What’s the difference between a lever head tap and a crosshead tap?

Hey! When it comes to pillar taps, what’s the difference between a lever head tap and a crosshead tap? What situations would they both suit and what are their pros and cons exactly?

Asked by Sharon on 11th May 2022
Expert Trade Answers
"A cross-head tap is likely to be associated with a screw-down tap mechanism (i.e. a rubber washer type mechanism that requires several rotations to either start or stops the flow of water). The lever tap head is usually indicative of a quarter-turn ceramic cartridge mechanism. I would say the most obvious situational advantage of the level head tap is for those with arthritic conditions or similar disabilities and within hospital settings where extended levers can be operated by elbows, which has obvious infection control benefits. The screw-down taps with rubber washers are absolutely fine in my opinion but can be damaged by those individuals who seem to think that they need to apply massive degrees of torque to stop the flow of water. Some of the replacement cartridges for lever taps can also be very expensive."
Answered on 6th Jun 2022 - Member since May 2022 - report
"The lever taps only turn a 1/4 so there is no need to keep turning like cross heads
Also a lot easy to turn on and off than traditional cross head taps"
Answered on 24th May 2022 - Member since May 2022 - report
"Hi, the lever ones are usually used for the elderly or I find in care homes as they only turn 3/4 so there easy if you have arthritis.
The crosshead ones, once they start getting stiff and old are sometimes hard to fully turn off or back on, but you can also totally unwind them !!"
Answered on 11th May 2022 - Member since Sep 2021 - report
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