Ceramic Discs vs Washers

For those of you not so in to taps and their internal workings as us here at ThinkTaps I'll start by explaining in brief the two terms.

Ceramic Discs - Ceramic Disc Taps contain a cartridge within the body of the tap which comprises of two ceramic discs, each with two holes. One of the discs turns when the tap is opened, whilst the other is fixed in place. When the tap is off, the holes in the discs are misaligned. As the tap is turned on, the holes in the discs line up to allow water to pass through. When the tap is fully open, the holes should be perfectly aligned.
Washers -  Nothing too complex and very much as the name suggests, a washer is indeed a washer, but made of rubber.

So which should you be looking for when it is finally time to change your taps?

As with all change, evolution and technological advancement, there will be more than one school of thought on this subject.
There will be those that don't like change, those that for some reason have had a bad experience, perhaps not even related to the taps internal workings, and those that just enjoy flying in the face of the obvious.
But, for the masses, the manufacturers that care about returns and guarantees, the testing houses that drum up comparisons and facts based on figures and tangible evidence, the results are almost resounding, that the evolution of Ceramic Discs in to the tap internals adds years, decades and even longer to the longevity of your taps.

Why is this?

In short, washers are made of rubber and through repetetive movements and repeated friction, grooves and other surface irregularities are formed. Via these surface defections, pressurised water makes its escape and hence the 'dripping tap'.
Ceramic discs on the other hand are exactly that, made of ultra hard components designed to resist wear for decades upon end, and that's exactly what they do!
No surface irregularities, no grooves for pressurised water to escape and no dripping taps!


So what will your choice be?

Well based on the fact that most manufacturers still manufacture both types, albeit those with washers are usually lower priced, we'd have to say that it depends how much you expect to get out of your taps - and we're not talking litres now!
Do you require a budget price tap and a quick fix? If so, any tap will do.
If you're a planner and you want your taps to last and more than that, you've invested in their beautiful aesthetics, then ceramic discs are the way forward.

Ceramic Discs vs Washers - contest? We don't think so!
ThinkTaps