The sprayer could be pulled out, as it was attached to the plumbing via a long flexible hose. The extra length allowed users to direct water flows at unusual angles, fill large pots with water without them having to be place in the sink, and simply have more control over the flow of the water in general. The main issue lie in the fact that these sprayers were often cheaply made with rather sub-par materials. After all, the visual emphasis was placed on the handles and spout of the faucet itself, while the sprayer attachment was often made from light plastic and prone to breakage.

Commercial Pull Out Faucets

Commercial kitchens were slightly different as they often had faucets that were operated solely with a sprayer on a flexible hose. Since these kitchens and sinks were often significant;y larger than residential kitchens, a fixed faucet spout rarely made much sense. The faucet unit was often hung from overhead, as were the plumbing lines in many of these establishments. When needed, it could be pulled down to be used, often attached by a stretchable cord that would allow it to return to its original overhead position for easy storage in an out of the way location. While this concept seemed like an ideal solution, it lacked the stationary faucet component that is, in fact, a requirement for residential sinks. The sprayer units were also too bulky for home use, coupled with the fact that residential plumbing was almost always run closer to ground level, as opposed to being piped overhead.

First Residential Kitchen Faucet Is Born

The perfect solution was reached by Delta Faucets in 1980 when they brought the first pull out kitchen faucet to the market. This design not only eliminated the need for a separate sprayer nozzle, it also managed to incorporate some of the most suitable features from commercial faucet construction. The Delta pull out kitchen faucet looked on the outside to be nothing more than a standard kitchen sink, typically having a high arch design for the center spout. The catch to this new design was the fact that the bottom portion of the spout where the water was dispersed from, could be pulled out, essentially separating the spout into two separate parts, connected, of course, by the same type of flexible hose as was used on the original sprayer nozzles. This hose was not only much longer than those that came with sprayer nozzles, the pull out portion itself was also of much higher quality that a standard sprayer nozzle. This was due largely in part to the fact that the pull out portion was constructed with the same quality materials and craftsmanship as the main faucet was.

Environmentally Friendly

These new pull out faucets not only saved time and energy when doing kitchen tasks, they were also very environmentally friendly as well. When pulled out from the man faucet, the water supply to the pull out spout was typically controlled by a trigger switch, similar to those on the original sprayer nozzles. By having control over when you wanted the water off and on, as opposed to running it as a steady stream from the spout, it helped to significantly reduce the amount of water being used unnecessarily. The spouts were also often equipped with built in aerator devices, allowing a percentage of air to be blended with the water being dispersed, reducing water usage while still maintaining adequate water pressure.

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Single Handle Lavatory Faucets

Single handle lavatory faucets are the simplest design and often the easiest to install. The water controls and spout are combined into a single unit and a single lever is used to control both hot and cold water functions. Up and down movement of the lever determines the water pressure and flow, while side to side movements control the temperature of the water. Single handle faucets are ideal for small bathrooms, as their compact nature offers a clean and simple look for the sink. These types of faucets can range from antique inspired to ultra-modern and can be made from a wide range of materials in a number of finishes. Single handle lavatory faucets are also easy to keep clean and maintain with proper care. Delta lavatory faucets, for example, are incredibly easy to maintain and care for.

Double Handle Lavatory Faucets

Double handle lavatory faucets, on the other hand, have separate controls for hot and cold water, with each lever or knob independently controlling flow of the hot or cold water. Temperature is determined by the amount of flow allowed by each control, with higher hot water pressure and lower cold water pressure leading to higher temperatures and colder water being created by higher cold water pressure and lower hot water pressure. Kohler lavatory faucets offer numerous double handle designs in their lineups.

Lavatory Faucet Designs

Once you ave decided between a single handle and double handle lavatory faucet, there are also several options to consider with regards to the particular design of faucet you prefer. For the most part, there are five options to choose from, each identified by the way the bathroom lavatory faucet itself mounts into the sink or counter top.

Single Hole Lavatory Faucets

Designed for guest bathrooms and other small areas, single hole faucets require that only one hole be drilled into the sink or counter top. They are not only the most space efficient faucet designs, they are also often the most affordable, often due to their smaller nature overall. The single hole is used to run both the hot and cold water supplies to the faucet, in turn being controlled by a single lever or compact double lever.

