Plumbing systems already existed during ancient times. In fact, around 1700 BC. C., the Minoan Palace of Knossos in Crete presented for the first time a terracotta pipe that provided water for the taps, as well as marble, gold and silver taps. During Roman times, personal baths and lead pipes already existed (1000 BC – AD 476). Rome’s public baths were already outfitted with silver faucets along with fixtures made of gold and marble.
Since then, public systems have changed, including taps. For many decades, faucets had two handles: one for hot water and one for cold water. In 1937, however, this design changed, and this change was started by a college student named Al Moen. One fine day in 1937, he turned the faucet to wash his hands, but burned them because the water was too hot. This gave him the idea of designing a mixer tap.
Between 1940 and 1945, he designed various types of faucets: from a double valve faucet to a cylindrical design, and finally sold his first single-handle mixer faucet in late 1947. In 1959, his design was used in one million homes in the United States. United and sold in about 55 countries around the world. Today, mixer taps are popular and can be found in about 50% of American homes.
In addition to one-handed faucets, Al Moen also came up with other inventions in his life, which included the replaceable cartridge (to remove washers from faucets), push-button shower valve diverter, screen aerator, shower aerator. flow control, pressure balancing shower valves and rotary spray. In addition to Al Moen, Landis Perry was also involved in creating innovative faucet designs. In 1945, he designed his first tap ball valve that aimed to provide mixing control and volume combined with an effective means of sealing the valve elements. This design was patented in 1952 and was first introduced in 1954 by Delta faucets (who purchased the patent beforehand). Four years on, its sales exceeded a million dollars.
About two decades later, Wolvering Brass patented the ceramic water control disc. Unlike rubber-based cartridges, ceramic discs are lapped and polished in such a way that their flatness is only measured on light bands. Ceramic discs tend to last much longer than cartridges as they have high wear resistance and can provide more precise control. These discs are widely used today.
The latest innovations in faucets include built-in cartridges used to reduce the level of lead, cysts and chlorine, built-in removable sprinklers, electronic faucets, and those designed for the disabled. Electronic faucets were introduced in the early 1980s for hygienic and water-conserving purposes, and they come with infrared rays that detect motion. When a person puts his hand under the tap, the infrared beam is interrupted and this interruption causes the water to run. In addition, battery-powered electronic taps have also been distributed. More developments are sure to come and improve the lives of many homeowners.