The sink is considered to be the heart of a modern kitchen. In the same line, the faucet is reputedly the essential part of the sink. The kind of faucets you choose for your kitchen sink will determine how easy it will be to complete your daily tasks. And although selecting the best kitchen tap may seem like an easy thing, it is one of the most challenging tasks since there endless kitchen faucet options in the market. In this write-up, we’ll try to highlight some of the popular kitchen faucet options to help you make an informed choice.
Things to Consider When Buying Kitchen Faucets
The Type of Handle
The handle is an integral part of the sink as it helps you control the faucet. Faucets can be categorized according to the number of handles they have.
- Single-handle faucets – These are the most commonly used faucets because they are convenient and easy to use. You need to rotate the tap to on one side if you want cold water or the opposite side for hot water. However, this type of faucet requires ample space for them to rotate effortlessly.
- Two-handle faucets – Unlike the single faucet, this one comes with a tap on each side, one for hot water and the other one for cold water. This kind of faucet gives you total control of the water temperature.
- Touchless Kitchen faucet –These are exceptionally designed faucets that don’t come with a handle. They feature a sensor, which allows water to pass through once they detect your hands below the tap. Their disadvantage is that they are expensive to buy and repair due to technology.
Faucet Valve Type
The type of valve used a faucet is also a great determiner of its reliability and durability. The valve is the mechanism that controls the delivery of water through the faucet. Typically, there are four types of faucet valves;
- Compression valves – These are the oldest form of valves. They control water movement by rotating a screw-like handle that compresses the valve against a rubber washer. Faucets with such valves tend to wear out faster, but they are also the easiest to fix.
- Ball valves – Commonly used in single lever faucets, these valves regulate and mix hot and cold water through the side to side motion. They don’t have washers but feature more complicated moving parts.
- Cartridge valve faucets – These feature a brass and plastic cartridge and are less complicated than ball faucets. They don’t spoil quickly and are not hard to repair.
- Ceramic disc faucet valves – Using top-quality ceramic disks, these valves regulate water movement through the opening of the discs. They are arguably the most durable of all. However, they are more expensive than the rest.
Mounting
Another thing you need to know before you buy a faucet is how it will be mounted onto the sink. There are two types of mounting, the wall-mounted faucet, and the deck plate-mounted faucet.
The wall-mount faucet is attached to the wall above the countertop and sink. This type of faucet makes the cleaning process manageable, and it also saves you some space. It also allows you to place kitchenware inside the sink as it leaves some significant amount of space.
The alternative is the deck plate faucet, which is the most common since it features both handles and spout on a single plate. They are ideal for up to a three-hole installation on your sink or countertop.
Faucet Finish
Faucet finish is the decorative and protective coat that is added on to the spouts and handles. Faucets come with a vast array of finishes, including brushed nickel, chrome, brass, bronze, hand-rubbed bronze, and stainless steel, among others. Currently, you’ll also find faucets with a “PVD” finish, technique that is said to provide robust protection against corrosion, scratching and rusting.
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