Center Set Lavatory Faucets

A center set faucet consists of a mounting plate that connects to the sink or counter top, into which three holes have been pre-cut to match up to the identical size holes in the back of the sink or in the counter. The three holes are spaced evenly apart, with 4 inches being the distance between each hole. The center hole is used for the spout, while the two outer holes are used for the hot and cold water lines. While other faucets have similar setups, the center set faucet is distinguished by its mounting plate. Center set lavatory faucets are simple to install and very space efficient, however, the mounting plate layout makes them somewhat more difficult to keep clean that other designs.

Mini-spread Lavatory Faucets

Similar to center set faucets, mini-spread lavatory faucets are also designed to be mounted into sinks or counters with three holes, each mounted 4 inches apart from one another. The primary difference lies in the fact that each piece of the mini-spread faucets mounts separately, eliminating the need for a mounting plate. This not only makes this particular design easier to clean, it also makes them slightly more upscale looking, as some mounting plates used for center set faucets may not be as visually appealing.

Widespread Lavatory Faucets

Designed for much larger bathrooms, widespread lavatory faucets have the same three separate components as a mini-spread design, however, the holes are drilled 8 inches apart from one another, as opposed to just 4. For a more unique statement, some widespread lavatory faucets can even accommodate up to 16 inch spacings between each controls, sometimes found used in master bathrooms that have a single large sink installed. A widespread bathroom lavatory faucet is also ideal for a sink that are wider, as opposed to one that is deeper and longer.

Wall Mount Lavatory Faucets

For even more space saving technology, many people are turning to wall mount lavatory faucets for their bathroom needs. Eliminating the need for the faucet to be mounted into the sink or counter top, wall mount designs instead have all the fixtures connected directly to the wall above and behind the bathroom sink. In order to accommodate the unique spacing, wall mount faucets are often much longer than standard faucets, allowing the waterspout to extend over the sink for adequate clearance. Wall mount faucets not only offer a definite unique visual appeal, they also offer their own solution for smaller bathrooms. By running the plumbing lines within the walls, as opposed to under the sink, the need for a vanity is often eliminated when using a wall mount lavatory faucet, clearing the area under the sink for additional storage or simply allowing for more open space.

Vessel Lavatory Faucets

The final style of bathroom lavatory faucet is designed specifically for use with vessel sinks. Given their added height, as they are mounted on the counter as opposed to being sunk into it, vessel sinks present a unique challenge for faucet design. While some wall mount faucets can be designed to accommodate a vessel sink, faucets created specifically for the task work best.

A vessel sink faucet is designed for height rather than width. They are mounted into the counter area directly behind the vessel sink and designed to rise above the top of the sink several inches. The faucets can be designed similar to traditional water spout faucets, often having the water controls mounted much higher on the faucet stem than usual, or they can operate on a single lever design. More ornate vessel sink faucets tend to rely on the waterfall effect for more elegant operation. In these designs, instead of the water being forced down a water spout into the sink, the water is pushed up the spout where it gathers in a small holding area, gently spilling out once the water level reaches the optimum fill area. These styles are not only more attractive in nature, they also tend to pair rather well with the general unique design of the vessel sink itself. There are a great number of Kohler lavatory faucet collections geared specifically towards vessel sinks.

Lavatory Faucet Construction

Lavatory faucets come in a number of materials, including porcelain and even glass, however, the most common materials used in faucet construction are often brass and steel. A brass lavatory faucet, for example, is extremely durable and able to withstand heavier usage. Stainless steel faucets are very scratch resistant and highly resistant to corrosion. A Delta lavatory faucet made of stainless steel, for example, can provide a flawless finish for years to come. Because of their quality features, both steel and brass lavatory faucets are ideal choices for all your bathroom needs.

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Franke sinks typically fall into one of three categories with regards to composition. While stainless steel sinks and granite sinks are their top sellers, they also carry a full line of fireclay sinks as well. Each of these lines all have their unique benefits and, regardless of what qualities you are looking for in a sink, Franke is bound to have a sink that will meet your needs perfectly.

Franke Stainless Steel Sinks

Franke stainless steel sinks are some of the most durable on the market. They are made from heavy 18 gauge steel, able to withstand frequent and heavy use, and have some of the highest percentages of both chromium and nickel alloys, further increasing their strength as well as their corrosion resistance. The extra chromium and nickel also give Franke stainless steel sinks a beautiful silver glow that will last a lifetime when properly cared for.

