Two or Three Piece Taps.

[minesapint]

I am sure I have seen the answer to this some place but cannot find it.
Three piece taps are dearer than two piece taps.
Any advantages to the dearer, uglier looking three piece taps ?
I am thinking of doing a stainless boiler and thermopot, mash tun set up.

Cheers.

[Rhodesy]

I actually prefer the look of the 3 piece taps. They are also easy to take apart and give a proper clean.

[JamesF]

I use a two-piece tap for my HLT because it only ever carries water. For others I use a three-piece tap so I can take them apart and give them a better clean if required.

James

[Jocky]

Contrary view here - for attaching to a pot that you can move, and where you have some kind of quick disconnect/camlock/triclamp fitting for your hoses you don't need a three piece.

The three piece's major advantage is only when you have it hard plumbed in - i.e. attached between two things you can't move. Then it's better than the two piece because you just undo some bolts and the valve assembly pops out sideways.

On a regular pot the two piece is fine. I find it quicker than a three piece to take apart - you just need a couple of large spanners to do it. I leave the back bit of the tap attached to the kettle and just undo the valve body. Makes for a quick clean/sterilise on brew day pre boil - with an electric element inside the boiler the tap just doesn't get hot enough to kill everything inside it.