Things to Consider When Buying a Kitchen Faucet

• Style

It might not be the most practical thought but it’s certainly one that’s important. The way your kitchen faucet looks is one of the most important aspects of buying a new kitchen tap. Indeed, we would go as far as to say that it completes the entire look of the kitchen.

If you’re looking for a kitchen that has clean lines and square sides, you should probably opt for modern kitchen faucets, whereas an older style kitchen with the classic wooden look, or with a specific style might suit the more rustic or vintage styles of kitchen taps available.

• Body Type

The body type is one of the most important aspects of buying a kitchen faucet- especially if you’re only replacing the faucet itself- because you’ll need to know whether this new tap will actually fit with your kitchen sink. We discuss the different body types, and more, below.

• Features

It might not be something you’re too fussed about but, given that the kitchen sink is the most utilized part of the kitchen, it would be wise to consider some of the handy features modern taps come with. For example, if you spend a lot of time washing the dishes you might find that you would like a pull-out or pull-down spray handle, both of which will allow you to get to any awkward angles with the spray feature and therefore making short work of those stubborn food stains.

You might also notice that some faucets have the option of being hands-free. This is great for commercial usage or those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, as you’ll be able to use sensors to switch your taps on and off. It’s not essential- but it’s nice to have!

Another popular feature is the ability to change your stream type. Some faucets will allow you to push a button to switch from spray to laminar (standard water flow). This might not be particularly exciting but it’s definitely good to know that you can switch at any time, based on your needs.

You might also be lucky enough to find yourself a kitchen faucet with antimicrobial properties built-in. Microbes have a tendency to spread in areas that are damp and dark, meaning your faucet is prime real estate for these tiny nasties. They will be much more expensive than other kitchen faucets but you’ll be glad of the extra help when it comes to cleaning.

Last, but by no means least, is the water-filter feature. You’ll likely find some taps that have a built-in water filter, which is great if you live in an area renown for its hard water. If you like to have your water fresh without waiting for it to come through your fridge-based filter, you’ll probably want to get this feature included in your kitchen faucet.

• Material

Brass is the most common and easiest option, as it can easily be coated with your preferred finish. Of course, brass itself is made up of copper, zinc and lead- which means tiny amounts of the latter can work its way into your drinking water. While this is of no harm to you, it is obviously much better to try to reduce the amount of lead ingested, over time.

This offering is great if you’re looking for a particular finish, however, since you can have a range of different looks of almost any combination, including a matt look, right through to the standard chrome finish.

Another option would be stainless steel, which is always a popular choice but often costs considerably more than brass.  It’s the most durable and often lasts the longest, as the steel is less likely to erode over time. If you go for this option, be sure that you’re buying a full stainless-steel faucet and not a stainless steel-coated brass.

Finally, there’s plastic. Plastic faucets are usually coated as well but you can feel the difference in their weight, when you pick them up- plastic is very lightweight, whereas brass will be pretty hefty. Our final option is also the least durable, and will therefore have the shortest longevity, especially in busy kitchens. It is, however, much cheaper and can therefore help out if you’re in a bind.

• Reviews

One of the best ways to see how well a tap will hold up to the tasks and trials of everyday life is to check out the reviews. Kitchen faucet reviews are one of the best ways to see if you’re really getting your moneys worth, as well as what to look out for. You’ll also be able to see not only which kitchen faucets are the best, but who is the best seller to buy from.

Types of Kitchen Faucets

• Body Type

If you know how many holes are available in your kitchen sink, you might already have a good idea of which body type you’ll need. If you’re starting from scratch, however, you’ll be in the lucky position of being able to choose your body type from the following:

• Single hole

These come looking somewhat like one, long pole extending from your sink. They’ll mix both hot and cold water from one entrance point and look somewhat contemporary compared to other options.

• Bridge (two holes)

Often featured in more vintage designs, these faucets have separate entrances for hot and cold water that combine before reaching the spout of the tap.