A Franke stainless steel sink also has several practical features that help increase its efficiency and add higher levels of functionality. They are all equipped with extra deep bowls, increasing their overall storage capacity, particularly useful in smaller kitchens where the added depth is a much needed feature. They also feature sound deadening pads which help to reduce the echo effect you get with many stainless steel sinks, as the pads help to absorb sound tremendously. These sinks also feature deep ledges that allow the sink itself to sit just below the counter top, reducing the risk of water spilling over the ledge and onto the counters or floors. Finally, their smooth lines make for extremely effortless clean up, while the sinks themselves are some of the easiest on the market to install, perfect for the do it yourself enthusiast.

Franke Granite Sinks

For consumers seeking a more natural appearance for their kitchen sinks, Franke also carries a complete line of granite sinks to meet their needs. Marketed as the ‘Incredible Rock Hard Sink’, Franke granite sinks feature a unique blend of granite and quartz blended together with an acrylic resin to make a composite material. The composite is still malleable when first mixed and can be poured into a variety of sink molds in various design options. Once dry, the finished granite sink is not only beautiful it is also one of the most durable and long lasting on the market.

Franke granite kitchen sinks are the perfect choice for many consumers seeking a low maintenance yet beautiful centerpiece for their kitchen. The unique composite, once dried, is resistant to just about anything that could cause the sink to blemish. The material is durable enough to resists burns and scorches, ideal for times when hot pans are placed in the sink too quickly before being allowed time to cool. They are also extremely stain resistant, a bonus when in the kitchen dealing with a variety of foods that can easily leave their mark on other surfaces. The durable surface is also resistant to chips and any scratches that do appear can be buffed away with a light abrasive cleaner without causing any damage to the sink itself. Granite sinks by Franke also come in three beautiful colors to choose from, a rich dark slate, a lovely neutral champagne color, and traditional white.

Franke Fireclay Sinks

For a more traditional kitchen sink look, Franke also offers a line of fireclay sinks in some markets. Created at an impressive 2200 degrees, these sinks are much more durable and reliant than traditional porcelain sinks which are often prone to cracks, chips, and stains. Firing the sinks at such a high temperature create a nearly impenetrable surface, able to repel dirt and stains and resist damage from most household chemicals. The hard surface is almost completely resistant to chips and scratches, ideal for areas that will see heavy use and frequent traffic.

Frank Sink Designs

Aside from their selection of various sink materials, Franke also offers a range of sink designs to choose from. While some of the sizes are particular to certain sink materials, others are offered in all three styles.

Stainless Steel Sink Designs

Stainless steel sinks offer the largest number of choices when it comes to sink designs, by far, making them the most versatile of the three styles. The traditional choices are, of course, single bowl and double bowl designs. While single bowl sinks are often preferred for smaller kitchens, double bowl designs offer a separator to keep each section of the sink separate, idea for washing and rinsing dishes. While some double bowl sinks are divided evenly down the middle, others relay on an offset bowl design, making one side of the sink somewhat larger in size than the other. Many people choose to use the larger side as the primary sink, while reserving the smaller side for more food prep related activities.

For more unique designs, Franke also offers their stainless steel sinks in both triple bowl designs, as well as specialty bowl designs. Triple bowl sinks by Franke are designed for larger kitchens and feature the two standard sized bowls, with the addition of a shallow bowl, reserved specifically for food preparation. Their specialty sink line includes a variety of smaller sinks, designed to be used as secondary prep sinks or bar sinks in larger kitchens.

Granite Sink Designs

Franke granite sinks are slightly more selective in their available design options, offering only two designs to choose from. Granite sinks are available in single and double bowl designs, the two most common designs for kitchen sinks currently on the market. Like the stainless sinks, both of these designs offer curved interiors for easy cleaning.

Fireclay Sink Designs

Franke’s fireclay sink lines come in single and double bowl designs as well. As with the other styles, the single bowls work best for smaller kitchens, while the double bowls offer a more spacious option when small spaces aren’t necessarily an issue. All of the fireclay double bowl designs are made using the offset bowl feature. Fireclay sinks are also offered in the smaller bar sink style as well, perfect for adding a secondary sink fixture on larger kitchens.

