Choosing the Right Bathroom Faucets

If you want to replace your bathroom faucets with the same type of faucet, then choosing a new one is fairly easy. If you want to change the type of faucet, then you need to research and shop carefully before making a purchase.

Types of Bathroom Faucets

Bathroom fixtures and faucets come in five primary styles:

• Centerset
• Widespread
• Dual Spout
• Wall Mount
• Single Lever

A centerset faucet has a single spout and one or two handles set on one unit. They're designed for use with a 4" pre-drilled three hole basin.

A widespread faucet appears to be three separate pieces - two handles and a single spout. The set can be anywhere from 6" to 16" wide total. The basin must also be pre-drilled with the appropriate holes.

A dual spout sink has two water spouts, each with its own lever or handle. One spout runs hot and one runs cold. These faucets are unusual in newer homes, but replacement faucets for older homes are still available.

A wall mount faucet is most often seen with showers, bath tubs, and vessel sinks. It can be centerset, widespread, dual spout, or single lever. Whichever type you choose, the wall must have the necessary holes pre-drilled to suit the plumbing. If you want to change the style of your wall mount shower faucet or tub faucet, contact a plumber.

A single lever faucet has one spout with a single hot and cold lever mounted on top. It's designed for use with a sink with a single pre-drilled hole.

How to Change Faucet Types

If you have one kind of faucet and want to change to another kind, it may be possible. Depending on how your bathroom is plumbed, it may also be very expensive. Before you replace a faucet, check the holes beneath it to see how it is pre-drilled. With newer homes, it should be easy to find the same size faucet. For older homes, take the measurements with you for because the faucet may be a non-standard size.

Depending on how the hot and cold supply lines are connected, switching from a single spout to a dual spout or vice versa may be more challenging. In most homes, the lines are connected to the spout with flexible tubing. If this is the case in your home, then you can buy new tubing cut to the right length and run it to your new spout or spouts. If your plumber used copper tubing that is soldered in place, please contact him to have the tubing removed and new tubes installed in the correct positions.

When shopping for new faucets, you should look for a style that matches the decor of your bathroom, but it's more important to find a style that suits your plumbing. Shop carefully and you can have both!