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From Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia In plumbing, a
sink or basin is a bowl-shaped fixture that is used for
washing hands or small objects. In American plumbing parlance, a bathroom
sink is known as a lavatory.
Sinks generally have taps (faucets) that
supply hot and cold water and may include a spray feature to be used for
faster rinsing. They also include a drain to remove used water; this drain
may itself include a strainer and/or shut-off device and an
overflow-prevention device. Sinks may also have an integrated soap
dispenser.
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When a sink becomes stopped-up or clogged, a
person will often resort to use a chemical drain cleaner or a plunger,
though most professional plumbers will attack the clog with a drain auger
(often called a "plumber's snake").
Stainless steel is commonly used in kitchens and commercial applications
because it represents a good trade-off between cost, usability, durability,
and ease of cleaning. Most stainless steel sinks are made by drawing a sheet
of stainless steel over a die. Some very deep sinks are fabricated by
welding. Stainless steel sinks will not be damaged by hot or cold objects
and resist damage from impacts. One disadvantage of stainless steel is that,
being made of thin metal, they tend to be noisier than most other sink
materials, although better sinks apply a heavy coating of vibration-damping
material to the underside of the sink.
Enamel over cast iron is a popular material
for kitchen and bathroom sinks. Heavy and durable, these sinks can also be
manufactured in a very wide range of shapes and colors. Like stainless
steel, they are very resistant to hot or cold objects, but they can be
damaged by sharp impacts and once the glass surface is breached, the
underlying cast iron will often corrode, spalling off more of the glass.
Aggressive cleaning will dull the surface, leading to more dirt
accumulation. Enamel over steel is a similar-appearing but far less rugged
and less cost-effective alternative.
Solid ceramic sinks have many of the same
characteristics as enamel over cast iron, but without the risk of surface
damage leading to corrosion.
Plastic sinks come in several basic forms:
- Inexpensive sinks are simply
injection-molded thermoplastics. These are often deep, free-standing sinks
used in laundry rooms. Subject to damage by hot or sharp objects, the
principal virtue of these sinks is their low cost.
- High-end acrylic drop-in (lowered into
the countertop) and undermount (attached from the bottom) sinks are
becoming more popular, although they tend to be easily damaged by hard
objects - like scouring a cast iron frying pan in the sink.
- Plastic sinks may also be made from the
same materials used to form "solid surface" countertops. These sinks are
durable, attractive, and can often be molded with an integrated countertop
or joined to a separate countertop in a seamless fashion, leading to no
sink-to-countertop joint or a very smooth sink-to-countertop joint that
can not trap dirt or germs. These sinks are subject to damage by hot
objects but damaged areas can sometimes be sanded-down to expose undamaged
material.
Soapstone sinks were once common, but today
tend to be used only in very-high-end applications or applications that must
resist caustic chemicals that would damage more-conventional sinks.
Wood sinks are from the early days of sinks
and baths were made from natural teak with no additional finishing. Teak is
chosen because of its natural waterproofing properties – it has been used
for hundreds of years in the marine industry for this reason. Teak also has
natural antiseptic properties, which is a bonus for its use in baths and
sinks.
Glass sinks: A current trend in bathroom
design is the handmade glass sink (often referred to as a vessel sink) which
has become fashionable for wealthy homeowners.
Stone sinks have been used for ages. Some
of the more popular stones used are: marble, travertine, onyx, granite.
Glass, concrete, and terrazzo sinks are
usually designed for their aesthetic appeal and can be obtained in a wide
variety of unusual shapes and colors such as floral shapes. Concrete and
terrazzo are occasionally also used in very-heavy-duty applications such as
janitorial sinks
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