In an effort to increase comfort during the adoption of daily water procedures and at the same time save valuable time, many consumers choose plumbing innovations to equip their bathrooms.
One of them is a double sink in the bathroom. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a plumbing fixture and whether it is worth installing it at home, we will consider in more detail.
What are double sinks for?
A “twin” sink is a type of familiar washbasin in which two tanks are combined on one bed. The design of such a plumbing tandem is one, and there are many options for its execution.
In addition to the ability to give original notes to the interior of the bathroom, the “twin” plumbing fixture also performs a number of practical functions.
“Paired” appliances are chosen for the arrangement of bathrooms in houses where a large number of households live and the area of bathrooms is not limited to two or three square meters
These include the following functions:
- It provides convenience to households, allowing you to keep a calm morning atmosphere in the walls of the house. At peak hours, when everyone is going to work and study, and therefore every minute counts, a double sink acts as a real salvation.
- Allows you to maintain the hygiene of all members of a large family. The fewer people use one plumbing fixture, the lower the likelihood of cross-contact of microbes in the household, and, consequently, the transfer of diseases to each other. In families with small children, it is convenient to allocate one sink for water procedures for babies, and leave the second for adults.
- It makes it possible to organize personal space, which is extremely important for maintaining a comfortable psychological state of any person. Having at your disposal your own sink, you can equip your personal zone according to your preference: place a shelf for cosmetics and small items, install a soap dish with your favorite soap ...
A double sink helps to increase the throughput of the bathroom, which is so important in the morning, when all family members try to quickly take water procedures.
Although the cost of ergonomic plumbing fixtures is much higher than usual, the cash costs more than compensate for the conveniences created for households
The only drawback of the double plumbing fixture is its large dimensions. So, becoming the owner of a small bathroom, you can not even dream of such a cumbersome plumbing fixture. After all, the bulky design will occupy at least half the space of the bathroom.
It takes a little longer to clean the two bowls. But for a good housewife who has quality detergents at her disposal, such work will not cause special difficulties.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Overhead Double Sink
Plumbing with a larger bowl
Model with two separate drains
Wall-mounted washbasin
Installation with hanging furniture
Universal plumbing fixture
Two holes for faucets
Two double basin taps
Sanitary Ware Options
Thanks to a wide variety of style and design solutions, you can choose a double sink for a specific interior.
Properly selected plumbing fixture will favorably complement the style of the bathroom, making it more presentable and functional.
There are a lot of options for the execution of the double sinks on the market. They can be two independent bowls, each of which is equipped with its own mixer. Or it can be devices in the form of long pallets designed for two users, but with one mixer.
What is the advantage of such devices? Yes, in principle, nothing - this is just an interesting design decision.
A popular option is a double sink, in which instead of two separate bowls one long pan is placed, and two taps are connected to it and a common drain is connected
Double sinks for the bathroom are classified according to several criteria:
- Product form. They are round and oval, rectangular and square.
- The material of manufacture. In addition to traditional ceramic products, metal, acrylic, marble and even glass double sinks are on sale.
- Type of instalation. Like traditional single models, double sinks can be fixed to the wall, mounted on a pedestal, or even be built-in structures.
If you focus on cost, then the average price segment is occupied by ceramic products. Faience and porcelain withstand small shocks and temperature fluctuations. Want to see more durable material in your bathroom? Choose your porcelain stoneware bowls.
In the same price category, they are tempered glass sinks. Transparent and colored, matte and grooved - the choice is limited only by the taste preferences of the buyer.
Trendy sinks made of impact-resistant glass are interesting in that they allow you to give the interior of the bathroom, decorated in a modern style, special airiness and lightness
For many in the acquisition of glass products, the limiting factor is the vulnerability of glass to shocks. But the technologies used today have reached such a level that it is not worth worrying about the strength of glass bowls.
Natural stone products are the privilege of wealthy people.