• Widespread (three holes)

On the surface, these look like there are three separate entrances for the different water temperatures, but they do still combine- the difference is that the area which combines the two is hidden below the surface of the sink itself. They look best when placed in vintage or classic looking kitchens.

• Arc

Understanding the arc is much simpler- you just need to know whether you need a tap that is placed higher, or lower. A high arc will usually look more modern and be easier to angle when doing the dishes. Low arcs look more contemporary but are lower to the sink itself, so can sometimes get in the way, depending on what you’re doing.

• Mount

There are only two options to choose from here and you’ll likely know which one you prefer or need to go for, straight away. A deck mount means that the tap will be coming from your countertop or through the sink and will sit on a horizontal line. Meanwhile, a wall-mount means your taps will be coming from the wall, and the bar will sit vertically parallel to your wall. It all depends on your plumbing and price range, but changing these can be costly, so factor your price in.

What to Do About a Leaky Faucet

Sometimes, you won’t be looking for a kitchen tap because you’re changing or redesigning your kitchen. Sometimes, it’s simply because your current tap is breaking and likes to have a leak around the place. In these cases, you might want to consider fixing what has broken, as opposed to replacing the entire kitchen sink.

The most common problem in sinks across the board is having a worn or faulty washer, or similar component within the tap. If you want to replace this yourself, you’ll need to know what type of faucet you have to start with (your options are ball, ceramic and cartridge) and buy the necessary replacement components. Once you know this info, the replacement is fairly easy. Just take apart your taps, step by step, while paying attention to how the pieces fit together, then pop in your replacement cartridge, ball bearing or washer and replace your pieces in reverse order of their removal.

How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet

Replacing a faucet is actually a rather simple job that shouldn’t take longer than an afternoon. Most modern faucets don’t even require any specialist equipment, meaning you can quickly and easily get your new taps up and running in no time

• Firstly, you’ll need to turn off the water under your sink and unplug your garbage disposal, if you have one.
• Turn on your taps to free the pipes of any water that is still around
• Next, loosen the nuts attached to the water lines (you may want to place a towel or bucket around, in case there’s any water left)
• To remove the nuts from your faucet, use a basin wrench- you can get these relatively cheap at your local hardware store- as these have a long handle which make it easier for you to remove the nuts.
• Pull out your faucet and remove any grime or residue- if you’re struggling with this part, it’ll likely be due to the grime around the area. Allow a cleaner to sit around the area for a few minutes before trying again.
• Assemble your new faucet according the instructions given in the manual
• Replace the faucet through the hole left behind by the old tap unit
• Retighten the nuts around the faucet
• Replace or retighten the nuts attached to the water lines
• Turn on your garbage disposal and turn your water back on
• Test your new appliance.

Best Faucet Brands

The matter of which kitchen faucet is best tends to be related to personal taste, however the benefit of having some great brands behind the production is that you know you’ll receive quality appliances that have stood the test of time. These are also likely to be the top-rated kitchen faucets, since the best faucet brands are also loved by the thousands who have bought from them, over the years.

Some of the best faucet brands, in our experience, include Moen, Delta, Kraus, Kohler, WEWE, UFaucet and Vapsint although you may find more as you explore. These are our favorites thanks to their quality, customer service, style, longevity and ease of use, which is why we’ve tried to include as many as possible in our top picks.

Best Kitchen Faucet FAQ:

Q: What are faucet aerators and what do they do?

A: Aerators add air to water flow, through the use of a mesh. This allows for both water and air to travel through the spout, creating a more even water flow. Without one, water sprays out with force and causes splashes across the sink area- so, these tend to be automatically added to the better brands, in order to make for a more satisfying experience when using the sink.

The mesh itself can be made from metal or plastic and the biggest benefit is that it allows for more water pressure without the actual water consumption. This, in turn, save you money as you require less pressure for cleaning, or filling up your water bowl, meaning lower water bills- very handy if you’re on a water meter.

