Foot Operated Mixer

Quick Answer: The Foot Operated Mixer is a hands-free water fitting that delivers blended hot and cold water to a sink when the user presses a floor pedal, so hands can be washed at a comfortable temperature without touching any tap.

Two Ways to Mix Water by Foot

Mixing water by foot is done in one of two ways. Some units have two pedals side by side, one for hot and one for cold, and the user sets the blend by how far each is pressed. Others use a single pedal to open the flow, with the temperature set in advance by a mixing valve that the user never touches. The listing does not say which arrangement this foot operated mixer uses, and its product image file carries a foot-control-valve name, so the pedal layout should be confirmed at enquiry.

Both types keep the hands entirely out of the process, which is why foot mixers are found at surgical-style scrub sinks, clinical-skills basins and food-handling areas. The pre-set type is simpler to use and gives the same temperature every time; the twin-pedal type lets each user choose. For a supply that needs no mixing, the single-supply Foot Control Valve is enough.

Whichever type is supplied, the outlet temperature depends on the hot water reaching it. A thermostatic control, or a limit on the stored hot-water temperature, protects users from scalding, and the temperature at the outlet should be measured after installation.

Specifications

Applications

• Surgical-style scrub sinks used for teaching in veterinary, nursing and medical colleges.
• Handwash stations beside microbiology and tissue-culture rooms.
• Food, dairy and nutrition labs that follow strict hand-hygiene routines.
• Sinks where staff wear gloves that must stay clean until washing is finished.

Care & Handling

• Measure the water temperature at the outlet after installation and after any change to the heater setting.
• Keep the pedal area dry, and check that each pedal returns fully so water does not run on.
• Fit isolating valves on both supplies so the mixer can be serviced without draining the building.
• Clean the pedals with the floor disinfectant and wipe the outlet with the bench disinfectant.

Why Choose LabEquip

Nursing and medical colleges, veterinary teaching labs and food-testing units are the usual buyers of foot-operated mixers. LabEquip lists this fitting in General Lab Products, and the pedal type and connections can be settled by writing through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a foot operated mixer set the water temperature?

Either with two pedals, one each for hot and cold, pressed by different amounts, or with a single pedal that releases water already blended to a set temperature by a mixing valve. Ask which design is supplied with this model.

Is a pre-set temperature better than two pedals?

A pre-set temperature is quicker and more consistent, and nobody can select scalding water. Two pedals give each user control but need a little practice to hold a steady temperature.

What is the difference from a foot control valve?

A foot control valve opens one supply only. The mixer handles both hot and cold, so it can deliver warm water for handwashing without any hand contact.

Can the mixer be used as a surgical scrub fitting?

Its hands-free design is the type used at scrub sinks, but no medical approval is claimed. Hospitals and clinics should compare it with their own specification for scrub areas.

Does a foot operated mixer need electricity?

Pedal mixers are generally mechanical, with springs returning the pedals, so they need no power, unlike sensor taps. An electric water heater upstream is a separate item.

How does a foot mixer save water?

The flow stops as soon as the foot is lifted, so water runs only while it is being used and not, for example, while hands are being soaped.

Last Updated: September 2026