| Lavatory Faucets |
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The components of a typical lavatory faucet include the shutoff valves located on the wall and below the sink, the water supply tubes, the hot and cold water valve(s), and the spout. Related components include the drain and drain pipe. A compression valve faucet has two handles that rise when you turn the water on. If the handle lowers when water is turned on it’s a reverse-compression valve. The hot and cold water valves may be attached to the spout on each side of the faucet or the may be independently mounted on the sink. If the faucet only has one handle in the middle it is a cartridge valve and faucet. The hot and cold water are mixed inside the cartridge based on the position of the control lever. Remodeling Tips Remember, you often get what you pay for. Don’t buy cheap faucets and fixtures and expect them to look as good or last as long as better quality products. Open the package before buying and inspect the materials and workmanship. Especially beware of fixtures that are shrink-wrapped so you can’t easily open them for inspection. Most lavatories include a stopper to control water flow from the sink into the drain system. The components include the opening or flange, stopper, and lift rod. Lifting the lift rod (located in or behind the spout) activates mechanism in the drain pipe to pull the stopper down and seal the flange. Water is held in the sink until the lift rod is lowered.
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