Franke Sink Mounting Options

One of the final choices involved when selecting a Franke sink is what type of mounting you want the sink to have. All Franke sinks are offered in the traditional top mount design, allowing the sinks to be set into the counter top and overlap on the edges to be held in place. They are also available in the more modern undermount design. Franke undermount sinks, in fact, work very well with nearly any counter top, as they allow a more seamless appearance from a distance to the counter area. Like the top mount sinks, a Franke undermount sink can be found in any of the three material choices listed above.

While Franke stainless steel sinks may be the most versatile when it comes to sink designs, fireclay sinks are the best bet for versatile mounting options. Aside from the traditional top mount and undermount sinks, fireclay sinks are also available in apron sink styles. These large deep sinks slide into the counter top, as opposed to being set into or under it. This mounting method not only allows for a much larger sink to be installed, it also offers the unique visual appeal of the large front area of the sink being exposed for view, a common sight in older farmhouse kitchens that is quickly returning to favor.

Franke Sink & Kitchen Accessories

Aside from just making sinks, Franke also offers a wide range of coordinated accessories for the kitchen as well. They not only have a full line of faucets, many of which are designed to complement particular sink designs and styles, they also cover more basic tools as well. Additional faucet accessories, such as lotion and soap dispensers are also available.

Franke makes a full line of cutting boards, perfect for keeping counter tops blemish free, as well as a series of kitchen boards designed to rest on or attach to the top of the sink, ideal for areas where counter space may be somewhat limited. They also sell a full line of kitchen utensils, designed for cooking, baking, or simply preparing food items. Franke also sells a variety of drain baskets, designed to mount into the sink, or simply rest on the bottom of it. In other words, Franke offers almost anything a consumer would need to make their kitchen complete.

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Types of Bath Faucets

There are three basic types of bath faucets on the market. These include units designed to be solely used as bath tub faucets, controlling a bath tub only, without an attached shower unit. There are also bath shower faucet units designed to operate a bath tub and shower combination unit. The final style of faucet is designed to operate with stand alone shower units. Aside from the three basic types of bath faucets, there are also four basics styles of faucets to choose from.

Styles of Bath Faucets

The most common style of bath faucets is the wall mounted unit, available in both single lever and double lever designs. These are also the most common choices for bath shower faucets as their mounting style is often designed to control both the tub and shower with one unit. Other styles include the Roman bath tub faucet and the freestanding faucet as well.

Single Lever Bath Faucets

Single lever bath faucets are designed to be operated by the use of one knob that controls both the hot and cold water supplies. Single lever faucets are ideal for small bathroom areas, as they tend to be very compact in nature. They operate by increasing or decreasing the water pressure and flow when moved up and down, and by regulating the water temperature when moved side to side. Single lever bath faucets controls are often equipped with a type of plunger device that determines whether the water should be directed to the bath spout or to the shower head. Both Kohler bath faucets and Delta bath faucets offer a wide range of single lever bath faucets in their product lineups.

Double Lever Bath Faucets

Double lever bath faucets are nearly identical in design and operation to their single lever counterparts, however, they have separate controls for the hot and cold water supplies, as opposed to a single lever design. Instead of a single lever regulating the mix of hot and cold water to achieve the optimum temperature, the two knobs or levels control the water pressure behind the hot and cold water supplies, requiring the consumer to properly balance the two pressures until the correct temperature is reached. When used to operate a shower unit as well, they will often be equipped with a plunger like device similar to those found on single lever designs. Like single lever designs, both Delta bath faucet collections and Kohler bath faucet collections offer a variety of double lever bath faucets.

Roman Tub Bath Faucets

Designed for use in bath with no attached shower unit, Roman tub faucets are some of the most elegant and attractive on the market. Instead of mounting to the wall, Roman faucets are intended for pairing with freestanding bathtubs that are not placed adjacent to a wall. Since the faucet is mounted directly to the tub itself, its height must be modified to accommodate for the fact that the water should ideally be dispensed from slightly above the upper level of the tub. This is often accomplished by using an arched faucet that bends upwards close to the mounting spot, reaches its peak somewhere above tub level, and then arches back down slowly to allow the spout’s end to be situated near the level of the tub itself.

For more modern décor, these faucets also come in a stunning waterfall bath faucet variety. Instead of dispensing the water through the spout via water pressure, waterfall bath faucets allow the water to gather at the top of the faucet and then spill over into the tub, presenting a moderately pressured waterfall effect for a more natural and soothing bathing experience. These types of faucets can be found in numerous collections, particularly those made by Kohler bath faucets, known worldwide for their bold designs and unique visual appeals.

