Buying Guide for Taps

There are many things to consider when buying a new tap for your kitchen or bathroom. First and foremost what you want is a tap that is durable and reliable. But beyond that you will also need to think about what kind of finish is required and what tap design would best suit your decor.

Water efficiency is another important concern, because water has become an increasingly precious resource in Australia. Different types of taps have different WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) ratings, so look out for the WELS symbol when buying.

This buying guide will answer some of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to buying a new tap, and help you to add the perfect finishing touch to your newly renovated kitchen.

Types of Taps

When you first start looking for a new tap, it's easy to get bewildered by the abundance of choices. To help narrow it down, the range at Appliances Online is divided into 3 categories:

Mixer taps get their name from the way that both hot and cold water is mixed together, giving you precise control over the water temperature. (Older style sinks give you one tap for cold water and a separate tap for hot water). In mixer taps, water flow is controlled by a specially-designed lever - horizontal movement controls the temperature, while vertical movement controls the water flow.

Exactly as the name suggests, pull out taps can be pulled out, making it extra easy to rinse and wash your dishes. Pull out taps come with a flexible hose that allows you to manoeuvre the spray of water to best suit your needs. This is an especially useful feature when washing bulky pots and pans.

Appliances Online has an impressive selection of premium quality taps in all the best brands including Abey, Franke, Hansa, KWC, Oliveri, and Omega. Chrome is the standard finish for most taps as it is highly durable but also aesthetically pleasing. The shape of the tap should create a sense of flow and harmony within your kitchen, so you should choose a shape that complements and enhances your existing decor.

When making your decision, you should also consider the design of the tap head. Some models come with a button that allows you to change the way the water flows - creating a spray effect similar to a shower head. This feature is especially useful if you're rinsing stubborn food residues from your plates.

Another consideration should be the height of the tap. If you frequently need to wash larger items such as large platters, trays, or baking dishes, a high tap head helps to make washing easier.

Boiling and chilled filter taps give you an instant supply of boiling or cold purified water - saving you the trouble of boiling the kettle or purchasing expensive bottled water. The tap fitting can be installed beside your kitchen sink (next to your ordinary tap), and the filtering system is designed to be fitted underneath your kitchen bench. Once it is installed you can enjoy cold or boiling water at the flick of a lever, which is perfect for those of us with busy lifestyles. These taps are also an environmentally friendly option as they tend to use less energy than an electric kettle, and reduce the amount of plastic bottles going into landfill.

Depending on your needs, you can purchase a single boiling water tap (supplying only boiling water), a single chilled filtered water tap (supplying only chilled or ambient filtered water), or a dual tap system that provides an instant supply of both. We've got all the big brands in filtered taps including Billi, InSinkErator, and Zip. Please ask our support team members for advice at the time of purchase to make sure you get the right tap configuration for your home.

Please call our customer service team if you have any queries about purchasing a tap. Contact us on: 1300 000 500.