Regardless of the design, bowls of marble, granite or travertine can fit into any interior style, giving the room a touch of sophistication and respectability
As a worthy alternative to a noble natural stone, an artificial one can act. It is a composition that is 80% stone chips, and the remaining 20% is dyes and a bonding polymer. The operational parameters of the composite material are not inferior to natural stone. And at the cost of plumbing fixtures come out at times cheaper.
Proponents of practical solutions should consider installing a double sink with a curbstone. Outwardly, the sink only wins from the addition with the cabinet, because in combination with it it looks very harmonious.
It is convenient to store cosmetic preparations, bath accessories and various equipment necessary for servicing the bathroom in the cabinet located under the countertop
The sink cabinet in such models performs a double task: it hides the laid communications and serves as a place to store things that may be needed when performing hygiene procedures.
Competent selection criteria
When deciding for yourself whether to purchase a “paired” plumbing fixture, focus primarily on the spatial capabilities of the bathroom.
But also take into account:
- schedule of the morning rise of households;
- traditions of family meal together;
- "Fad" and the special preferences of your family members.
After all, some people are so intolerant of invading their personal space that they are not ready to go to make room and share the sink, even with relatives.
Most leading manufacturers in the collections have both compact sinks and large-sized models, which allows the buyer to choose a product with optimal dimensions
The standard models of the double sinks available for sale often have compact dimensions. In the process of operating plumbing fixtures, simultaneously washing two people in them is not always convenient.
For this reason, experts recommend giving preference to designs consisting of two separate bowls. They can be installed on a common countertop or mounted in a single cabinet.
We also recommend that you read the article on how to install a sink built into the countertop. More details - follow the link.
Choosing two independent bowls, you can always move them to a convenient distance; and the cost of such structures will be somewhat cheaper than purchasing a two-in-one washbasin
Twin oblong bowl models with a common mixer are more suitable for apartment bathrooms. In private homes, in most cases, choose a solution with two separate mixers.
Rules for installing a double sink
The key rule when installing a “twin” sink is to maintain symmetry. To achieve this, while maintaining the attractiveness of a double sink, it is necessary to purchase the same sets of mixers and siphons.
Selecting plumbing “trifles” from one collection or in a similar version, you can harmoniously fit the “twin” sink into the overall design concept of an already equipped bathroom.
So that two people while using the sinks feel as comfortable as possible, the distance between the centers of the bowls should be at least 90 cm
Installation and connection is not much different from the installation technology of a single model. The only requirement is that, due to the heaviness of the structure, it is better to mix it on a support, the role of which can be performed by a cabinet or a metal frame. A wall mounting method for mounting double sinks is also possible, but for heavy structures it is less reliable.
Selection of required materials
When choosing a mixer for connection, they are guided by the following parameters:
- height and type of spout;
- the diameter of the hole in the side of the bowl;
- type of shut-off valve (single lever or double valve).
Preference should be given to brass products. They are relatively inexpensive in cost, but at the same time demonstrate high performance.
Decorative processing of brass mixers can be any: matte "satin" or polished chrome, or as a noble bronze or enamel
Ceramic and stone sinks combine brass faucets with a natural or synthetic coating that mimics a natural material.
The key value should be given to the choice of siphon model. Budget models are made of polypropylene, mid-range products are made of brass, and the most expensive are made of copper and bronze.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Double sink with two drains
Double sink with single drain
Double single siphon drain
Using two siphons in a connection
The most common are bottle-type siphon devices; they are connected to the drains of both sinks, and a little lower in the course of the movement of the drains are combined into a common flask. Double siphons come in two versions: bottle and pipe.
Siphons of pipe execution instead of a bulb have a bend of "U" or "S" -shaped form. Water accumulates in the cavity of this bend.
More information about the types of siphons for washbasins and the criteria for their selection can be found in this material.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Curved pipe siphon
Formation of a hydraulic lock by a bend of a pipe
Separate siphons for two drains
Connection of two drains to one siphon
To carry out the work you will need:
- electric drill;
- building level;
- tubular and open-end wrenches;
- set of drills;
- FUM tape;
- silicone sealant.