Freestanding Bath Faucets

The final style of bath faucet is a freestanding faucet design. Like the Roman faucets, freestanding units are designed for stand alone bathtubs that are not connected to any bathroom walls. Often made from more decorative metals, such as copper and bronze, these freestanding units connect tot he water supply in the floor and then use their own pipes as a framework to create the faucet unit that extends upwards and over the top of the bathtub unit. These faucets were often intended to emphasize visual appeal above all else, making freestanding copper and bronze bath faucets the most popular choice. In fact, almost all freestanding bath faucets, both old and new, were created as either a copper or bronze bath faucets, with other materials being somewhat harder to find.

Bath Faucet Operation

Almost all bath faucets on the market operate on one of two methods, both being actually very similar in design. They all rely on a series of valves to help control the water pressure of the various hot and cold water supplies. Compression faucets rely on washers that decrease water supply when tightened and then increase water supply when loosened. The second design, known as washer less faucets, operate just as their name implies, without the use of washers. In place of the washers, these faucets use a series of cartridges to control water pressure. While both styles are extremely common, the washer less faucets are considered the more advanced with regards to design.

Bath Faucet Materials

While bath faucets do come in a wide range of materials, there are certain ones that are more common than others. As stated earlier, copper and bronze are the most frequently used materials in freestanding faucets. They are also popular in vintage or antique styled décor, offering beautiful warm color tones to the color palette. For modern designs, stainless steel and and glass are quite popular, with glass often being used fr accent purposes in the faucets design instead of comprising the primary structure. Nickel and brass are also commonly seen in bath faucet design. Porcelain is another popular accent material, commonly seen in vintage inspired faucet collection and paired with high gloss chrome.

Bath Faucet Finishes

Aside from being able to select the best metal to suit your bathroom needs, there are also a variety of finishes to choose from. For glass accents, the pieces can be transparent, allowing most light to pass though, frosted, allowing a limited amount of light to pass through, or opaque, letting little to no light though at all. Porcelain accents are typically found in either high gloss or medium gloss designs, each being a matter of personal preference above all else and often chosen based on what works best with the other bathroom fixtures already installed.

With regards to primary construction, the various finishes range anywhere from extremely shiny to extremely matte in overall appearance. High gloss finishes are commonly seen in chrome designs, creating a highly reflective faucet surface. For a more subdued appearance, satin or matte finishes offer the beauty of metal with a more toned down surface, appearing more as a frosted surface, as opposed to a polished one. Finally, brushed metal surfaces provide the same beautiful sating or matte surfaces, however, they include an extra brushed look coating to add a new textural element to the overall design.

Bath Faucet Accessories

As bathroom design continues to remain at the forefront of home decorating, more and more fixture manufacturers are catering to the consumer demand for easily coordinated items. Because of this, nearly all of the leading manufacturers not only offer bath faucets, they also offer a wide range of bath accessories to help build a completely coordinating bathroom décor. This can include anything from matching lavatory sinks and toilet hardware, to towel bars and toilet paper holders. Another benefit of buying coordinated items, aside from the visual balance that can be achieved, is the fact that many packages that contain accessory pieces are often offered at a reduced price than what they would be to buy each piece separately.

Many of the leading manufacturers also have divisions that focus on other bathroom components other than just faucets, such as sinks, bathtubs, and even toilets. This can be extremely beneficial to consumers who need more help than others pairing the correct fixtures and components to create a cohesive visual effect. Since all parts are manufactured by the same company or even a partner company, each product will often be sold as part of a larger collection. Collections are ideal as they group together coordinating pieces into one group, allowing consumers to select as few or as many of the pieces in the group as they want, knowing that each piece has already been coordinated to match one another.

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Benefits Of Black Kitchen Sinks

Trendy, edgy, contemporary, sophisticated, and sleek, a black kitchen sink is just what every kitchen needs to create that perfect finishing touch on a room often too focused on functionality rather than appearance. Black kitchen sinks come in a range of styles and shapes and a variety of base materials. This not only makes the extremely versatile with regards to the size of kitchens they will work best in, as well as being visually versatile enough to sit well in any décor or theme.

Black Kitchen Sink Composition

The most common materials used to make black kitchen sinks are granite, composite granite, steel, and porcelain or fired clay. These materials are not only common choices for kitchen sinks in general, they also work extremely well in darker tones such as black.

