How does a 3 way tap work, and do you need one?

We’re going to hazard a guess here that your kitchen tap is one of the most important and used pieces of kit in your kitchen, and you need it to operate fault free every time you turn it on. We understand! 

Somewhere along the way you may have decided to upgrade and install a 3 way filter tap that connects to your under sink drinking water filter, which we think is the right choice to ensure you have access to fresh filtered water any time of the day or night.

In this article we cover what a 3 way mixer tap is, how they work including how to connect a 3 way mixer tap to a water filter, rounded off with some expert insight into whether this type of tap is worth having and which one would most likely work for you.

What is a 3 way mixer tap?

Envisage this. Two different taps wrapped up into one perfectly formed single spout unit that’s capable of delivering hot, cold, and filtered water. This is what a 3 way mixer tap is.

The most common models will have either two or three levers.

If it’s a two lever model, the hot and cold will be controlled by one lever and the filtered water with the second lever.

If it’s a three lever model, there are separate levers for hot, cold, and filtered water.

When you’re browsing the internet, you’ll come across alternative names for a 3 way mixer tap, such as tri-flow taps, 3 way water filter taps or 3 way filter taps. They are all essentially the same thing!

How does a 3 way tap work?

We take it for granted, don’t we, that you’ll go to your kitchen sink, turn on your 3 way tap and out will flow fresh filtered water. Everything will just happen magically, but how does a 3 way tap work?

Hot, cold, and filtered water are dispensed out of the same spout, but there are two chambers within the spout, so the filtered water is completely separated and never encounters the hot/cold unfiltered water. This feature is often referred to as dual flow.

Do 3 way filter taps need a pump?

The easy answer to this question is sometimes. If you have very low hot water pressure you may need a hot water booster pump. That’s the main reason we supply them.

Some of our 3 way taps operate successfully with only 0.5 bar of pressure, such as the Verona and Monza styles.

Do 3 way mixer taps work with water softeners and RO systems?

Yes, they do. You can enjoy hot and cold water that has been treated by the water softener and then filtered water that goes through a separate drinking water filter system.

There is a lot of chatter about whether it’s safe to drink softened water and we’re going to cover this in a future article so as not to detract from what this blog post is all about – how does a 3 way tap work.

How to connect a 3 way mixer tap to a water filter

We’re going to talk specifically about the high quality Acquapuro 3 way mixer taps here because that’s predominantly what we stock.

Acquapuro taps are supplied with three flexible hoses that attach to the hot, cold, and filtered water feeds. Each flexible hose has a 3/8’’ connection. Two 3/8’ x ½’’ non return valves are also included for connection to your existing hot and cold water feeds. They will screw directly onto a 15mm compression fitting. A 15mm compression fitting is often called a washing machine tee.

All of our 3 way filter taps in stock are compatible with our drinking water filters and water softeners. If you already have an existing water filter system that you didn’t purchase from us, our water filter taps range will also be compatible if the filter has an inlet and outlet connection, which all should have. It would be strange if they didn’t!

You will also benefit from the fast and easy solid fix 3 way mixer tap installation method. This is where a large nut is spun up a threaded shaft and then tightened by two screws. This gives sturdy and strong support over the full circumference of the tap base on even the thinnest of stainless steel sinks.

You will receive a detailed installation guide for your plumber to follow with every 3 way tap. (is it worth putting an installation guide in as an example?)

Compatibility with other drinking water filters

We mentioned earlier on that the 3 way taps we stock are compatible with a whole range of drinking water filters, water softeners and reverse osmosis systems, not just the ones you can buy from Fountain Filters. They can replace any kitchen tap that has three separate connections or connected to a water filter system that’s hooked up to the mains cold water supply.

Brita mixer taps are just one example of compatibility with the versatility of Acquapuro taps.

With the help of our trusted supplier, we can help you replace your Brita product with an Acquapuro 3 way mixer tap.

Is it worth having a 3 way tap?

Ah, the million dollar question and here’s our pennies worth.

A 3 way tap is worth having if you’re invested in your health and well-being and want clean, fresh filtered water without the need to install a second tap on your kitchen sink.

Installing a 3 way mixer tap is the best thing you can treat yourself to if you want to cut down on plastic waste and stop buying bottles of water.

And, if you’ve visualised having a 3 way tap after scrolling through hundreds of kitchen design ideas then it’s 100% worth having.  

How many times have you thought about buying something, changed your mind, bought something similar but not quite the same, and then regretted it? We’ve all been there.

What we don’t want you to do, is look at your kitchen tap every day and wish that you’d bought a tap from our water filter taps range.

We associate words such as functional, efficient, space-saving, hard wearing, and durable with 3 way mixer taps.

Having a drinking water filter and 3 way tap is such a popular option in busy households throughout the world.

