Kitchen faucets with flexible spout: description, types and selection

The mixer with a flexible spout for the kitchen is a unique modern solution and makes the use of the tap as comfortable as possible. The movable structure appeared relatively recently, but immediately gained fame and won the recognition of consumers. Ease of use, practicality and wide consumer availability distinguish flexible models from static options, make them the most demanded and popular.

Initially, flexible spouts were used exclusively in catering establishments and in hospitals, kindergartens and sanatoriums. With their help, huge tanks from under the first and second courses, as well as baking trays and large pots were washed. The convenience of mobile ganders was appreciated by the workers of such enterprises; over time, flexible models came to ordinary kitchens.

The prototype of modern mixers with a flexible spout can be considered a rubber hose, which was put on a metal gander of a conventional tap and ended with a watering can. A little later, factory flexible models for home kitchens appeared on the market, which instantly gained popularity and firmly entered modern use.

A kitchen mixer with a flexible spout does not fundamentally differ from a traditional mixer and also consists of a metal body, a water supply unit and a mixing chamber. The differences are solely in the design of the gander.

This makes it possible to direct the water jet to any part of the sink, easily filling containers of any height. This is the main advantage of flexible models over static ones, with the help of which it is often impossible to collect water in a high jar or pan due to the low fit of the gander. Besides, thanks to the mobility of the spout, the consumer can independently adjust its height and not create unnecessary splashes when washing dishes.

Flexible spouts are often equipped with additional outlets and tapsdesigned for connecting washing machines and dishwashers. More advanced models have a telescopic design. They consist of three or more elements, including a flexible hose. Are very popular and retractable ganders, which are equipped with a long spout and are very convenient to use.

Unlike static versions, flexible spout faucets are available in a wide range of colors, which allows you to choose the right model for any modern interior.

For the most convenient use, most flexible ganders are equipped with a special attachment - an aerator. Thanks to the aerators, water is delivered in several modes, such as a powerful jet, a wide spray, a flat jet or many weak jets.

As in traditional models, the temperature control of the water is carried out using a single-lever mechanism or two valves for hot and cold water, depending on the design of the mixer.

Like any modern plumbing fixture, flexible spout faucets have both strengths and weaknesses. The advantages of such models include the following factors that distinguish the movable ganders from their static counterparts:

• the flexible design of the gander allows you to use one mixer for two adjacent sinks, which significantly expands the working space and makes working in the kitchen as comfortable as possible;
• many models are equipped with special nozzles, with which you can easily remove lime deposits, and the built-in aerator makes it possible to independently adjust the pressure and shape of the stream;
• high mobility and the ability of the gander to bend in any direction allows the jet to "reach" almost any corner of the sink, which is, of course, impossible to do with a conventional mixer; in addition, the angle of fluid supply can be set at your own discretion, which allows you to wash bulky items from the sides, without turning them over and without using a bath and shower for this;
• thanks to the movable structure, washing of many non-standard items, such as grills of ovens, refrigerators and gas stoves, becomes as convenient as possible;
• simple design provides ease of control of the gander, which even a child can handle;
• Most flexible spouts are fully compatible with standard faucets, so they can be purchased separately and installed on the old faucet, which allows you to significantly save money and not spend money on a new faucet;
• the use of flexible ganders allows you to reach any of the walls of the sink and keep it in perfect condition;
• the flexible spout is simply indispensable for washing products that are difficult to wash while holding them.

However, along with the obvious advantages, there are still disadvantages to faucets with a flexible spout. These include the high cost of most products, as well as difficulties in cleaning the gander from limescale, which is explained by the too complex design of some models. And also some futuristic designswhich makes most of them incompatible with classic and romantic kitchen interiors. Such a crane will be noticeably different from the general style and look like something foreign.

The classification of kitchen faucets with a flexible spout is based on several criteria, one of which is the type of construction. According to this criterion, two models are distinguished, which differ from each other not only in appearance, but also in the principle of operation.

• Two-valve models are a device equipped with two separate valves located on a common body on either side of the gander. Hot and cold water is supplied through separate pipes and, entering the mixer body, is mixed in a special chamber. Ceramic and worm gearboxes are used as a water shut-off device. In worm gears, when the valve is twisted, pressure occurs on the rubber gasket, which blocks the flow of water.

The ceramic locking device consists of two slotted discs and works as follows: when the valve is open, the slots on the discs coincide, water flows through them without hindrance. When closed, the slots are displaced, the hole is closed, the water stops flowing.