Black Granite Kitchen Sinks

Granite and granite composite sinks are highly sought after because of the popularity of the natural stone look in kitchens around the world. Both elegant and classic, stone sinks offer a durable finish that is easy to clean as well as maintain. Natural granite is somewhat costly, but also very beautiful in appearance. Many people are willing to pay the extra cost because of the unique patterns that can be found in natural granite sinks. Since natural granite sinks have to be cut from large slaps, however, their sizes and shapes may be somewhat restricted at times.

Granite composite sinks, on the other hand, are much more cost effective, as well as extremely versatile. The composite material is created with smaller pieces of granite, often obtained as waste material when larger slabs are being cut. The smaller pieces are then mixed in an 4 to 1 ratio with an acrylic resin that not only binds the granite pieces together, it also creates a long lasting durable finish. Once mixed, the mixture is still very malleable and can easily be poured into any size or shape sink mold available. While many consumers may prefer the naturally occurring colors and patterns of real granite, granite composite can easily be chemically altered to produce an array of colors and pattern combinations.

Black Steel Kitchen Sinks

While many people are familiar with traditional stainless steel kitchen sinks, not many people have heard of black steel kitchen sinks. Black steel sinks are often created by manipulating traditional silver steel to change its overall appearance. This can be done by bathing the steel sink in a chemical mixture that causes the color to change, or even applying certain electrical currents to the steel to produce the same effect. Overall, black steel sinks are extremely durable and able to withstand both heavy use as well as high temperatures. Most blemishes can be easily buffed out, similar to traditional stainless, however, the coatings may need retouching from time to time to preserve the altered finish.

While typically found more in modern bathrooms than kitchens, fired clay and porcelain black sinks were a popular choice back in the day. These sinks were popular in general because of the fact that the porcelain glaze could be altered to create nearly any color of sink, perfect for consumers who wanted more coordinated kitchens. Porcelain sinks are also highly prized for their seeming immunity to corrosion and extremely tough surfaces. This is largely due to the fact that the glazing used on black porcelain sinks is so thick that it is nearly impossible for damage to reach the actual porcelain layer. Even if the glazing is damaged, it can be easily repaired, restoring the original glossy finish.

Black Kitchen Sink Styles

There are two basic styles of kitchen sinks, single bowl and double bowl. Single bowl designs can either be large, for use as the primary sink in the kitchen, or smaller in nature, intended for use as a bar sink or secondary sink. Larger single bowl sinks are often rectangular in nature and rather deep, while bar style sinks are often round and somewhat shallower. Double sinks on the other hand are almost always designed to be used as primary kitchen sinks and can be found in one of two designs. Most double bowl kitchen sinks are split evenly down the middle, offering two identical size basins, while other, referred to as double offset bow sinks, offer one larger basin and one smaller basin, often relying on an approximate 60/40 split.

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History Of the Shower & Evolution of the Bath Shower Faucet

In ancient times, showers were a luxury only the wealthy and upper class could afford. Often times, the well off residents of the city would gather in large bath houses, since the bathing practice was more of a social event than a hygiene issue. Trips to bath houses would often take several hours if not the entire day and involved relaxing in natural hot springs, receiving massages from the slaves employed to work there, eating and being fed lavish meals, socializing with the opposite sex, and even showering. The practice of showering, however, was much different from how we know it today. In ancient times, in fact, the showers were not automatic at all and instead involved the individual stepping into a corridor or private chamber while the slaves seated on scaffolds above would pour buckets of hot water down upon the bather.

As the process became more and more popular, the slaves would sometimes funnel the water through long pipes that had small holes running their entire length, offering more of a rain shower effect. As times went on, many wealthy patrons would also have personal bathing chambers built in their homes, utilizing their own household staff to assist with the bathing and showering procedures. The concept of the bath house slowly faded and the concept of private baths in the home quickly grew in popularity. As indoor plumbing became possible, the practice gradually became an option for middle class families as well.

