Worst British inventions

[thunderlizard]

one is too cold.

Oi Goldilocks,

That's just not possible. You need to readjust your tap expectations.

[AtW]

You need to readjust your tap expectations.

That's not the path of a warrior.

HTH

[SueEllen]

Oh jeez, 1960's primary school horror

In inner London they still had that in the 1990s and it wasn't just in primary schools.

[SueEllen]

That's not the path of a warrior.

HTH

All bloody Eastern European foreigners complain about British taps.

The reason our taps come in two in lots of houses is because our housing stock tends to be very old.

This means while there was cold running water from the beginning of the 20th Century there wasn't always something that heated up hot water for continuous hot water like a boiler for normal people.

Then when people did put in water heaters and then boilers they simply added it to what they had rather than reinstall everything as it's quicker and easily, especially if you don't want to move out with your family while plumber is busy installing your central heating.

[AtW]

The reason our taps come in two in lots of houses is because our housing stock tends to be very old.

Why is it separate ffs?

[SueEllen]

Why is it separate ffs?

Read the previous post - Old Housing Stock.

Unless you live in something built after 1980 don't expect it to have mixer taps unless the owners decided to put it in when they redid the bathroom and kitchen.

[AtW]

Read the previous post - Old Housing Stock.

I am asking you WHY this crazy invention was made in the first place?

Having a sink to save water is one thing (I don't think there were water rates in this country until fairly recently anyway, so what's to save?), but having one very hot tap and one very cold (or just cold) is totally fooking stupid invention that is completely pointless.

[SueEllen]

I am asking you WHY this crazy invention was made in the first place?

Having a sink to save water is one thing (I don't think there were water rates in this country until fairly recently anyway, so what's to save?), but having one very hot tap and one very cold (or just cold) is totally fooking stupid invention that is completely pointless.

Lots of the housing in the UK is older than 30 years old.

I grew up in 2 Victorian houses. One I know had the first part built in 1832.

Only the rich at the time could afford to have hot and cold water running pipes and the pipes where lead pipes. The normal people were lucky to have cold running water in their house. It was also common for people to have outside toilets only.

Water heaters to allow normal people to have hot running water were added much later, and boilers and central heating even later.

While adding mixer taps isn't a big job:
1. If the boiler doesn't produce enough pressure to ensure a decent water mix you have to have separate taps. This is a problem with old boilers. I've had problems in rented places adding shower attachments to the taps as the water doesn't mix to the right temperature.
2. If the basin, bath and kitchen are designed to only have taps in certain places then you need to replace them as they look odd if they aren't centred.

Therefore if you want mixer taps in your place move to a property that was built in the mid-80s or younger. Or has been modernised since the 1990s.

[d000hg]

Perhaps they figured you might be able to apply a little science to mixing it to the right temperature in the sink? It does have a sink doesn't it? Easy to spot, generally located about a foot underneath the taps, usually white, and as solid as your noggin.

HTH

For once he does have a slight point. Trying to wash your hands under one scalding and one cold tap is rather fraught.

[d000hg]

I am asking you WHY this crazy invention was made in the first place?

A tap was invented before a mixer tap because it is simpler.