Most people are not familiar with the types of sink faucets they have, and in general, you don’t need to be. But if a faucet needs to be repaired or replaced, it is important to know what you’re dealing with when picking up plumbing supplies. The guide below describes the most common varieties of sink faucets to help you identify what’s in your kitchen and bathrooms.

4 Common Varieties of Sink Faucets

1. Disc Faucet

The disc faucet features a single handle that moves up and down, raising and lowering two ceramic discs inside to control water flow. Hot and cold water are mixed in a chamber known as a pressure balance cartridge. Moving the handle side-to-side adjusts the proportions of each to change the temperature. Disc faucets are reliable, long-lasting, and require fewer repairs than older types.

2. Ball Faucet

Many people will recognize ball faucets by the rounded cap the handle rotates over, just above the base of the spout. The single handle, which can be positioned similar to the disc faucet, controls a ball inside the faucet body. 

This ball contains chambers, spring-loaded rubber seals, and rubber O-rings. When positioned by the handle, the ball assembly can adjust the temperature and flow of water. Since ball faucets require a lot of plumbing supplies and parts, they tend to get leaky and require more frequent maintenance and repairs.

3. Compression Faucet

Compression washer faucets are comprised of two separate handles for hot and cold water, which must be manually rotated to open and close off water flow. You will feel more pressure turning the water off than on because these faucets function with a compression stem, a type of glorified screw that pushes against a washer to shut off the flow of water. Compression faucets tend to be the least expensive, but they are also prone to leaks and require the most maintenance.

4. Cartridge Faucet

Like the compression faucet, cartridge ones use two handles; however, there is no added pressure, and you don’t need to rotate them to control flow, so turning on the water is smooth and consistent. The cartridges are durable, but they can fail, and hard water deposits can create blockages that affect flow. Fortunately, they are fairly easy to fix and still require less maintenance than compression faucets.

When you need plumbing supplies and parts to fix your sink faucets, come to A & R Home Center in Washington, IN. This locally owned home improvement store is the one-stop-shop for all of your home remodeling, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and automotive needs. If you’re not much of a DIYer, their certified plumbers, HVAC technicians, and electricians will get the job done quickly and efficiently. Visit their website to read real testimonials from satisfied customers. If you have any questions about their inventory, call (812) 254-7018.