Which would be better for your home: a single-handle faucet or a double-handle faucet? Well, the answer is clear: It’s totally up to you!
Single-handle faucets are easier to operate, and they save space. Their double-handle counterparts, meanwhile, offer precise temperature control and a traditional style that some homeowners prefer.
Indeed, when choosing between these options, several variables should come into play. They include your daily water needs, your budget, the size of your sink, and your personal design preferences.
Of course, whichever type you choose, one factor is non-negotiable: To perform reliably over the long haul, your new faucet must be installed properly!
Quick Takeaways
- Single-handle faucets are easy to use and relatively simple to install.
- Double-handle faucets offer more accurate temperature control.
- Your sink’s hole configuration might determine which style fits better.
- Both styles are available in modern, efficient, and attractive designs.
- A plumber could ensure that your new faucet is compatible with your sink.
What’s the Difference Between Single-Handle and Double-Handle Faucets?
A single-handle faucet has, as its name implies, just one lever to control both the temperature and the flow of water.
When you push this lever upward, you open a central valve, which allows a greater volume of water to flow through the faucet.
Then, when you push the lever to one side or the other, you rotate a different valve, one that mixes hot water and cold water to attain a certain temperature.
With a double-handle faucet, one handle controls an internal hot-water valve while the other controls a separate cold-water valve. When you turn one handle, the corresponding valve opens up, letting water flow into a mixing chamber.
Inside that chamber, hot and cold water blend together to reach whatever temperature you want.
Single-Handle Faucets: Pros and Cons
For sure, single-handle faucets are desirable in many ways. Just consider these advantages:
- Space Saving: These products fit well in smaller kitchens and bathrooms.
- Faster Water Temperature Adjustments: This feature could be a welcome time-saver if you’re in a rush.
- Ease of Use: You can turn this faucet on and off with just your arm or elbow. That could be helpful if the handle is dirty, if your hands are dirty, or if your hands are full. And people with hand mobility limitations could especially benefit from these faucets.
- Quick Cleaning: To clean a single-handle faucet, you could just wipe the lever down with a cloth.
At the same time, there are potential downsides to a single-handle faucet:
- Loss of Temperature Control: It’s more difficult to adjust your water temperature with just one faucet handle. In fact, it might take several tries before your water is as hot or cold as you’d like it to be.
- Loose Handle: Because everyone in your home will keep pushing the lever up and down (and side to side) every day, it could eventually loosen. And, if it’s a little loose, reaching your desired water temperature could be even trickier.
Double-Handle Faucets: Pros and Cons
A double-handle faucet comes with its own special benefits:
- Precise Temperature Control: Double-handle faucets let you attain the exact water temperature you want — or very close to it, anyway.
- Classic Style: With their traditional vibe, double-handle faucets appeal to homeowners who seek timeless interior designs.
- Durability: Faucets with two handles usually last longer. And, with fewer faucet replacements over the years, you could save some money.
Nevertheless, double-handle faucets have possible pitfalls as well:
- A Degree of Difficulty: These faucets can be a little harder for people who have hand mobility issues — arthritis in the fingers, for instance. And younger children may have some trouble getting the temperature they want from them.
- No Hands-Free Usage: To turn on or turn off such a faucet, you’d need at least one hand. Therefore, you might not be able to use it if you were, say, holding a heavy pot or a stack of dishes.
- More Complex Installation: With two handles and a separate spout — all of which need to be carefully aligned — a double-handle faucet is somewhat more complicated and time-consuming to install.
Choose the Right Faucet for Your Home
Once you assess your family’s needs and wants, you’ll be ready to make a final decision: one handle or two. Then it’s time for the installation!
Be aware that your sink’s hole configuration might help you decide. That is, sinks with one hole are only compatible with single-handle faucets. Three-hole and four-hole sinks, by contrast, are designed for double-handle faucets.
If, however, you have a three- or four-hole sink and you want a single-handle faucet, you could just use a deck plate to cover up the extra holes.
Niceville Benjamin Plumbing for Faucet Installations of All Kinds
If your home is located in or near Niceville, FL, you can rely on Benjamin Franklin Plumbing to install your new faucet. We’re “The Punctual Plumber®,” and we’re here for you!
With our expert services, you’ll gain a sturdy, dependable, and highly functional faucet — one that will last you for as long as possible.
Plus, if you don’t know which type of faucet to purchase, we could give you our professional advice. And, if you have a single-handle faucet now and would like to switch to a double-handle model (or vice versa), we could take care of that task for you.
So please schedule a faucet installation with us whenever you get the chance. In the end, we’ll guarantee your satisfaction, and we’ll be more than happy to handle (no pun intended) this important project.