Visual Appeal Of Shower Faucets

While kitchen and bathroom sink faucets tend to be more visually out in the open, shower faucets tend to be hidden, often tucked away discreetly behind shower curtains or shower doors and panels. Unfortunately, this was one of the primary reasons manufacturers tended to put much less thought in the visual appeal of shower faucets than other, more noticeable, plumbing fixtures. Thankfully, as more and more consumers demand elegant and beautiful bathroom accessories, that are also highly functional as well, a new emphasis has been placed on the visual appeal of the bathroom shower faucet in general. Once more attention began getting paid to showers, the race was on to improve the overall design and functionality of the bath shower faucets themselves.

Basic Shower Faucet Designs

Original stand alone shower faucets consisted of water control lever and a shower head. The control determined the flow of water and the temperature, while the shower head directed the water in the proper direction. If the shower was part of a bathtub unit, tub and shower faucets worked together to control both water controls for the bathtub as well as the shower. Even today, many tub and shower faucet sets are sold together, ensuring ideal compatibility and visual coordination. These were the basic designs upon which modern tub shower faucets were built.

Contemporary Tub Shower Faucet Design

Unlike older tub shower faucets that focused solely on directing water at a specified temperature and flow to the shower head itself, contemporary faucet sets gave added thought to other functional details that could be included with the unit as well. One of the most common features involved a separate control that allowed users to change the pattern of the water flow, offering lighter mist flows, as well as harder concentrated jets of water. While basic shower faucets often came with two or three pattern choices, more advanced designs could be found with as many as ten or fifteen varying patterns.

For consumers that preferred a specific method of water delivery, specialty shower faucets also gained in popularity. One of the most popular designs is commonly referred to as the rain forest effect, using large flat shower heads to create a light rain effect that covers a larger surface area. Advanced designs also included several row of shower head bar that ran above the shower unit, offering a rain like effect that encompassed the entire bathing area. Kohler shower faucets and Delta shower faucets are just a few of the names that sell specialty rain- like shower heads in a range of price points.

Another popular feature in contemporary shower faucet sets was the waterfall design. Instead of breaking the water flow into smaller streams, these faucets allowed the water to be dispersed in a true waterfall effect, closely resembling what one would experience when bathing in nature. While this design, along with rain shower faucets, may not have originally been the most environmentally friendly designs, often using much more water than traditional shower faucets, they have been modified in recent years to mix a certain percentage of air in with the water flow, keeping the water pressure steady while also greatly reducing the overall amount of water being used.

One of the more spa like designs in shower faucets involves the concept of a full body shower. These not only provide an vertical water supply, they also use various pipes or tiles mounted on or into the shower wall to create a horizontal water movement as well. The tile designs are often seen in many designs in the Kohler shower faucet line, while Danze shower faucets offer similar vertical water diverters. Many of the Delta shower faucet collections offer a similar design, often focusing on more concentrated water pressure for a massage like feel.  As always, shower faucets come in a variety of price points, with a Danze shower faucet often being one of the most affordable.

Shower Faucet Styles

While many consumers may think that shower faucets always fall into one of two categories with regards to style, traditional and contemporary, there is actually a third category as well, antique. Even contemporary faucets can be further separated into standard contemporary and ultra-modern.

Antique shower faucets tend to rely on heavy curves and detail work to convey a sense of aged beauty. Likewise, ultra modern designs focus on minimalist designs, clean lines, and ultra-sheik construction. Antique faucets often rely on double controls, with one lever or knob for each the hot and cold water supplies, while modern designs opt for the cleaner construction capacity of single lever controls. Modern faucets are slowly taking their designs even further into the future, often including sleeker joystick water controls for a more unique visual appeal. Traditional designs, on the other hand, tend to fall nicely in between antique and ultra modern, often taking cues from both design styles to create more of a time neutral shower faucet, ideal for any décor.

It is believed that as the design of the shower faucet continues to progress, the overall unit will become even more streamlined, while also possessing even more features than today’s models have. With the continued love of vintage and antique styled bathrooms, however, there is little chance that more ornate shower faucet supplies will begin dwindling anytime soon, continuing the unique visual diversity that makes the shower faucet market so versatile.

Shower Faucet Construction

Aside from the basic functionality that goes into a shower faucet, there are also a number of materials to choose from for the shower faucet to be constructed from. The primary materials used for shower faucet construction are steel, nickel, copper, and bronze. Within each metal category are also a number of possible finish choices, ideal for creating a visually balanced shower faucet for any décor.

