Taps are one of the many home accessories to consider carefully before installation. Built for repetitive use, it’s important to select a model that is both beautiful and practical for those mundane tasks like washing dishes. Choosing the right tap can be a difficult choice to make. The mixer tap is the most popular type of tap found in households in Australia, and here’s why.

Mixer taps are the ideal solution to everyday annoyance that can come with single pillar taps. From switching between cool and boiling water when washing your hands, to wastage when filling the sink, you’ll immediately notice the benefits that mixers bring.

If you’re thinking about buying a mixer tap for your sink, it’s important that you know how to choose the best one. Despite being just one tap, there’s a range of styles and models available, whether for your bathroom, kitchen or laundry room.

Depending on your taste and the money you want to spend, this guide will help you to find the right mixer tap to match your home. Learn what a mixer tap is, why to choose one, and how to fix faults once installed.

What is a Mixer Tap?

Before you explore the tapware world, it’s useful to understand the fundamentals of a mixer tap and how it works. 

The mixer tap is one tap that mixes the flow of hot and cold water together. In one singular spout, the temperature ratio can be adjusted by controls, usually located to the side. The style is an alternative to the standard single pillar taps - two separate taps that run independently to one another.

An appliance built for repetitive use, it can be a gamechanger for many households. Mixer taps are designed to match the right basins, with a range of features to suit all spaces. Shop them online or in store, from bathroom mixer taps and shower mixer taps to kitchen mixer taps and the laundry mixer tap.

Why Choose a Mixer Tap?

The modern household in Australia has mixer taps on its wishlist. With so many benefits, it’s understandable. Primary reasons to explore this tapware include:

Style

As a mixer tap is a more contemporary invention, they tend to come in a range of styles. The single spout looks more attractive than individual taps. It appears more sleek and high quality, with many brands offering simpler designs with clean lines or more classic and curved options, like the gooseneck mixer tap. 

Materials include chrome, stainless steel and brushed nickel, while for the more daring, a matte black or black mixer tap looks particularly stylish. You can have a lot of fun matching your tap to your interiors.

Practicality

Aside from looking the part, mixer taps are built with superior features to suit their purpose. Depending on the size of the sink, you may prefer taller, slimmer necks that provide more sink space if shopping for a kitchen mixer tap. For the kitchen, a pull out mixer tap or kitchen mixer tap with pull out spray is ideal for washing multiple plates and dishes. 

Bathroom mixer taps are great for washing your hands and face when you need a heating balance. Running a bath with a mixer tap is more convenient, reducing the chances of a bathtub too warm or too cool.

Control

Perhaps the most obvious reason to purchase a mixer tap is the control you gain. You’re not limited between temperatures as you are with two taps. With a mixer tap, you can set the heating exactly as you want it. Often the water becomes boiling too fast when washing your hands over the sink, and you end up injuring yourself. 

With the mixer tap, you take control of the situation with a simple flick or tap.

Types of Mixer Taps

Just as basins are designed for functionality in the location they occupy, taps are created with different functions in mind too. The most common styles are as follows.

Goose Neck Mixer Tap

As the name suggests, the spout on this model reflects the long, graceful neck of a goose. The gooseneck typically comes with a tall, curved outlet, leaving ample space below for washing larger pots and pans. You can fill your water bottle with ease too straight from the faucet.  

This is the more traditional kind of mixer, commonly used for kitchen sink mixer taps.

3-Way Mixer Tap

This is the miracle of kitchen mixer taps. Possibly the most innovative systems in terms of design, the 3 way or tri-flow tap dispenses three variations of water - hot, cold and filtered. 

The water-filtering system is a luxury to have in the home. There’s even different options to have installed. Head to the faucet and enjoy a chilled glass of water, or fill your teacup with instant boiling water. There’s even sparkling water available, depending on what you prefer.

Pull Out Mixer Tap

A pull down and pull out mixer tap is a great choice for kitchen taps. Just pull the spout and manoeuvre it to wherever you want to aim water in the sink. It can be perfect for cleaning larger kitchenware like long baking trays or a stockpot. 

These kitchen taps often come with a flexible hose to make tasks even easier. A kitchen mixer tap with pull out spray is great for rinsing soiled dishes, washing fruit and veg or blastic stubborn oven trays.

Fixing a Mixer Tap

Once your sink mixer tap is up and running, maintenance is key when necessary to keep it functioning at its best. A faulty tap can be a grievance, especially with something irritating like a leaking mixer tap. Here is some useful information for handling mixer taps.

How to Dismantle a Mixer Tap

To begin dismantling, you should first turn off the water supply. Then, you can begin locating and removing the grub screw. The grub screw is the tool that attaches the base to the handle. It’s generally found at the back. Once removed, you can usually pull the spout away from the base.

How to Change a Washer on a Mixer Tap

The washer is a circular device with a hole in the centre, typically located within the mixer tap cartridge. There are two cartridges, one for the hot and one for the cold control. Damage to this ceramic disc is likely the cause of a leaking mixer tap. When damage occurs, you may need to replace the mixer tap cartridge. 

The washer unscrews and slides off. In some cases, it just needs tightening up, otherwise a damaged washer must be replaced with a new one. It needs to be secured tightly in place, and be the right fit for your tap.

Summing It Up

Now that you know what a mixer tap is, why they’re popular, and some common types, you can start thinking about the kind you need. From the style, to the colour, to the features, there’s the perfect tapware out there for you. 

If you’re looking to buy one, begin by thinking about where exactly you want it, and what you want to use it for. You can then figure out what is going to be the most practical option, before getting into the details. 

Mixer taps deliver a modern touch to properties, with ease of use day in and day out. Find a balance between price, appearance and functionality and you’ll never revert back to regular taps. There are many brands to choose from, like the Caroma mixer tap.

Look out for deals and ways to save too before making a final decision. Washing up has never been so exciting!

FAQs

Are mixer taps better than single taps?

Mixer taps allow you to control the temperature of the water flow, unlike single taps which produce either hot or cold water. Being able to control the cold and hot ratio makes everyday tasks like washing your hands easier.

Do mixer taps have different features?

There are many mixer taps available to buy, with different models suited to different rooms in the home. Kitchen mixer taps usually have a gooseneck spout, while bathroom mixer taps tend to be more modern in design with straight lines.

Is it easy to fix a mixer tap?

Mixer taps are relatively easy to fix yourself if you follow the right instructions. A leaking mixer tap is most commonly caused by a loose or damaged washer. You can fix a leaking mixer tap by dismantling the tap and replacing the washer.