What Are The Basic Parts of Commercial Faucets

When working in a restaurant, laboratory, or medical space, faucets are often a crucial element of standard operations. While simplistic in their role of supplying water, faucets are used for anything from drinking to cleaning. With a wide variety of faucet options on the market, it can sometimes be a little daunting to determine which may be best for your individual needs. In this blog, we will discuss some of the common parts of faucets, allowing you to have a better idea of what may be suitable for your projects and operations.

Regardless of how many faucet types there may be, all have the same main parts, which are water line connections, water flow control mechanisms, handles, and an outlet. When it comes to water line connections, a majority of faucet assemblies in the United States will feature a 0.5” MPT or FPT threaded inlet, the choice between each depending on whether a male or female part is required. As some assemblies may vary in what parts and sizes they are compatible with, you should be sure to look over the product’s specification sheet as they will supply all information that you would require for making a purchasing decision. Most connections will also feature a compression fitting to ensure that the connector remains secure with water lines. If space is restricted or you simply want to reroute how the water line runs, you may want to look into elbow fittings to implement tighter turns.

In terms of handles that will be implemented on a sink, it is important that one chooses products based on their needs. For instance, lever faucet handles are the most simplistic and common, and they are simply a single length of material that can be turned to permit or restrict the flow of water from the faucet. Meanwhile, if a better grip is required, a 4-arm faucet handle may be best. For medical faucets and laboratory faucets where there is a high need to limit the spread of germs, a wrist faucet handle may be used, as they can be turned with one’s wrist.

While the handle controls flow, faucet cartridges are what manage the seals that block or permit flow. Compression cartridges are a well-known type that have been used for a long time, and while they are known for being fairly cheap, they often require regular replacement. In order to manage flow, these cartridges utilize a rubber seat water to implement a waterproof seal. On the other hand, ceramic cartridges are becoming more popular over time, and while more expensive, they rarely need to be replaced on a regular basis.

As one of the last considerations that you will need to make, there are a number of faucet outlets that you may choose from. Outlets will determine how fast water can flow and what pattern it will form if applicable. Across the market, the most common faucet outlets are aerators, laminar flow devices, garden hose faucet outlets, and spray/shower outlets. Generally, the choice will depend on the application in question, as outlets like aerators are better for hand washing while outlets like laminar flow devices are most suitable for laboratory and food service faucets where one may not want air in the mix.

If you are in the market for faucet repair parts, faucet repair tools, or other related products, there is no better sourcing solution for all your needs than ASAP Industrials. As a premier purchasing platform, we present customers access to over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find items that trace back to leading manufacturers that we trust. Take the time to explore our inventory as you see fit, and our team is always at the ready to assist you however needed. Give us a call or email today and see how we can serve as your strategic sourcing partner for all your operational requirements.

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