Comparison Blanco Mila 524213 vs Blanco Mila-S HD 519810

Spout equipped with a flexible retractable hose. Thus, if necessary, you can detach the working part of the spout from the mixer body, actually turning it into a kind of shower head on a flexible hose. This function is found only in models for the kitchen — in other types of taps it is easier to use a classic shower set. A pull out spout can be especially useful in some specific situations where the “manoeuvrability” of a conventional spout is not enough — for example, if you need to thoroughly wash the walls of a large pot, or draw water into a container that does not fit in the sink. In addition, when washing large dishes, it is more convenient to move the mixer nozzle around the dishes, rather than turning the appliances themselves under a stationary stream of water.

Distance from the fixing point (for vertically mounted taps) or from the centre of the mounting hole (for horizontally mounted taps) to the middle of the spout. It is a characteristic that determines the "reach zone" of the tap.

The jet height is usually specified for taps with horizontal installation (see "Type of installation"). It is measured from the base of the tap to the spout outlet. The large height of the spout is important primarily for kitchen models (see "Suitable for"), because it allows you to place large dishes in the sink. This parameter is directly related to the height of the spout (see above): the height of the jet cannot be greater than the height of the spout. Thus, in fact, one has to find a compromise between the height of the jet and the dimensions of the tap, especially if there is little space for its installation.

The functions of a mixer mainly consist of design features, among which are the presence of a check valve, a pop-up waste, cold start, LED lighting, a temperature control lever, a display, auto-drain (hygienic rinse), a switch for washing machine/dishwasher, and a shelf for accessories. More details:

— Check valve. A check valve prevents water from moving backward through the mixer, for example, when there is a significant pressure difference between hot and cold water. This feature is relevant for those planning to install water meters: the presence of check valves on mixers is often a mandatory condition for installation requests, as such valves prevent meters from running backward. Additionally, it's worth noting the presence of a check valve in the mixer (especially single-lever ones, see "Mixer Type") if your home's water supply is prone to interruptions — such mixers perform much better during pressure surges in the plumbing.

— Pop-up waste. A device that allows you to close the drain hole in a sink, kitchen sink, or bidet (depending on the purpose of the mixer). It comes in two types:

— Lever pop-up waste. This type of valve is operated by a small...lever located behind the mixer, to the side, or at the front of the body. Raising and lowering it opens and closes the sink's drain plug.

— Push-button pop-up waste. Valves of this type are locked and unlocked by pressing the drain hole plug, which requires wetting your hand.

— Cold start. A feature found exclusively in single-lever models. The general principle of "cold start" is as follows: if you open the mixer with the joystick in the central (default) position, only cold water will flow out, not mixed warm water (as in more traditional single-lever devices). To add hot water and increase the temperature, you need to move the lever from the default position. This operation format can provide noticeable savings: by default, cold water flows from the mixer, and hot water is added only as needed.

— LED lighting. A lighting system based on LEDs — an efficient and economical light source. The purpose and functionality of such lighting can vary. In some models, it is installed on the spout and directed downward, allowing you to see the space under the mixer well even in low external lighting. Sometimes this lighting also illuminates the water stream, giving it an unusual appearance. There are also quite original systems — for example, with a transparent spout and LEDs at its base, creating the effect of a mixer glowing from within; in some models, the lighting even changes color depending on the water temperature. However, in any case, this feature significantly affects the cost, so it is mainly characteristic of premium-class products.

— Auto-drain (hygienic rinse). This system is equipped in mixers with additional electronics — mainly contactless models, as well as products with a thermostat or button activation. Auto-drain works as follows: at certain intervals (for example, once every 12 hours or once a day), the automation briefly turns on the water. This washes out harmful bacteria that tend to multiply on the internal surfaces of the spout and in the "stagnant" water inside the mixer. At the same time, the water consumption for hygienic rinsing is small, usually almost unnoticeable against the background of overall consumption.

— Temperature control lever. A feature found in mixers whose design initially does not include a temperature regulator — primarily contactless models, as well as products with one main lever or button activation (see "Mixer Type"). As the name suggests, the temperature control lever allows you to use such a mixer not only for controlling the flow but also for changing the water temperature.

— Display. Mixers that display the temperature and/or current water consumption. The display provides a clear visualization of settings and allows you to see what water and in what volume is flowing from the tap. However, the presence of a screen significantly affects the cost of the mixer.

— Switch for washing machine/dishwasher. A feature that can significantly simplify the connection of a washing machine or dishwasher to the water supply system. Mixers with a switch for a washing machine/dishwasher have a separate pipe for connecting the machine, as well as a switch that allows you to open and close the water supply to this pipe. Thus, to connect a washing machine or dishwasher, there is no need to install additional bushings, splitters, etc. — just connect the device to the existing outlet. And you can control the water supply directly from the mixer body, without having to crawl under the sink or into another hard-to-reach place.

— Shelf for accessories. Most often, the role of such a shelf is played by the upper part of the body, specially made flat. This feature is mainly found in mixers for baths and/or showers (see "Purpose"): it is convenient to keep shampoos, gels, soap, and other cosmetic/hygienic products on the shelf.

