July 19, 2025
Ever walked into a UK bathroom and thought, "Why are there two taps? One's arctic, the other's volcanic"? I have. Last year, I stayed in a 1930s London flat – turning on the hot tap felt like sticking my hand in a kettle, the cold like grabbing an ice cube. That's when I started digging: what's the real story behind basin taps vs mixers? Let's break it down – from history to your bathroom renovation.
Basin tap (aka "traditional taps"): Two separate taps – one hot, one cold. No mixing. You either freeze or scald. Think Victorian bathrooms, old pubs, and that "tap dance" where you wave your hands between them to get warm water.
Basin mixer: One tap, one lever. Mixes hot and cold in the spout. Turn left for hot, right for cold. Smooth, precise, and no more "fire and ice" experiences. Found in modern homes, hotels, and used by anyone who values not looking silly while washing their hands.
Let's start with "tap". The word comes from Old English tæppa – a stopper for barrels. Back in 16th-century Istanbul, the first brass taps controlled water flow (fancy ones had dragon heads – yes, really). By the 1800s, UK homes had basic taps, but they were single-lever, cold-only. Hot water? You boiled a kettle and poured it in the basin.
"Mixer" is a 20th-century newcomer. Blame a guy named Al Moen. In 1937, he burned his hands on a two-tap sink and thought, "There's got to be a better way". By 1947, he had sold the first single-handle mixer. The UK? We dragged our feet. Why?
Until the 1990s, most UK homes had cold water from the mains (safe to drink) and hot water from a loft tank (stagnant, rusty, maybe with a dead spider or two). Mixing them? Risked contaminating the whole street's water supply.
Then came the 1999 Water Supply Regulations. They banned mixing old hot/cold systems – so two taps remained. New builds? They use combi boilers, so mixers are fine. Hence: your mate's modern flat has a mixer; your nan's Edwardian terrace? Two taps.
Let's cut to 2024. What's the actual difference when you're buying?
| Basin Tap | Basin Mixer |
|---|---|
| Two handles, two spouts. | One handle, one spout. |
| No temperature control – guesswork only. | Twist lever to dial in 37°C (or scalding, if you're a rebel). |
| Classic look – think polished brass, cross handles. | Sleek, modern – matte black, gold, even textured (fluted/knurled designs are in). |
Taps waste water. Ever tried adjusting two taps to get warm water? You run both for 10 seconds, watching it go down the drain. Mixers? They mix in the spout, so you get warm water instantly.
Example: A retrofitter (those gadgets that turn two taps into a mixer) saves 43% water per use. That adds up to £80/year on bills, says the Energy Saving Trust.
Taps need 3 holes (two for taps, one for the spout). Old basins often have this setup.
Mixers need 1 hole. Perfect for modern, minimalist basins. If your basin has 3 holes? You can buy a "deck plate" to cover the extras.
Taps are cheaper upfront: £50-£150 (e.g., Barber Wilson's Edwardian brass taps – stunning, but basic).
Mixers cost more initially: £80-£300 (Rak Ceramics' matte black mixer? Worth every penny for the "ooh" factor). But they save money long-term on water bills.
Q: Can I swap two taps for a mixer?
A: Maybe. If your hot water comes from a combi boiler (no loft tank), yes. If you have an old loft tank? You'll need a plumber to check for cross-contamination risks.
Q: Are mixers harder to fix?
A: No. Most have ceramic cartridges that last 10+ years. Spare parts are easy to find (just Google your brand + "cartridge").
Q: What's a "monobloc" mixer?
A: Fancy term for a single-unit mixer (spout + handle in one). Best for small basins – saves space.
Taps are charming, but mixers make sense. I swapped my two taps for a monobloc mixer last year – no more tap dancing, lower bills, and guests stop laughing at my bathroom.
If you're renovating: Mixers are the future. But if you live in a listed building? Rock those brass taps with pride.
At the end of the day, it's about function vs tradition. Me? I'll take the warm water.
P.S. If you're stuck with two taps, grab a "retromixer" adapter. £15 on Amazon, and it turns your arctic/volcanic taps into a mixer. Game changer.
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