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Picking a new faucet for your bathroom can be a ton of work. The last thing you want to do is buy a faucet that you have to replace in two years.
There are way too many different types of bathroom faucets: 4 inch or 8 inch, centerset vs widespread, single hole or three hole, deck mount or wall mount, etc.
Why the heck are there so many different options? NO freaking clue but I can help.
I’ll help you figure out what a 4 inch centerset faucet is and whether it’s the right fit for your bathroom.
What is a 4 Inch Centerset Faucet?
A 4 inch centerset faucet is a type of bathroom faucet designed to combine the spout and handles into a single unit. The handles and the spout itself will be installed onto the same deck plate. 4 inches is the measurement from the middle of one handle to the middle of the other handle.
Centerset faucets can come as one hole, two holes, or three hole faucets. The most common style of drilling is three holes: One for the center spout and one for each faucet handle.
Centerset faucets are one of the most popular bathroom faucet types. The compact design of a centerset faucet makes it great for bathroom sinks in small bathrooms. It’s also great if you’re trying to fit a double vanity in a guest bathroom.
What’s the Difference Between a 4 inch and 8 inch Faucet?
We’ve put together a full guide on 4 inch vs 8 inch faucets. A centerset faucet comes with the handles 4 inches apart if you measure from the middle of one handle to the other.
That same measurement on an 8 inch faucet is obviously… 8 inches.
This is an incredibly important measurement if you’re replacing an existing faucet. 4 inch and 8 inch faucets are not compatible with each other. You’ll also want to make sure you measure your faucet hole sizes as well.
8 inch faucets are also called widespread faucets. If you’re looking on a faucet brand’s website you can probably pick either a centerset or widespread faucet.
Both 4in and 8in faucets use stem faucet cartridges as the internal parts!
Pros and Cons of a 4 inch Centerset Faucet
Centerset faucets is one of the most popular types of bathroom faucets. There are some pros and cons of centerset faucets you should know before you get one.
Pros
- Compact design – 4 inch faucets take up less space than 8 inch faucets and fit better in smaller bathrooms or smaller sinks.
- Cheaper – Centerset faucets have a simpler design and are typically cheaper than widespread faucets.
- Easy installation – These faucets are easier to install because you don’t have to worry about lining up three separate holes like you do for the widespread.
Cons
- Basic design – The centerset faucets look better than single handle, but they don’t look as good as widespread faucets (in my opinion!).
- Difficult to clean – It can be tough to clean in the small gap between the faucet handles and spout.
Common Questions about 4 Inch Centerset Faucets
You can replace a centerset faucet with a single hole faucet if the deckplate is the exact same size or larger. It’s definitely not ideal because you’ll have holes not being utilized.
The main difference between four inch and eight inch faucets is the distance between the faucet handles. Widespread faucets are eight inches apart and centerset faucets are only 4 inches apart.
The difference between centerset and widespread faucets is the distance between the center of each faucet handle. Widespread faucets are eight inches apart and centerset faucets are only 4 inches apart.
Centerset faucets can be either single or three hole, but three hole is the more common faucet hole arrangement.
As the handles are directly attached to the faucet itself, altering the temperature of the water is incredibly straightforward. Simply adjust the hot and cold valves or handles to add hot or cold water to the running stream.
Final Verdict: Is a 4 inch Centerset Faucet Right for you?
Centerset faucets are one of the most common types of bathroom faucets. If you are looking for a compact faucet installation for a small bathroom then a 4 inch centerset faucet would be perfect for you.
