Taps and faucets: buying guide
For a kitchen sink or basin the main choice is a single-lever mixer or a simple pillar or wall tap, and it must match your existing tap hole or wall point. Every tap or mixer installed in Singapore must have at least 2 WELS ticks, and replacing one does not need a licensed plumber.
Typical unit prices in Singapore
| Band | Typical (SGD) |
|---|---|
| Basic pillar or wall tapEstimate; little published retail data. Labour to fit your own tap is typically $50–70. | $20–$80 |
| Basin or kitchen mixerEstimate for single-lever mixers from common brands. | $80–$300 |
| Pull-out, sensor or designer tapEstimate; wide range. Premium brands and special finishes can cost more. | $300–$800 |
Retail price bands seen in Singapore stores and online. Installation is priced separately.
What to look for
Match the mounting
Look at how the old tap is fixed before you shop. A deck-mounted tap sits on the sink or basin through a tap hole, while a wall tap comes out of the wall above it. Switching from one to the other means moving pipes and often retiling, so most people stay with what they have.
Mixer or single-temperature tap
A mixer blends hot and cold water and only makes sense where there is a hot water supply. Some kitchen sinks and basins only have a cold pipe, so look under the sink for one or two supply valves before buying a mixer.
WELS ticks
Since 1 April 2019, PUB has required taps and mixers supplied and installed in Singapore to be rated at least 2 ticks under the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS). The label is on the box. More ticks means a lower flow rate, so expect a gentler stream from a 3-tick tap.
Kitchen tap features
A tall or swivel spout makes it easier to fill pots and clean a deep sink. Pull-out spray heads help with rinsing but have a hose and weight under the sink that need space. Check the spout reaches the middle of the bowl and clears any window, shelf or cabinet behind it.
Build and spare parts
Most lever taps use a ceramic disc cartridge that turns a quarter or half turn and lasts longer than the old rubber-washer type. Ask whether replacement cartridges are available locally for the model. Very light taps are often thin alloy and may not last as long as solid brass or stainless steel.
Who can fit it
Replacing a tap or mixer is on PUB's list of work that does not need a licensed plumber, so a plumber or handyman can do it. Flexible hoses are cheap and worth replacing at the same time, especially if the old ones are rusty or bulging.
Types
Pillar tap
Single-temperature tap that mounts on a basin or sink through a tap hole. Simple and low cost.
Wall tap (bib tap)
Tap that comes out of the wall, used over kitchen sinks, in service yards and for washing machines.
Basin mixer
Single-lever tap that blends hot and cold water at a wash basin. Needs both supplies.
Kitchen sink mixer
Single-lever deck tap with a tall or swivel spout for sinks with hot and cold supply.
Pull-out kitchen tap
Kitchen tap with a spray head on a hose that pulls out for rinsing.
Sensor tap
Touch-free tap that runs when it detects a hand. Needs batteries or a power supply.
Checks for HDB, condo and landed homes
HDB
- Check whether the kitchen sink has a hot water pipe before buying a mixer.
- Note whether the old tap is on the sink or on the wall, and keep the same type to avoid hacking tiles.
- Look for at least 2 WELS ticks on the box.
- Check the angle valve under the sink turns off fully. A seized valve is usually changed at the same time.
Condo
- Photograph the old tap and the pipes underneath before shopping, especially for built-in vanity basins.
- Check the spout height clears any cabinet, mirror or window behind the sink.
- For a pull-out tap, make sure there is room under the sink for the hose and its weight.
- Look for at least 2 WELS ticks on the box.
Landed
- Garden and car porch taps face sun and rain, so choose solid brass or stainless steel for outdoor points.
- Check hot water reaches each sink you plan to fit with a mixer. Long runs from a central heater take longer to run warm.
- If one floor has weaker flow than another, check the supply before choosing a low-flow tap.
Brands commonly sold in Singapore
- Grohe · German brand of basin and kitchen mixers and shower systems; sold through bathroom showrooms and retailers.
- Hansgrohe · German brand of mixers, kitchen taps and showers; sold through bathroom showrooms.
- TOTO · Basin mixers and taps alongside its sanitary ware; sold through its showrooms and bathroom retailers.
- American Standard · Basin, kitchen and wall taps across a wide price range; stocked by many one-stop bathroom shops.
- Kohler · Basin and kitchen mixers; sold through its Singapore distributor and bathroom dealers.
- Rubine · Kitchen and basin taps alongside sinks and hoods; sold through showrooms and online.
Listed for reference only. Not an endorsement, and not a list of stock.
Installation and repair
Frequently asked questions
What does a 2-tick WELS rating mean for taps?
WELS ticks show how much water a tap uses at full flow. More ticks means less water. Since 1 April 2019, taps and mixers supplied and installed in Singapore must be at least 2-tick, so a 0 or 1-tick tap bought overseas does not meet the rule.
Can I replace a tap myself?
PUB does not require a licensed plumber for tap replacement. If you can shut the angle valve, remove the old tap and seal the new one properly, it is a manageable job. Get help if the valve is seized, the pipe is corroded or the tap is set into a tiled wall.
Why is my new tap's flow weaker than the old one?
Higher-tick taps are built to use less water. A blocked aerator or a partly closed angle valve can also cut the flow, so unscrew and rinse the aerator first.
Can I fit a mixer to a sink that only has cold water?
It will only run cold. To get hot water at the sink, a hot water pipe has to be run from the water heater, which is extra pipework.
Get a supply-and-install quote
Tell us your home type and what you are replacing. Send a photo of the current unit and its label if you can.
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