Plumbing connections and mounting kit with o-rings are usually included with the mixer. But since not all manufacturers apply high-quality steel liners and reliable gaskets, it is additionally worth buying a thicker rubber o-ring and two plumbing liners 86 cm long.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Two separate bowls in one countertop
Installation of communications at the stage of rough finishing
Parallel sewer option
A parallel solution in connecting to the sewer
Features of siphon installation
The siphon used to connect the double sink has an outlet to two drain pipes. Two separately installed water shutter flasks are interconnected using a special tee. This tee is connected with a flexible corrugation or a rigid pipe to the sewage system.
The siphon, equipped with two separate flasks, makes it possible to connect both two independent sinks and a “twin” bowl without altering the supply of the sewer system
If desired, two separate siphons can be installed. Such a solution is advantageous in that siphons independent of each other are less clogged in operation. But keep in mind that such a system will require a lot of space.
The installation of a double siphon is performed in the following sequence:
- They press the screw located at the base of each drain, screwing a mesh to it.
- Pipes are attached to the drain holes of the cups using nuts.
- Connect both pipes in the place where the sump is located.
- The outlet pipe is connected to the sewage system.
The connection is carried out by means of special screws, and is sealed by installing a conical plastic gasket. To improve sealing, the joint should be treated with a silicone non-acidic sealant.
Subtleties of connecting the mixer
The mixer is buried in a hole specially made in the rim of the bowl, and fixed from the back by means of a clamping nut and gasket.
The ends of the flexible hoses are pushed into the mounting shell of the sink, with which the mixer pipes are attached to the outlets of hot and cold water
Before tightening the flexible hoses, from the bottom of the sink, put on a second pair of rubber pressure washers on the liners. When assembled, the design should look so that two rubber seals protect the body from the bottom and top of the sink.
Detailed instructions for installing the mixer on the sink can be found here.
Bowl mounting technology
To install the sink, you must first mark the places of future fixtures. Determining the height of the washbasin, they are oriented so that its upper edge is at a distance of 80-85 cm from the floor level. To make the installed device look more harmonious, when determining the upper level of the sink, it is worth considering the location of the tile seam.
Holes are made in the wall for the installation of expansion dowels, into which they subsequently screw plumbing self-tapping screws. The bowl is put on the screws protruding from the wall and mounted on a pedestal.
Installation of the overhead version of the double sink is as follows:
Image Gallery
Photo from
Features of installing a washbasin
Finishing the room before installing plumbing
Installing worktop frame elements
Complete assembly of sink countertops
Installing artificial stone countertops
The location of the sink on the countertop
Installation of faucets on a double sink
Checking the tightness of the connection of devices
Installation of built-in sinks requires special skill. This is especially true if the countertop is made of artificial or natural stone. This work is best left to professionals.
In an effort to save some owners build a tabletop from moisture-proof drywall. It is convenient to work with this material. An insert in a drywall countertop can be performed even by a novice master.
When mounting the wall model, additional fastening of the structure will be required; for this purpose, install a frame frame or mount a support-tulip
After installing the bowl, it remains only to check the connection. To do this, open the tap and let water. If the eyeliners bend smoothly, acquiring a “U” -shaped shape, and there are no leaks, then you have coped with the task.
If leaks are found in the assembled structure, it will have to be disassembled, defects removed and reassembled.
You can protect the surface from water and give it a more aesthetic appearance with glass, stone, polymer or ceramic mosaics
Double sink video installation guide:
The double sink is considered to be an excellent solution for large families with spacious bathrooms. The main thing before buying is to carefully weigh your material capabilities and the availability of free space in the bathroom.
You just can’t choose a double bathroom sink or have you been using such plumbing for a long time and can you tell our readers about its advantages and disadvantages? Please leave comments in the block under the article, ask questions, share experiences with other visitors to our site.