When it’s almost time for dinner, you go to the kitchen sink to wash your hands. The water gets warm as you lather up and clean. Afterward, you go back to the sink with your cup to fill it with cold water. Have you ever wondered how the handles on the faucet are able to change the temperature of the water that comes out?

If you look around your house, you’ll probably find several faucets. Besides the kitchen faucet, there are also faucets in the bathrooms. In fact, most bathrooms have a faucet in the sink and one in the shower or bathtub.

However, not all faucets are the same. Some may have two handles: one for cold water and one for hot water. Other faucets may have a single handle that you turn to make the water hotter.

When you turn on a faucet, water comes out right away. This is because there is always water flowing through the plumbing system in your house. It is kept under high pressure. Experts recommend that most modern home plumbing systems maintain an average water pressure of 40-80 pounds per square inch. However, some local water utilities provide water at much higher pressures, such as 100 pounds per square inch or more.

When a faucet is turned off, the handles have been turned to the point where a stopper shuts off the flow of water. Once you turn the faucet on, the stopper opens to let the pressurized water flow out of the spigot.

Depending on which handles you turn and how much you turn them, the water can come out anywhere from very cold to extremely hot. However, the faucet handles themselves do not control the temperature of the water.

Faucets are connected to two different water lines, one for cold water and one for hot water. The hot water line usually comes from a hot water heater. The maximum temperature of the water is controlled by a setting on the hot water heater.

Depending on the type of faucet you have, different valve-like devices, such as mixer taps, single handle mixers, temperature control valves, and thermostatic mixing valves, are used to regulate the temperature of the water before it comes out of the spigot.

If you only turn the cold water handle, you will get cold water directly from the cold water line. Likewise, if you only turn the hot water handle, you will get hot water directly from the hot water line. If you turn both handles (or partially turn a one-handle faucet), water from both water lines will mix before coming out of the spigot, resulting in water at a certain temperature depending on the ratio of hot to cold water.

There are many different types of faucets made for use in homes and businesses. Hot taps are usually marked with the color red and may have a red H on them. Cold taps, on the other hand, are usually marked with the color blue and may have a blue C on them. To make things simpler, the hot tap is usually on the left and the cold tap is on the right, following building code regulations.

Try It Out

Are you ready to do some plumbing? Make sure to find a friend or family member to help you with the following activities:

Exploring Your Home’s Plumbing

Ever wondered what lies beneath your kitchen sink? Let’s satisfy your curiosity! Grab a friend or family member and open up the cabinet doors to take a closer look at the plumbing system under your kitchen sink. Before doing so, you may need to clear out some of the items you store under there. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight to help you see better. Can you spot the various water supply lines? Are they color-coded or labeled? Try to visually trace the path that the water takes to reach your drinking glass!

Have you ever wondered how hot or cold your tap water can get? Find out by using a thermometer to measure the temperature of your tap water. Begin with a glass of cold tap water, making it as cold as possible. Then, turn the faucet to the hottest setting and carefully pour another glass of water, ensuring you don’t burn yourself. Measure the temperature of each glass. What is the temperature difference between the hottest and coldest water your faucet can produce?

If you’re eager to learn more about the hot water in your home, ask an adult friend or family member to show you the hot water heater. It can be located in various places within a house. Some homes have their hot water heaters in interior utility closets, while others have them in the garage or basement. Explore your home and locate the hot water heater. Try to find out its capacity in gallons and the maximum temperature setting. As a fun experiment, trace the hot water pipes from the heater to the nearest tap.

Additional Resources

• http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4568124_faucets-work.html
• http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-do-shower-control-valves-work
• https://www.reference.com/home-garden/normal-residential-water-pressure-fc663a71fb44ce64
• http://www.diyplumbingadvice.com/waterpressure.shtml

FAQ

1. How do faucets regulate water temperature?

Faucets regulate water temperature through a combination of hot and cold water supply lines and internal mechanisms. When you turn the faucet handle, it controls the flow of water from both the hot and cold supply lines. Inside the faucet, there are valves or cartridges that mix the hot and cold water according to your desired temperature setting.

2. What types of faucets are commonly used to regulate water temperature?

There are several types of faucets commonly used to regulate water temperature. The most common types include compression faucets, ball faucets, cartridge faucets, and disc faucets. Each type operates differently, but they all have mechanisms that control the flow and temperature of water.

3. How does a compression faucet regulate water temperature?

A compression faucet regulates water temperature by using separate handles for hot and cold water. When you turn the handles, it opens or closes the valves inside the faucet. By adjusting the handles, you can control the flow of hot and cold water and mix them to achieve the desired temperature.

4. What is the role of thermostatic valves in regulating water temperature in faucets?

Thermostatic valves play a crucial role in regulating water temperature in faucets. These valves automatically adjust the water temperature to maintain a constant temperature even when there are fluctuations in the hot or cold water supply. They sense the temperature and adjust the mixing of hot and cold water accordingly, providing a consistent and comfortable water temperature.