3 way taps come in at a higher price range than a single flow drinking water filter tap, but here are some of the top benefits we think you’ll enjoy.

• Access to filtered water whenever you want it. You can cook with it, drink it, fill your kettle with it, and top up your reuseable water bottles before you venture out. Having a 3 way tap is so convenient.
• One tap instead of two - there’s no need to install a separate tap to enjoy your filtered water, so there’s less space taken up at your kitchen sink.
• You’ll save money in the long run. Having access to your own filtered water will save you having to buy bottles of water, often in single use plastic, when you’re out and about. Just think how environmentally friendly you’ll be.

Which 3 way tap is good for you?

With so many options out there when it comes to 3 way taps, we think the most important things you should be considering are your existing or planned kitchen layout, the atmosphere you want to create, the functionality you want the tap to have, and access to some good quality and realistic expert advice.  

It’s also worth thinking about your water pressure, as some taps work better with high-pressure systems. A high pressure system is when you only have hot water storage. A low pressure system would be gravity-fed, and you’ll have cold water storage in the loft and a hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard.

The type and style of your 3 way kitchen mixer tap needs to work with the type of kitchen sink you have and the available space you have on and around the sink.

What type of kitchen tap are you upgrading from? Do you currently have one, two or no tap holes. 

Our 3 way taps only need one hole for installation.

Do you have kitchen cupboards or shelving above the kitchen sink? If you do, then the height of your new kitchen tap is a key factor. You don’t want the top of the spout touching anything as that just wouldn’t look good and you wouldn’t be able to swivel the spout so functionality would be severely impaired.

It’s important to look at the dimensions diagrams on each of our 3 way taps as this will guide your choice.

And then there is the style and finish of the tap to consider. It should reflect the atmosphere you want to create in your kitchen so that it harmonises with the rest of your kitchen décor.  

Types and styles of 3 way taps

We all like what we like when it comes to home décor. Once you’ve got your desired 3 way tap functionality nailed it’s onto the next exciting part. What style of 3 way tap do you prefer? And what finish? Chrome or brushed steel, a white or black spout?

At Fountain Filters we stick to the classic styles because of their longevity of popularity. Some things just never go out of fashion. Acquapuro 3 way taps are like the little black dress of the kitchen tap world!

We’ve categorised our 3 way taps range into five style categories.

Contemporary

It’s all about the base with this 3 way tap. The contemporary SQ range is available with different spout options for the brushed steel finish and seven for the chrome finish. 

The Milano SQ is a beautiful example of a contemporary brushed steel 3 way tap. 

And then we have the Verona SQ which is one of our most highly sophisticated chrome finish 3 way taps.

No wonder our Acquapuro SQ range is so sought after. 

Professional

Both the Aquila and Milano styles are professional style 3 way mixer taps, available in chrome and brushed steel finishes.

The less industrial looking of the two is the popular Aquila range. This 3 way tap features a tightly wound spring which is both practical and stylish. The underside of the two-way spray holder neatly hides the filtered water outlet.   

The Aquila 2 lever brushed steel 3 way tap is a popular choice when you're after a more serious working kitchen vibe. It's also available in chrome. 

Slightly more industrial and bold looking is the highly sought after Milano range with its professional and detachable spring spout. At the simple press of a button, you can deliver a shower spray to all four corners of your kitchen sink. The Milano is the only one of the range which doesn’t have a separate outlet for the filtered water. Hot, cold, and filtered water come out through the same spray head.

This is the one tap in the Acquapuro range where we suggest allowing the filtered or unsoftened water to run for a few seconds before drinking it.

Minimalist

We love the minimalist design of the Sorrento 3 way taps range. With its single curve, flat topped spout it’s sure to take pride of place at your kitchen sink. Water flows from a single aerator, with the filtered water being dispensed through a central opening in the aerator, and the hot and cold flowing from around the outside of the central opening.

The Sorrento is modern, neat and one of our all-time best selling chrome finish 3 way taps.

Timeless

A timeless classic. The Verona 3 way tap is incredibly popular, and we can see why. Households around the world love the curved swan neck spout. That’s why this style will always stand the test of time.

Filtered water remains separate from the untreated hot and cold water, all the way from the connections to the spout.

Modern

We call this the modern Monza classic. The Monza 3 way tap has a beautiful angular design and as with the Verona, filtered water remains separate from the untreated hot and cold water.

A beautiful 3 way tap that will benefit any modern kitchen.

Need help – we are here!

In this article we’ve explained what a 3 way mixer tap is and described how a 3 way tap works. If you are unsure about any aspect of which model of tap is right for you, we are only one phone call or message away.

• Call 01352 838 281
• Message us

It’s much better to call with lots of questions rather than guess. That’s why we are here for, at Fountain Filters we are water filtration experts we’d rather you reach out and ask as many questions as you want. We are here to help!