Should these taps go up or down to turn on?

[wuntootreefore]

We're having a new bathroom installed, and having a mild disagreement with the builder over which direction the basin mixer tap levers should go to turn on. We instinctively think they should go UP, as in our old house they went up, but the builder says DOWN.

Is there a 'correct' way?

How can you choose? Any tap I’ve ever come across has the direction of operation built in ( and it’s always up for on, so it can be closed properly).

I would say up, if they were down you may accidentally hit it and turn the tap on.

The taps can start off in two different positions apparently!

So you agree with us, UP for on?

I think the builder is right. I would expect down as that opens the pipe. I would think up is to close eg turn it off

I'd chose down to turn on. If your hands were dirty and you needed to turn the tap on with your elbow it's easier to push down than pull it up. I'd say its personal preference though.

That's true re dirty hands, thank you. It just felt really strange turning down to turn on when he just did it, as we'd been so used to the other way.

Any other opinions at all please?

We have got lever taps a bit like those, up is off and down to turn them on.

I think the starting position is a bit odd. I would expect them to start in the upright and then you push down to turn on.

If you're bending over the sink full of water, you don't want to accidentally bump against the protruding handle - so I'd say they need to be up and out of the way when they're off.

Down for on.

Do people mean it should be like this (attached - ignore lever colour) when off?

Do you have a pic from the website showing the tap in situ?

Yes, that is exactly how I would expect it to be. Up to turn off and down to turn on.

It's a lot easy to turn a tap on with the elbow or side of wrist by pushing down than it is to push it up. Very useful when you have dirty hands.

I have had levers in a few houses, and all were down to turn on.

I’ve never seen taps like this before. They look more ‘normal’ down so I’d want that for off, then have them lifted up when on. More from a visual perspective than a practical one.

Visually, I don't like them pointing up for off. So the starting position will be horizontal. The question is whether to flip up for on, or down for on.

The website (it's a crosswater tap) doesn't explain what's the 'correct' way to have the levers.

I have these tapas and it was up to turn them on. Recently had valve replaced inside and plumber changed them.round so we changed them back!

@Itsbackagain do you have them horizontal as off, and up to turn on then? That's what I'd intuitively say too but the builder was adamant!