Nickel and steel are possible the two most popular choices for creating shower faucets from. Both metals offer a beautiful silver gray appearance, while also being extremely durable. Steel and nickel are not only able to tolerate extremely high temperatures and long periods of heavy use, when properly maintained, they are also highly resistant to corrosion. The most popular finishes used with nickel and steel are often brushed and high polished finishes. Brushed nickel shower faucets, for example, offer a lustrous silver finish with a textured brushed detail to add an additional level of elegance and sophistication. High polished steel faucets, on the other hand, are ideal for lighter color palettes and in bathrooms where a more traditional look is sought, as high polished fixtures and faucets were often the material of choice for most consumers.

Copper and bronze shower faucets are also available, but somewhat less versatile in their design. For the most part, these colors are reserved for antique inspired bathrooms, a time when bronze fixtures were common, or in a bathroom with more of an international flair, where copper is a frequent occurrence.

Regardless of whether you have a brushed nickel shower faucet, a satin bronze faucet, or any other combination of metals and finishes, a beautiful shower faucet is just the thing to add a new dimension of beauty and function to an otherwise bland bathroom.

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Copper Faucet Colors

One of the most popular features of copper kitchen faucets are their color. Copper itself begins with a rosy pink or peach appearance, often having a somewhat reflective surface. As the copper ages, its surface reacts with the oxygen around it to create a darker brown layer. Many people choose to let their copper kitchen faucets age naturally, further adding to their antique appearance. In fact, many plumbing fixture manufacturers are accelerating the oxidation process in order to be able to provide an instant antique copper kitchen faucet right off the shelf. These antique copper kitchen faucets are then sealed with a protective coating that keeps the darkened finish in place. The benefit of letting the copper faucet age naturally is that they can also be easily cleaned and restored to their original brighter finish whenever needed.

Copper Faucet Finishes

Another benefit of copper kitchen faucets are the number of finishes they can be purchased in. While high gloss copper is very beautiful, it is not very common for copper kitchen faucets. Matte or satin copper, on the other hand, is a common choice, providing the beautiful colors of copper with a more subdued and less reflective finish. Another popular finish choice is brushed copper, offering the same subdued finish as satin copper, with an added layer of what appear to be brush stokes on the surface for a more textural appearance. Antique copper faucets are typically found in either satin of brushed finishes, as the brighter colors tend not to work so well for vintage inspired designs.

Benefits of a Copper Faucet

Copper faucets not only provide a pleasing visual presentation, they are also quite practical as well. In its natural state, copper metal is extremely soft and malleable, making it very easy to bend and shape into more ornate designs than what may be possible with other metals. Copper can also be blended with small amounts of other alloys to help increase its natural resistance to corrosion. The conductive properties of copper in general also make it a common choice for kitchen cookware, even more of a reason for a copper kitchen faucets to bend in so well in the kitchen environment.

Copper Kitchen Faucets Styles

Once you have decided that a copper kitchen faucet is, in fact, what you are looking for, there are several more decisions to make before you will be ready to make a purchase. Aside from color and finish of the copper kitchen faucet, you also need to take the style and design of the faucet into account as well. For the most part, there are two basic faucet designs for the kitchen, the single handled faucet and the double handled design. Single handled copper kitchen faucets use a single lever to control both hot and cold water as well as water flow. Up and down movement on the lever is typically reserved for flow control, while left or right movement determines water temperature. Double handled faucets, on the other hand, have a separate lever or knob for the hot and cold water.

Copper kitchen faucets can also come with add on features such as separate sprayers. These pull out sprayers mount into the same section as the faucet and provide the consumer with a secondary water source which is attached to a long flexible tubing, ideal for reaching hard to get to spots or filling pots and pans outside of the sink area. More modern faucets take their cue from commercial faucets and have the sprayer built into the faucet itself, pulling out from the main spout instead of pulling up from the faucet base.

Copper Kitchen Faucet Collections

Because of the growing demand for copper kitchen faucets, nearly every major faucet manufacturer carries at least one collection dedicated to copper faucets. Danze faucets, for example, are known for offering some of the widest ranges of copper kitchen faucets in their lineup, placing emphasis on both modern and contemporary pieces, while also carrying a large number of vintage and antique inspired designs. They are also come of the most affordable copper faucets on the market, increasing their appeal to the average homeowner looking to update their kitchen without breaking the bank in the process. Danze faucets, along with other tops names, can be found at nearly all local home improvement stores, while many higher end pieces are often available from specialty bath and kitchen plumbing retailers.

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