If there isn’t an aerator included in your kitchen faucet set, you can figure out which aerator you need by looking at the size and the thread of your spout. If your spout has the thread on the outside of the edge, you’ll need a female threaded aerator, while a spout that holds the thread on the inside will require a male aerator.

There are three main aerator types which allow for three different types of water flow: aerated, spray and laminar. You can usually tell an aerated water flow as you’ll notice a lot of small bubbles over your hand, as your run your hands under the tap and provides a gentle flow, which is soft to the touch. Meanwhile, a spray aerator will provide more pressure and give stronger water flow. Finally, a laminar will give clean, clear, non-splashing water flow which is ideal for healthcare facilities

Q: What is the best way to keep my kitchen faucet clean?

A: Before cleaning your faucet, you’ll need to know the material the appliance is made of. If you’ve chosen a new faucet, you’ll know which type you have opted for automatically, but older ones may be a little tougher. Check the brand and model online or have a play around to see if you can ascertain this before beginning, as abrasive cloths or scrub brushes are not ideal for most faucet types.

If your faucet just needs a once-over due to fingerprints or similar, then begin by using a soft cloth with dish soap and warm water first, drying with a fresh cloth. If this doesn’t do the trick, then you’ll need to move on to trying white vinegar.

White vinegar, mixed in equal parts with hot water, is amazing for getting rid of grease and grime- but you’ll need to go over your tap, once finished, as it can leave a smell. You’ll also need to test out a small area first, to ensure your solution of white vinegar and hot water won’t affect the finish of your faucet.

For cleaning out the tougher spots, such as your aerator or around the back of your faucet, use a toothbrush with some baking soda on the bristles. Just add a drop of water so a slight paste forms and scrub away at the tougher spots for a sparkling kitchen faucet.

Q: How long can I expect my kitchen faucet to last?

A: On average, and with proper care, a kitchen faucet should last around 10 years. Of course, this is likely to be lower with plastic faucets or cheaper brands as the quality won’t be as high. Naturally, stainless-steel and high-end kitchen faucets will likely last much longer, meaning you’re more likely to end up changing your kitchen completely, before you need to change your faucet!

If you think there is something wrong with your faucet, don’t just jump to the conclusion that you need to change your entire sink- check out some of the most common problems you’ll come across, first and see if you’re willing and able to fix those.

Q: What is the difference between a pull-out and a pull-down faucet?

A: Pull-down kitchen sink faucets use a spray wand that pulls down, directly into the sink. You are more likely to find these in commercial kitchens as they easily clean dishes and general grime within the sink area. They tend not to be used for much else and are limited in their range of movements.

Naturally, a pull-out faucet is pulled directly outwards and can work in tandem with a button, which controls the flow, or speed, of water. The main difference between this and the pull-down faucet is that you have more freedom of control with a pull-out version, whereas a pull-down can only really go in one direction.

Our Top Pick

When choosing our top picks, we decided to look for the durability, features, reviews, customer service, style, ease of use and quality- and we’re pleased to say that the Leland single-hand kitchen faucet from Delta came out on top with top marks across the board.

This is a faucet that looks great and performs perfectly- and over 2,000 buyers agree with us. The DIAMOND seal technology, leak-free operating system and lifetime warranty allow customers to buy the best kitchen faucet on the market, without compromise and without having to worry about changes later on in life.

The powerful spray makes short work of grime and grease and the easy installation means that pretty much anyone can install and use this great kitchen faucet, straight away. Meanwhile, the Shieldspray technology allows you to clean every inch of your dishes and kitchen sink without ever worrying about the mess made around the area. Without so much of a touch of a button you can get a far-reaching, mess-free, high-powered faucet at a great price. With all of this technology, it’s not hard to see why the Leland kitchen faucet is our number one.

Source:

1. How to Keep Chrome Faucets From Spotting, SF Gate

2. What to Look for When Searching for Your Next Kitchen Faucet, Moen