Note that this feature is rare — mainly in high-end mixers (in particular, thermostatic ones) that initially have large body sizes. In more traditional models, there is no point in providing this design element — it is more reasonable to purchase a shelf as a separate accessory for the bathroom.

The maximum allowable thickness of the tabletop in millimetres for installing the tap into it without the need to modify the mounting hole.

Type of additional finishing provided in the tap. This item can specify several options — this means that this model is available in different design options. And if the finishing material coincides with the body material, this means that there is virtually no additional coating; this is found, in particular, among taps made of stainless steel, which itself is quite resistant to corrosion.

In modern taps, the following types of finishing are used: granite, chrome, chrome with granite, chrome with gold, matte chrome, stainless steel (glossy or brushed), brass, nickel, copper, bronze, gold, as well as brushed in one color or another. Here are the features of each option:

— Granite. Granite is characterized by a pleasant appearance, moreover, it is available in an abundance of different colours, allowing you to choose a tap for the design of the kitchen. Of its advantages, it is worth noting high durability, absolute resistance to corrosion and good sanitary characteristics (prevents the growth of bacteria). The main disadvantage is the high...price.

— Chrome. Chrome plating is applied to metal surfaces primarily for corrosion protection; it has a characteristic shiny (almost mirror-like) appearance. Chrome provides high resistance to oxidation and damage, yet looks good and is inexpensive — as a result, it is one of the most widely used coating materials. Its main disadvantage is the tendency to get imprints on it over time; their removal is associated with certain troubles.

— Chrome/granite. The combination of chrome and granite finish in one product. See above for more details about the features of each of these materials, but here we note that their combination implies the presence of different types of finish in different parts of the tap. Thus, the design acquires a more original and stylish appearance, greater hygiene and resistance to contamination than pure chrome, while being cheaper than pure granite. And from the point of view of the overall design of a bathroom or kitchen, it is this combination that in some cases turns out to be the best option.

— Chrome/gold. The combination of chrome finish with individual "gold" sections. The features of chrome are described above, and the "gold" elements give the product a rich appearance, while a fairly large number of buyers prefer this combination to the “solid gold” finish.

— Matte chrome. A matte variation of chrome finish (see above). On such a surface, dirt, and prints are much less noticeable than on a classic glossy; in addition, it may be more suitable in design or simply more pleasing to the eye than glossy. At the same time, the creation of matte surfaces is associated with certain difficulties, and therefore they are relatively uncommon.

— Stainless steel (glossy). Stainless steel finish is generally similar in characteristics to chrome — it is durable and resistant to corrosion. However, such a surface is somewhat different in appearance and for a number of reasons it is used mainly in premium-class models — including taps made entirely of "stainless steel" (such models, in fact, have no finish).

— Stainless steel (brushed). Similar to matte chrome, such steel is more resistant to dirt than glossy (see above), otherwise it is completely identical to it.

— Brass. Brass coating is most often combined with a body made of the same material (that is, there is actually no special finish in such a tap). One of the advantages of such a surface is a pleasant golden hue, which is especially suitable for retro-style taps. At the same time, the cost of such products for a number of reasons turns out to be quite high, besides, they are prone to the appearance of hard-to-remove prints. Therefore, they are quite rare.

— Nickel. In terms of characteristics, nickel finish is similar to chrome and is used for the same purposes, however, for a number of reasons, it is much less common than chrome.

— Copper. Finish of characteristic reddish color. Copper can give an “old” look even to a modern product, and for retro-style taps, it can be simply irreplaceable. On the other hand, this material is expensive, in part because it is difficult for copper to provide sufficient corrosion resistance.

— Bronze. Bronze is an alloy based on the copper described above and is used similarly — mainly to provide an authentic look to retro-style taps. The main difference between the two materials is the color — the bronze is somewhat darker, and the red colour is not as pronounced in it (although specific shades in different models can also be different). In addition, this material is easier to make resistant to corrosion, so bronze products are much more common than copper ones.

— Gold. Yellow alloy finish to imitate the look of gold. It is used to give the tap a rich appearance, while at the same time it is expensive in itself, as a result of which it is used mainly in premium models — in order to emphasize the level of the product even brighter. On the practical side, like any material of this level, it is characterized by high resistance to oxidation, but resistance to pollution and ease of cleaning can be different (although in most cases these indicators are also on top).

— Brushed. A brushed finish that is applied specifically to give the product a certain color — most often black or white, but other options are also found. Accordingly, the main advantage of this option is a non-standard appearance: with paint, you can achieve colors that are not available with other types of finish. At the same time, any paint perfectly resists corrosion, and the differences between different models of taps with such a finish are mainly in durability and scratch resistance. These characteristics, usually, directly depend on the price category of the product.

The height of the tap, measured from its base or lowest point to the highest point of the spout. The height of the spout partly determines the installation possibilities — in fact, this is the minimum vertical free space that is required for the tap. In addition, in models with horizontal installation (see "Type of installation"), the spout height is related to the jet height (see below).