Taps you can gush about

Prachi Mudgil

It was an innovation waiting to happen. After helping us connect with the entire world, digitalisation has entered our kitchens and bathrooms. The good-old brass, steel and ceramic taps have been replaced by their digital counterparts that are hi-tech and user-friendly. Unlike your traditional taps that you turn clockwise to open and anticlockwise to turn off, new, trendy designs swivel all round the sink.

Sleek in design

The new variants turn trickle into flow and offer many interesting features that are in tandem with the present times. Modern taps are sleeker in design and many of these include a lever to control temperature and offer two to three-flow patterns such as stream, rinse and spray. This is in addition to a handy in-built LED light to illuminate what you are washing or filling. Besides turning these into gizmos, some reputed brands are also going green and launching eco-friendly designs made of recycled materials, which save and even recycle water. Some companies have taken a step further with their W+W (wash basin + water closet) technology. This combination filters the waste water from the basin and reuses it in the flush.

British sanitary products giant Roca’s recent invention is a toilet-cum-washbasin. In this device, the washbasin is an extension of the toilet water-tank placed right under it. It filters the waste water after you have washed your hands and lets it flow into the cistern. The water is reused for flushing the toilet. The integrated sink and toilet reduces water usage by almost 25 per cent.

Just as you like it

Italian manufacturer Gessi, which is the one of the world leaders in innovative tap-ware has launched taps that come fitted with a special light. The light reflects the temperature of the water flowing through it. A blue stream means cold water while shades of red indicate the degree to which the water has been heated. Many other tap brands have in-built filtering features and dispense hot, cold and chilled water, thus helping us to do away with electric kettles and the refrigeration process in summer.

The no-touch taps which have been a part of restrooms in malls, airports and restaurants have entered designer homes now. These also have an in-built thermostat that keeps the water at a stable temperature. Many of these come fitted with electronic water-saving features that allow people to preset the maximum flow from taps. Even the tap lever is becoming obsolete. Many new-age plumbing companies like Grohe, Dorf, Moen and more are replacing the lever with touch-screens and other electronic controls that are smart enough to store all your personal details — like the temperature you like - water at and the pressure of the flow.

Though taps and faucets have been constantly evolving, these are now taking a technological leap and are metamorphosing into digital gizmos. Take for example, the Straus by Zuvo that has a filtration plant inside it. Still in the development stage, it will also have an in-built WiFi system that gives you all the important information on your smart phone, including the quality of water you are drinking.

There are others taps that can be controlled wirelessly from anywhere in the house. Some new ones come fitted with a digital screen that can be used for sending and receiving emails, messages and for checking the temperature of water among many other functions. There are yet others that will play your favourite music once you turn these on.

Hail innovation

Earlier a number of these products were being used mostly in the commercial properties, but bath-product manufacturers say builders, who make high-end apartments, are showing an inclination towards these innovative designs in their bid to introduce luxury in the kitchens and bathrooms.

Gone are the times when the taps came in boring brass or silver colours. Today, these can be bought in different colours, ranging from gold and polished brass to red, almond, rose, black and white. Many a times, taps come with powder coating, which is tougher than conventional paint. This not just gives taps an elegant finish, but also protects these from corrosion and rust. Thus other than supplying water, the tap is turning into a spectacular gizmo that's packed with features and will last your lifetime. The only caution is that you should be ready to spend a good amount of money to add the wow factor to your kitchen or bathroom.

Pick & choose with care

Taps come in different styles and sizes with varying price tags. So it is important to find the one that suits your budget without compromising with the quality at the same time.

• Never cut corners when buying taps. Cheap ones tend to drip and leak and need quick replacements. Top-quality ones perform well and are a treat to eyes.
• Choose a finish that matches cabinets, towel bars and other hardware in the washroom. Mismatches look bad. Some of the best finishes come in chrome, nickel or bronze.
• It is always advisable to select a tap that comes with a guarantee. This shows that the manufacturer is confident that it will deliver for years to come.
• Though double-handle taps may look stylish, the single-lever ones are more practical. These not just look sleek but water temperature adjustment is easier to make.
• While selecting a kitchen tap, go for a tall one with a detachable nozzle as you would use it to wash all sizes of utensils.