The difference between a tap and a spigot lies in their design and usage. Both serve the purpose of controlling the flow of liquid, but they are used in different contexts.
Let’s start with the spigot. A spigot is a simple, single knob faucet that is typically found on the outside of buildings or in outdoor settings. It is designed to be connected to a pipe, allowing water or other liquids to flow through. Spigots are commonly used for tasks such as filling up buckets, watering plants, or connecting a garden hose. They usually have a threaded end to attach the hose, ensuring a secure connection. One key feature of spigots is that they only control one pipe, so the flow of liquid cannot be redirected.
On the other hand, a tap is used when there isn’t a pipe or when the liquid source is not connected to a fixed system. Taps are commonly seen on kegs of beer, wine barrels, or even maple trees for collecting sap. Unlike spigots, taps are designed to be inserted directly into the liquid source, allowing for easy extraction. When tapping a keg, for example, a tap is inserted into the keg’s opening, and by turning the handle, the beer is released. Similarly, when tapping a maple tree, a tap is inserted into the trunk to collect the sap. Taps often have a mechanism to control the flow of liquid, such as a lever or a twist valve.
The main difference between a tap and a spigot is their design and usage. A spigot is a single knob faucet that controls the flow of liquid through a connected pipe, while a tap is used to directly extract liquid from a source that is not connected to a pipe. Spigots are commonly found outdoors and are used for tasks such as filling buckets or connecting hoses, while taps are used for extracting liquids from kegs, barrels, or trees.