Comparison Grohe Costa L 2679010A vs Grohe Costa 26792001

— Straight. Spout that have straight or almost straight shape and directed almost horizontally (other arrangements are highlighted in a separate paragraph — see “At right angle”). Generally, such a spout combines simplicity, practicality, and versatility. In particular, it can be of any length, and can also be rotary (see “Spout”), while being inexpensive to manufacture. Nowadays, straight spouts are extremely popular, and in almost all types of taps (see “Suitable for”). The exception is perhaps the kitchen application: this form is inconvenient for washing dishes by itself and leaves less space for dishes in the sink than other shapes (for example, angled or gooseneck spouts).

— Gooseneck. Taps with a spout in the shape of an arc, usually semicircular and rather steep. This design is most popular in kitchen taps, as it provides the necessary space for washing large dishes. Many models with such a spout are designed for washbasins — they also use a vertical installation, for which the arc is very convenient. And gooseneck bath taps are most often original premium models installed directly on the side of the bath (also horizontally).

— L-shaped. Spout in the shape of the letter “L” — with a vertical base and a horizontal “crossbar” extending from it. Thanks to this shape, the spout can be positioned at a sufficiently high height, which is especially conveni...ent when used in the kitchen or with a washbasin. Most of the L-shaped models refer to these specialization options (see “Suitable for”). According to the type of the tap (see the corresponding list), they are usually single-lever, while the joystick is located on the side; however, there are other options — both in the location of the joystick, and in the type of control.

— U-shaped. Spouts of this category resemble L-shaped models (see the relevant paragraph), in which the end of the spout is noticeably bent downwards. This gives them an original shape, as well as some resemblance to gooseneck models. U-shaped spouts are typically taller and are intended for use in kitchens or washbasins. At the same time, they are not as popular as the mentioned L-shaped ones, and even more so the gooseneck ones. In particular, because of the higher cost with no obvious practical advantages (although this form may well be optimal in terms of design).

— S-shaped. A variant that is predominantly found in bath models (including bath and washbasin solutions) as well as in some kitchen taps. The spout in this arrangement has the shape of the letter “S”, laid “on its side”. This design is well suited for wall-mounted models, where the spout outlet must be placed noticeably below the tap itself.

— At right angle. A straight spout located at a right angle relative to the tap body — directed from the base of the body up or down. This shape is especially suitable for washbasins and kitchens, and it is mainly found in taps of those specializations (see “Suitable for”). Most models with a similar spout have a fairly modern appearance, thanks to that they fit well into modern, high-tech interiors, etc.

— Curved at an angle. A spout that leans upward from the base of the tap and curves slightly downward at the end. The shape is in many ways reminiscent of the “at right angle” option, but it has its own characteristics. Firstly, such a spout can be made somewhat longer, which is convenient for kitchen use: the outlet is at a sufficiently high height and there is enough space under it to wash even large dishes without any problems. Most of the models in this category are just made for the kitchen. Secondly, for some users, this form is preferable from an aesthetic point of view (although, of course, this is a matter of personal taste). These spouts look more “cheap” compared to the products of the “at right angle” form factor and are extremely rare among top plumbing brands.

— Vertical jet. This type of spout is found among bidet taps. It involves vertical spraying of a water jet for taking a hygienic shower after visiting the toilet. The mortise vertical spray module is installed separately from the tap. Usually, the design also assumes a water return valve.

— Connected to overflow. Taps with a spout in the form of a flexible hose that connects to the overflow of the bathtub, and the water is poured through it. Thanks to such taps, minimalism is ensured in the appearance of the bathtub, which is caused by the absence of a classic spout. In addition, there is no need to make extra holes in the side of the bathtub to install the tap.

The length of the spout characterizes the distance from the body to the place where the water is flown out, i.e. the actual length of the conditional "nose" of the tap.

The maximum water flow during the operation of the tap, in other words, the maximum amount of water that it can pass through in a minute. This characteristic is important, foremost, for models designed for baths (see "Suitable for"): the greater the throughput, the faster the bath will fill. However, the meaning of this paragraph is not limited to this. First, flow information can be useful in certain calculations related to water supply — for example, to calculate the required pump capacity. Secondly, high-end taps can be equipped with aerators to achieve a powerful and efficient jet with low water consumption; the consumption indicated in the characteristics allows you to evaluate the efficiency of such devices in comparison with analogues.

The lowest inlet pressure at which the tap is able to fully perform its functions of unhindered water supply.

The highest inlet pressure at which the tap is able to operate in a trouble-free mode with minimal risk of premature failure. In other words, this is the ultimate strength of the tap. Note that for normal east european use, it can be assumed that the maximum pressure in the water supply is 6 bar. One should focus on that value and choose a model with a small margin of max pressure in order to avoid leaks in the tap nodes during pressure surges in excess of the norm. Note that in plumbing with a centralized water supply, the pressure can reach 10 bar. Therefore, for expensive taps that make high demands on the inlet pressure, it is necessary to buy special reduction gears.

In most cases, this is not one accessory, but a whole set that allows you to use the tap for showering. A mandatory element of the shower set is a shower head, in most cases it is supplemented with its own hose. In addition, the design may provide a mount for a watering can — on the wall or directly on the tap's body (for the second option, see below). But the purpose and functionality of the shower set may be different, depending on the specialization of the tap itself (see "Suitable for"). So, in bath and shower models, water can be supplied either through a spout or through a shower set, and an appropriate switch is provided for selection (sometimes automatic, see below). Shower-only taps do not have this switch. In models for washbasins, the shower set is designed for the so-called hygienic shower — washing certain parts of the body (primarily the groin area, etc.); the watering can for such a shower is small in size and is equipped with its own button that turns the water on and off. There are even kitchen taps with this function — the shower performs the same function as the pull-out spout. And the number of modes may not be limited to one. Several hand shower modes allow you to get a shower water jet of your favour — from classic small streams to one continuous stream, with all sorts of variations. The more settings provided, the wider the choice.

Country of origin of the brand under which the tap is marketed. Usually, it is indicated by the "homeland" of the manufacturing company or by the location of its headquarters. The brands under which modern mixers are produced come mainly from the following countries (in alphabetical order): Austria, Belgium, Germany, India, Spain, Italy, China, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Sweden.

There are many stereotypes associated with the “nationality” of brands and products, but most of them have no basis nowadays. First, the actual place of production is often different from the brand's country of origin. Secondly, the quality of the goods depends not so much on geography, but on the policy of a particular company and how carefully this very quality is controlled in it. Therefore, you should pay attention to the country of origin of the brand only if you fundamentally want or (do not want) to support a manufacturer from a certain state. Quality is best judged by the reputation of a particular...brand and the overall price category of the tap.

The warranty period claimed by the manufacturer for a certain tap model is the period during which the manufacturer guarantees the normal operation of the device. The specific terms of the warranty may vary, however, usually, it covers factory defects and malfunctions caused by the fault of the manufacturer or seller and discovered during normal use, without violating the rules; if such defects or malfunctions appear during the warranty period, the manufacturer undertakes the obligation to correct the situation at its own expense — up to replacing the tap with a working one.

Nowadays, you can find taps with a guarantee of 4 years, 5 years, 7 years, 10 years and even 25 years. In general, the longer the warranty period, the more reliable the product is, the higher its overall quality, ceteris paribus, but the more expensive it will cost compared to analogues.