Water supply: how to make the right choice

The organization of the water supply system of a private house, city apartment or commercial facility is one of the most important issues to be solved during construction in the first place. Water is necessary at all stages of finishing work, for cleaning the premises and normal life. When forming a water supply system, various types of pipes, mixers, towel warmers and taps are used. All of them have various physical, technical and practical characteristics. Their comparison will help to choose the right materials that are optimal for solving the tasks.

Water pipes: classification and selection

Pipes are the circulatory water supply system of any home, their main characteristics are throughput, resistance to temperature extremes, and corrosion resistance. Pipes are produced from materials of different characteristics, the catalog of specialized stores contains the following types of products:

steel - are distinguished by an affordable price, resistance to high temperatures, a wide assortment, need to be painted and unstable to corrosion;
copper - have a high cost, but the water supply from this material will last at least 100 years, used in exclusive projects. Corrosion resistant and have good throughput;
cast iron - have a low cost, are more resistant to corrosion, but are fragile;
polyvinyl chloride - inexpensive pipes that are not afraid of corrosion, resistant to temperature extremes, can be used outdoors;
polyethylene - characterized by corrosion resistance, high elasticity, easily cope with water hammer, are recommended for buildings located in seismically active zones;
metal-plastic - these are polyethylene pipes reinforced with aluminum, resistant to high pressure, temperature changes;
cermet - represent cast iron coated with glass ceramics from the inside, have high strength, elasticity, and are resistant to high temperatures.

One of the main selection parameters is the working pressure, which is different in the water supply systems of a private house and a high-rise building.

What are the mixers

Pipes supply water to consumption points, in these places mixers are most often installed, with which they regulate temperature and pressure. Plumbing manufacturers offer a wide variety of options for this equipment, so there are several classifications of mixers. By appointment, the following types are distinguished:

for sinks - installed in bathrooms and toilets; they are characterized by a low spout;
for a bidet - they have a movable nose and more compact sizes;
for bath - designed for installation on the wall, the length of the spout varies widely;
for a shower - has a threaded connection for connecting a flexible hose;
for the kitchen - designed for installation on sinks, have a high spout.

All of these mixers can have different designs, according to this parameter, the following types of equipment are distinguished:

articulated - have one lever, the rotation of which regulates the pressure and temperature;
two-valve ones have two valves - for cold and hot water, with their help the pressure and temperature are regulated;
electronic - exclusive expensive equipment in which all parameters are set using the control panel.

The most popular today are swivel mixers, the heart of which is a cartridge. Mixers are made of different materials, the most popular are:

affordable brass nickel-plated faucets;
ceramic mixers - durable, but poorly resistant to dynamic mechanical stress;
copper - exclusive products in retro style.

A mixer is made with a round and rectangular cross-section.

What is the difference between towel warmers

An essential item in every bathroom is a heated towel rail, it is used to dry clothes, shoes. The following types of products are produced:

water - connected to the hot water system;
electric - autonomous systems with electric heating elements;
combined - connected to the water supply, but have electric heating elements.

Towel dryers are indispensable in homes with small children or in urban apartments without a balcony. When choosing components for a water supply system, a careful review of all types of products is necessary, a comparison of their cost and technical parameters, an assessment of compliance with the overall interior design. The choice is great and a potential buyer can always get the best look for pipes, mixers or heated towel rails.