No products in the cart.
Bathroom and Kitchen Taps Explained
Short answer: a bib tap comes out of the wall; a pillar tap stands up through a hole in the basin or sink; an angle valve is the small isolating valve underneath; a health faucet is the hand spray. Most bathroom problems get a lot simpler once you know which of these four you are actually looking at.
The four fittings
Bib tap
Screws into a 1/2 inch wall outlet and points down. Used over kitchen sinks, laundry troughs, wash areas and garden points. Some come with a hose nipple so a garden or washing machine hose pushes straight on.
Pillar tap
Mounts through the tap hole in the basin or sink itself and stands upright over the bowl. The thing to check is spout reach: too short and it splashes the rim all day; too long and it overshoots the drain.
Angle valve (right angle valve)
The small isolating valve between the wall outlet and the flexible connector. Fit one at every basin, cistern and appliance. Without them, changing a single washer means shutting down and draining the whole house.
Health faucet
The hand spray with its flexible hose and wall hook. It connects to the standard 1/2 inch outlet, so it replaces an existing one without touching the pipework.
All four are stocked in the Plumbing section, mostly in Watertec.
Sink taps and basin taps are not the same
The difference is mostly height and reach. A kitchen sink tap stands taller so a bucket or a tall pot fits under it. Fitting a basin tap on a kitchen sink is the commonest mismatch — it works, but you cannot fill anything.
Choosing a finish
| Finish | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| White | White sanitaryware, most bathrooms | Easiest of all to match |
| Chrome | Standard — matches most existing fittings | Shows water spotting in hard water |
| Charcoal / black | Grey and dark tiling, modern look | Shows scratches — no abrasive cleaners |
| Ivory and coloured chrome | Cream tiling, matching sets | Match across all the fittings or not at all |
Before you buy a replacement
- Count the tap holes in the basin. One hole takes a single pillar tap or a mixer; two holes need separate taps.
- Measure from the tap position to the centre of the bowl.
- Note the inlet size — 1/2 inch is standard for household fittings, 3/4 inch for garden and fast-fill points.
- Bring the old tap, or a photo of it. Matching by model number is far easier than describing it over the phone.
Small things that save money
- Fit angle valves everywhere. They turn a house shutdown into a ten-minute tap repair.
- A dripping tap is usually a washer, not a tap.
- A blocked shower rose is usually lime, not a fault — soak it in vinegar overnight before replacing it.
- Use PTFE tape on threads, and stop tightening once the outlet points straight down.
Common questions
What is the difference between a bib tap and a pillar tap?
A bib tap screws into the wall and points down. A pillar tap mounts through the hole in the basin or sink and stands upright over the bowl. They are not interchangeable.
What is an angle valve used for?
It isolates one fixture — a basin, a cistern or an appliance — so that fitting can be serviced without shutting off the water to the whole house.
Can I fit a health faucet myself?
In most cases yes. It connects to the standard half-inch bathroom outlet, so it is a direct swap for an existing unit. Isolate the supply at the angle valve first.
Which tap finish is best for hard water?
Charcoal, black and white all hide water spotting better than polished chrome. Whichever you choose, wipe it with a soft cloth and plain water rather than an abrasive cleaner.
Need help choosing? Call +94 71 302 4843, message us on WhatsApp, or send your list through Request a Quote. WPL Trading, No. 305, Kandy Road, Dummaladeniya, Warakapola — open every day, 9.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., with island-wide delivery.
සිංහලෙන්: නාන කාමර සහ කුස්සියේ කරාම වර්ග
About author
Add comment