The tub filler is the faucet that fills your bathtub — and it’s often the most dramatic fixture decision in a bathroom renovation. Getting it wrong in terms of scale, style, or plumbing configuration can cause real problems. Here’s what you need to know.
Deck-mounted tub fillers sit on the rim of the tub and connect to supply lines below the deck. They’re the most common configuration for alcove and drop-in tubs. Freestanding tub fillers stand independently from the floor, making them the natural choice for a freestanding soaker tub. Wall-mounted tub fillers come out of the wall above the tub — a clean look that requires in-wall plumbing supply lines.
A tub filler with a low flow rate will take forever to fill a large soaker tub. Look for fillers with a higher flow rate — around 10 to 15 litres per minute — for freestanding tubs, which tend to have higher water volume. Your hot water heater capacity is also a factor; a large soaker tub can drain a tank heater.
Your tub filler should be in the same finish family as your other bathroom fixtures, but it doesn’t need to be from the same collection. The proportions matter as much as the finish — a small deck filler on a large freestanding tub looks awkward. A dramatic floor-mount filler on a modest alcove tub looks equally out of place.
We carry tub fillers from Riobel, Kalia, Baril, and other quality brands in a range of styles and finishes. Come into our showroom to see what’s available and get advice on the right configuration for your tub.
Visit Vanity Mart at 1-90 Frobisher Drive, Waterloo. Call 519-886-3240 or email office@vanitymart.com for help choosing your tub filler.
