Posts Tagged ‘flow’

A Few Reasons Why Kitchen Mixer Taps Are Good For Your Home

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Since it is nearly impossible for a kitchen to function well without water, your kitchen can never do without kitchen taps. Among the tap family, it must be the kitchen mixer taps which stand out from the rest in terms of operational functionality and modern appearance. There are also bath mixer taps and basin tap, but the kitchen mixer tap is the best. Similar to all the other kinds of taps, kitchen mixer taps are also available in different forms, styles, materials and make that will surely suit any kitchen theme – from the traditional style involving pewter and gold finish to the modern theme which is composed of silk steel finish. No matter what your taste, you will be able to find mixer taps for your home.

The dual flow mixer tap and the tri-flow mixer tap are the two primary forms of kitchen mixer taps that one may install in their kitchens. The dual flow is the more commonly used mixer tap in home kitchens. It is used for delivery of cold or hot water. Meanwhile, the tri-flow mixer is the type which features more options like an optional central lever used for purified water and a pull out spray. This type is better used for much larger sinks of when there is a requirement to regularly rinse large pans such as those in restaurants. The purification system is a stylish yet efficient alternative to refrigerated pitchers and bottles.

Majority of users who look to beautify their kitchen and make it efficient are the ones who prefer to use this purification system, therefore requiring mixer taps use to eliminate sediments, bacteria or contaminants and allowing fluoride and other healthy minerals to stay.

Other than the aforementioned functions of the two kinds of mixer taps, they also differ in relevance to the materials and finish that will complement your kitchen’s design and style. You can easily choose a kitchen mixer tap depending if you want a contemporary look, minimalist look or other designs that you have in mind.

Whichever type of appearance your kitchen has, you can find a mixer tap with the finish that can complement and integrate well with the rest of your kitchen fixtures and overall theme. Some tap finishes available today include nickel, chrome, silver, matt, high gloss and a whole lot more. Also, there are mixer taps that are available in different colors that satisfy your taste.

These kitchen mixer taps come in various brands. These brands are sometimes expensive or pretty cheap. Since big kitchens may require several numbers of taps for installation, it may be wiser to get the not so expensive ones unless you have a big budget reserved for it. The advantage of buying quality and more expensive mixer taps is that you can be assured that they are going to last long and will not easily stain, erode or develop rust.

To find yourself the perfect kitchen mixer taps that will best fit your kitchen, your taste and your budget, just browse the internet. The array of selection is quite huge and you will surely find the ones you need from the various brands, types, materials and prices of kitchen mixer taps available online. To get the best value for your money, make a thorough comparison before making your purchase.

Backflow problems and how to prevent it

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Backflow – a reversal of the normal flow of water in a pipe system – can have comical results. In the late 1960s wine flowed through the taps of the surprised and delighted residents of Cincinnati, USA, when a local winery left a water supply valve open after flushing its fermentation tanks. But backflow can also be dangerous, causing drinking water contamination… or worse. For example, a maintenance man connected a large liquid petroleum gas tank to a water main to wash it out. Unbeknown to him, there was still gas under pressure in the tank. By opening the water supply valve, he back pressurised the water supply main with gas, causing three nearby houses to explode. There are horror stories in the hvac market too. In one case, water backflowed into the air conditioning system of a Philadelphia hotel, resulting in conditions that fostered the growth of the bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ Disease.

These examples are extreme. But backflow is a real threat – the US Environmental Protection Agency reckons that at least 100,000 cases of cross contamination occur in the USA every day. That makes it a pressing health & safety issue, and its prevention a priority.

Backflow is caused by one of two factors

* Back siphonage, which occurs when the pressure on the supply end of a water pipe drops dramatically. This causes a vacuum which can suck fluids back through connections upstream thus contaminating the water system.

* Back pressure, the result of reversed water pressure on an outlet from a water main connection exceeding the mains supply pressure.

One solution to these problems is the reduced pressure zone (RPZ) valve. It employs spring check valves create an intermediate zone of pressure that is lower than the supply pressure. If back pressure builds up and the outlet check valve fails to hold, the intermediate zone will pressurise and cause a relief valve to open, draining the entire assembly, thus preventing possible contamination back into the supply.

Installers in the USA have used RPZ valves since the early 1970s when Watts Industries launched its 909 RPZ. Now the British Government has decided to allow their use in this country. The new Water Regulations which replace the Model Water Byelaws free installers to fit RPZ valves here for the first time.

Until these regulations, UK installers have had to install a break tank with a ball valve. However, pressure is lost from the mains with this arrangement so a pump also has to be fitted complete with a level switch to control the pump. This is complex, bulky and expensive, compared with the RPZ valve.

The RPZ valve can only be operated once its type of protective use has been approved by the local Water Regulations Inspector and its correct fitting and operation has been independently checked by one of the 150+ RPZ-licensed inspectors operating in the UK. However, its simplicity, low cost compared to break tanks and ease of installation make it an attractive option for installers

Correctly Regulate Water Flow in your Home

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

Here is some simple but essential home improvement information to help you out in your bathroom.

Using the correct waste valves depending on the design of your bathroom is very key to ensure that water is held correctly in your bathroom shower,  sink and toilet. In your shower basins, using the correct shower wastes is particularly important if you have a high powered shower unit in order to ensure that the high volumes of water are managed correctly.

When concerned with your sink basin, basin wastes such as sprung or clicker wastes hold the key to success in holding the water in (if your sink has an overflow it is advisable to utilize a slotted waste design).

When concerned with your bath, the days of the old fashioned plug and chain are numbered – the pop up waste or push button bath wastes are the designs for you! Always check to ensure you have the right design for your bathroom furniture to avoid any potential wet mishaps!

We offer a stylish range of basin taps, shower mixers, valves and all our products come with a full 10 year guarantee and will be shipped out and delivered to your door in a matter of days.