Title: Why do faucet handles turn opposite ways?
Yeah, it’s kind of wild how something as basic as a faucet can turn into a puzzle. I’ve run into this a bunch—sometimes you get those old-school fixtures where both handles turn inward to open, sometimes outward, and then sometimes it’s one of each. I think part of it goes way back to the original plumbing designs and what was “normal” in different regions or even different decades. The hot-on-the-left thing is pretty standard in the US, at least, but the handle direction just seems all over the place.
Honestly, I don’t think it’s always about innovation. Sometimes it’s just legacy stuff or whatever parts they had on hand when building. I replaced a bathroom sink last year and the new fixture had the handles turning opposite ways compared to the old one—I had to double-check the instructions because it felt so weird. Maybe there’s some logic about making it less likely to accidentally turn on the hot water? Or maybe it’s just tradition nobody bothered to fix.
Either way, I wish they’d pick a lane. Makes upgrades way less of a headache.
