How to use sinks with separate hot/cold taps?
I just traveled to Ireland. I was amazed to find that water sinks (at home, restaurants and public) have separate taps for hot and cold water.
If you use only the cold water, your hands freeze. If you use only hot water, your hands burn.
How do people use it? Is there tool at plumber shops to mix both of them (for my accommodation)?
Best Answer
I just found this gr8 (well, not very great) workaround. 
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Didn't try it yet, but looks like it may work.
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Quick Answer about "How to use sinks with separate hot/cold taps?"
How do you use separate taps?
There are really only two simple methods:Why do we have separate hot and cold taps?
Back in the day, hot water was supplied by a storage tank often placed in the loft. It would heat up the water over time, so it would never be as fresh and could get contaminated during the process. Hence, it was decided to keep hot and cold water separately in order to keep cold water safe to drink.Why do old sinks have two faucets?
The hot and cold water come from separate sources via separate pipes which makes it very hard to combine both hot and cold water into one outflow of water. As a result we always have two taps.How do you mix two taps together?
Once plugged in, fill the sink with warm and cold water to reach your desired temperature before washing it. You can sort of get the water mixed if you open both taps at the same time, move your hands quickly between them, and then press a button.Why Britain Uses Separate Hot and Cold Taps
More answers regarding how to use sinks with separate hot/cold taps?
Answer 2
While others have answered how, I'll try to answer why:
Technology.
The hot water used to come from a hot water storage tank, usually in the attic. The stagnant water in the tank isn't considered safe for drinking. That's why there has to be a separate system, all the way down to the taps, so it can't contaminate the safe cold water from the mains (should there ever be a pressure failure or some such).
Even though water tanks aren't used that much anymore, old habits die hard.
It's explained by Tom Scott in the YouTube series Things You Might Not Know.
Answer 3
I (an Irish person) only recently found out that this was an oddity of our country.
What I do usually is either use just one (like the hot tap, but quickly) or the cold tap. It's not that cold! Or just fill up the sink
Answer 4
Separate taps are still pretty common in Australia though mixer taps are on the rise.
What I usually do is check if the hot water is hot straight away. Usually it's not but I suppose this could depend on how the hot water is set up which may be different in Ireland.
If the hot tap is not hot straight away I use the hot tap just on just a bit checking with my fingertips every second or so if it's warm enough yet. I usually have enough time to have a good wash before the heat gets too high.
If not I prefer cold hands to any degree burns, but again I suppose Ireland sometimes has colder tapwater than Australia too (-:
Answer 5
I am quite surprised at your question. Here in the UK, two single taps, one for hot water and one for cold water are the normal arrangement. You put the plug in the sink and half fill it from one tap, then you run the other into it until you have the temperature of water you want...or you do what I do, which is wash under a running cold tap.
Answer 6
I have recently started to use the Retromixer.
It doesn't work extremely well but it's better than nothing. Whenever the water pressure is more than minimal, water tends to flow out along the top in addition to the bottom. And where it does flow along the intended bottom, the mixing isn't very good; I might get hot and cold water in rapid alteration in time and space. But it's progress nevertheless and I recommend it.
It's rather small and easy to install, so in principle you could carry one around for usage in public places, but it's marketed for use at your own home.
(I am not affiliated with the company making the Retromixer, nor do I personally know anybody involved.)
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