Glossary

Tiny disc inside the spout that adds air bubbles to water, which reduces splashing and makes it easier to direct the flow of water.

The mount on which the rest of the faucet hardware is attached. A base provides a point of attachment when the faucet is fixed to the tub, sink, or shower.

A valve within most shower and tub faucets that controls temperature and water pressure. Cartridges contain many moving parts, specifically a system of holes and stops that control the flow of water. A leaky faucet may indicate that the cartridge is damaged and needs to be replaced.

A faucet design type that typically looks older and more ornate than most home faucets. Some faucets may be aged to look older than they actually are and are often bronzed.

A process through which metal deteriorates as a result of interaction with oxygen within water or its environment.

Allows you to control the water pressure using a smartphone app or digital panel along the faucet.

Allows you to set the exact temperature of the water via smartphone app or digital panel along the faucet.

When a faucet no longer produces water, it has “seized up”. The handles may be impossible to use and the seized faucet is usually inoperable because of corrosion.

An extra spout on the base of a faucet that dispenses filtered water an may be directly connected to the filter.

The speed that water leaves your faucet.

Projections from the base of the faucet that are used to manipulate temperature and flow. May be rod or dial shaped.

Modern/contemporary faucets tend to be even sleeker than traditional faucets and may have interesting designs inspired by artistic modernism. Some may challenge traditional shapes of faucets with wider spouts or blocky handles.

Also called a commercial/detachable spout, pull down spouts detach from their base using a hose. These spouts are easy to use for detailed cleaning projects and may provide the user more control over flow and direction.

The product of corrosion, results when metal is oxidized. Can turn water brownish and is not safe for human consumption.

Rustic style faucets call to mind the farmhouse or ranch. They are typically simple in design but may mimic old well pumps or other farm designs.

Usually shaped similarly to a garden hose sprayer, these sprayers are separate from the main faucet spout but can be activated by pushing a lever and detaching them from the base using an extension hose. Separate sprayers are great for complex cleaning projects that require more pressure than the typical spout can provide, or which can’t be reached with a regular spout.

The actual mouth through which water leaves the faucet. Spouts come in many different shapes and are typically curved up and back down, away from the faucet base.

The elongated section of a faucet that connects the fixture to the knobs and spout of the faucet. On the inside, stems use a system of holes and stops to control the pressure and temperature dispensed through the spout and varies depending on whether the faucet has one or two handles. May need to be replaced in a leaky faucet.

Can be adjusted using the handles on your faucet to make the water hotter or cooler. Be careful to always leave your hot water heater set to a safe temperature so that turning your water faucets as high as they can go does not result in scalding.

A faucet feature with a sensor that activates the flow of water when it detects motion from a few inches away. Touch free faucets are useful for home cooking to avoid cross contamination or for times when your hands may be full.

Faucets with a simple, understated design seen in most homes. Emphasize a clean, sleek look and usability.

Used for showers to reach areas of the back and body that are difficult to clean or reach. Add an extra spray of water in addition to the main shower head.

This system keeps the water coming out of your tap clean and improves taste. Filters can be added to a home’s whole plumbing system or to one or two faucets in the household.

A wider mouthed spout that creates the effect of a waterfall cascade of water.