• Single Lever Mixers with a movable gander, they allow you to regulate the temperature of the liquid using a single lever, and this, in contrast to the two-lever options, can be done with one finger. This becomes possible due to the presence of a special cartridge, which has a disc or ball type of design. Disk the cartridges consist of two discs and work similarly to the valve axle boxes of two-valve models. Ball the mechanisms are a spherical chamber with three holes, through one of which cold water enters, through the second hot water, and through the third, the liquid of the required temperature is supplied to the flexible gander.

The advantages of the single-lever design include ease of use and economical water consumption. Among the disadvantages are the high cost, difficulties in repair and the special sensitivity of European models to Russian water.

The next criterion for classifying flexible spouts is the type of gander design. On this basis, there are three types of models.

• Kitchen faucet with flexible pull-out spout is a device in which a flexible hose with a nozzle-aerator attached to the end is pulled out of a static metal gander. The soft hose has a length of up to one and a half meters, is not fixed and is held in the hand all the time. Telescopic ganders also belong to retractable models, which can consist of several elements extending from each other at once.

• Fixed hose spout perfectly locks into position and represents the most numerous category of kitchen faucets. Food grade silicone is often used as a material for such ganders. It easily accepts and holds the desired shape well, has an attractive appearance. These models are available in color and are very popular.

• The third type of mixers is represented by models with a long flexible hose., which does not slide inside and is suspended on a special bracket. Such models are used in catering establishments, where there is a need to wash large tanks, as well as to fill containers located at some distance from the sink.

Considering the types of mixers with a flexible spout, one cannot fail to mention contactless modelsequipped with a motion sensor and turn on water only when an object is placed under the spout. However, such products have a very high cost, which is why the demand for them is not too great. And there are also options with water heating function. Such devices work on the principle of an instantaneous water heater, they are especially in demand in houses where there is no centralized hot water supply.

The quality of flexible spout faucets is largely determined by the materials used to manufacture them. Modern models are made made of stainless steel, brass, ceramics, silumin and plasticpresent in different combinations. The most common material today is brass. Brass faucets are rust-free, durable and attractive in appearance.

To give models an image suitable for retro and classic styles, they often use and bronze, which is quite durable material and guarantees a long service life of the cranes. For silicone spouts, a special grade of this material is used, which, even in contact with hot water, does not emit toxins and toxic substances into it.

The modern plumbing market offers flexible spout faucets in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. There are models with several ganders located on a common body at once. Thus, a mixer with two hoses is designed to supply ordinary drinking and purified water.

There are also options with three spouts, one of which is designed to supply filtered water, the second for chilled water and the third for carbonated water. However, such mixers are quite expensive and are not in great demand.

In terms of size, all models with a non-pull-out flexible spout can be roughly divided into three categories. The first includes shortened ganders up to 20 cm long, which are well suited for small sinks and are designed for washing dishes and fruits. The next category is represented by spouts with a length of 20 to 25 cm and is the most numerous. The third group includes models with ganders over 25 cm. The length of telescopic and pull-out spouts can be up to 1.5 m.

When choosing a tap with flexible spout it is necessary to pay attention to a number of points.

• Type of shell. On this basis, mixers are cast and prefabricated. The former have no seams and are more reliable. The latter consist of several separate parts, which greatly increases the likelihood of breakage.
• Control type. By far the most convenient is the single-lever mechanism. It allows you to open the water with one hand and reduces its consumption when adjusting the temperature. However, such models look good only in modern interiors, and for a classic or rustic style, it is better to choose a two-valve model.
• Correspondence of the bore and the size of the mixer body. In order not to complicate the installation and not to use auxiliary inserts and fixing plates, it is better that these two parameters coincide as much as possible.
• Pay attention to the turns and rings of the corrugation, which must be of the same shape and not have protruding sections. In addition, the spout should be well fixed in different positions and not return to its original state. When switching modes, the aerator should also be clearly fixed, and its surface should be embossed and easy to switch.

The installation of a mixer with a flexible spout is no different from the installation of a conventional mixer and can be done independently. The system is mounted in one hole and then connected to hot and cold water. For its connection, standard flexible hoses with appropriate markings are used. Models designed for hot water have a red shading, for cold water - blue.

Most mixers with a flexible spout are designed for a maximum liquid temperature of up to +80 degrees and a working pressure of 0.4 MPa (the maximum allowable indicator corresponds to 1.6 MPa). In addition, almost all models have unified seats and are suitable for mounting on any sink. The exception is non-standard exclusive models, the installation of which should be entrusted to professionals.

You will learn more about installing a faucet with a flexible spout by watching the following video.