Is a mixer tap compatible with any basin?

kitty123

We want to fit a Wickes Belmar mono mixer tap http://www.wickesbathrooms.co.uk/taps-and-wastes/best-seller/wickes-belmar-basin-mono-148604 and a new basin in our cloakroom (we already have the tap).

My parents have the same Wickes tap and this basin http://www.wickesbathrooms.co.uk/pottery/basins/blend-40-5cm-cloakroom-basin-1th-with-bottle-trap We don't want to spend £105 on a Wickes basin, but the size is perfect. We are bound to these very specific dimensions due to size of the room.

We have seen various other similar basins on ebay, which are considerably cheaper. Is it likely this tap would be compatible with any basin?

WestonDave

Not necessarily with any basin - firstly if you want a mono tap, you need a basin with only one hole in it, and it might be the case that the holes vary in size. If you already have the tap, measure the size of hole it would need to go through and check that against any basin you are thinking of buying. However that safeguard aside it is possible to mix and match taps and basins (often you have to as a tap manufacturer won't normally make ceramics nor vice versa)

kitty123

WestonDave wrote: »

Not necessarily with any basin - firstly if you want a mono tap, you need a basin with only one hole in it, and it might be the case that the holes vary in size. If you already have the tap, measure the size of hole it would need to go through and check that against any basin you are thinking of buying. However that safeguard aside it is possible to mix and match taps and basins (often you have to as a tap manufacturer won't normally make ceramics nor vice versa)

Yes, we gathered we'd need a basin with only one tap hole! Not heard of measuring the hole though? None of the basins we've seen have dimensions of the tap hole included.

keystone

Mostly they are the same. Take the tap with you when you buy and see if it fits? I'd be more concerned TBH that the tap will provide the flow rate you expect. What sort of DHW system do you have and whats the spec (pressure / flow rate etc) of the tap?

Cheers

kitty123

Our hot water system is from a tank - not a combi boiler. But I don't know the technical details! Also, I don't know the spec of the tap - where would that information be found? The sink and taps currently in the cloakroom work fine. Our plumber didn't seem to think there would be an issue whe he looked the other day.

Also, we are looking to buy a sink from the internet to save money, hence we can't measure tap holes!

Canucklehead

Hi

If you are buying a one hole basin it will have one hole large enough to take a monoblock mixer.
If you buy a two hole basin with the intention of using only one hole a monoblock mixer will not fit.

GSR.

keystone

kitty123 wrote: »

Our hot water system is from a tank - not a combi boiler. But I don't know the technical details! Also, I don't know the spec of the tap - where would that information be found? The sink and taps currently in the cloakroom work fine. Our plumber didn't seem to think there would be an issue whe he looked the other day.

If you had a mains pressure system then your pressure in the cloakroom would be iro 3 bar or thereabouts. As you have a tank in the roof then the pressure at the tap in the cloakroom will be probably iro 0.5 bar. The key issue in selecting a tap is the flow rate at a certain pressure. Many suppliers try to get away with "works down to 0.1 bar" statements which seems OK until you find out that it only gives a dribble at that pressure and its wise to confirm flow rates in litres per minute with your supplier. 1/4 turn monobloc taps are inherently restrictive due to a) ceramic disc operation and b) small diameter (iro 8 or 10mm) tails. When a restrictive isolation valve is fitted as well that can add up to disppointing performance particularly if your existing taps have conventional tap head gear and are plumbed straight to 15mm pipework. This will be less of a problem on the ground floor with the CWST in the roof than it can be on the first floor. Just a note of caution thats all - not trying to frighten you. I didn't know you had already consulted a plumber when I raised the issue earlier but have answered your follow up post for completeness. Your plumber is the right man to advise you on site.

Also, we are looking to buy a sink from the internet to save money, hence we can't measure tap holes!

As CH has said if its a single hole basin then they are designed for monobloc taps it will fit. I said "most" previously because somewhere in the world there will be a "special".

Cheers

kitty123

Hi,
Many thanks for the advice. We will ask our plumber/handyman to check out the tap when he comes round this week. It is very useful to know these things as it is easy to think a tap is a tap and will wok regardless! Hopefully all will be ok, but your advice is much appreciated.