Every kitchen needs a good and efficient kitchen faucet which will make it easier to cook and rinse. And, while there are a lot of options available in the market, not all kitchen faucets offer you the same level of convenience and functionality. This is why it is important that you choose your kitchen faucet carefully and deliberately, without hurrying the entire process.With the help of this kitchen faucet buying guide, you will be able to select a good kitchen faucet for you in no time at all.
Choose the Faucet Type: Wall-Mounted or Deck-Mounted
Deck-mounted kitchen faucets are placed on your countertop or your sink, while the wall-mounted faucets are attached to the wall and hang above your sink.If you are starting from the scratch, it is essential that you choose a faucet before purchasing a sink. This is because if you go for a deck-mounted faucet then you might have to take into consideration the number of sinkholes required for installation. However, if you go for a wall-mounted faucet then you don’t have to worry about the sinkholes and can also save some space on your countertop.So, a wall-mounted faucet is perfect for a small-spaced kitchen while a deck-mounted faucet is an ideal choice for families with a large kitchen.
Choose the Handle Type
After you have decided on the faucet type, you need to choose the handle style for your faucet. Ideally, a kitchen faucet has a single handle to adjust the flow and temperature of water. But, traditional faucets had two separate handles to manage the hot and cold water flow.Nowadays, you also get taps for kitchen with hands-free technology which can be turned on with/without touching. There are sensors places inside the faucet which allow you to turn it on without using the handle. So, depending on your requirement, you can select the handle style for your kitchen faucet.
Consider the Installation System
What’s the point of buying a kitchen faucet if you can’t install it in your kitchen? Am I right? This is why it is important that you choose a faucet which will match your sink installation system. Now, there are three types of faucet installation systems available: 1-hole, 2-hole, and 3-hole sink installation systems. So, take a look at your sink and determine the type of installation it uses before purchasing a faucet. This will save you a lot of trouble later and will help you in selecting a model which will fit your sink perfectly.If you have multiple-hole installation sink, then you can just get an escutcheon cover to hide the rest of the holes which are left unused.
Opt for the right faucet spout style
While installation and faucet types are important to consider, you cannot ignore the faucet spout design while making a choice. Traditionally, faucets had a static spout which was effective but created a lot of mess and wasn’t as convenient to use. However, you don’t have to face the same struggle anymore. Now, you have an option of Pull-Out and Pull-Down Kitchen faucets whose spouts can be removed from its place to access the sink area more conveniently.A Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet is quite flexible as you can pull it both towards you or in any other direction. This makes it easier to fill tall pots and pans while cleaning both inside and outside the sink.The Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet is similar to the Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet but it is not as flexible. You can only pull the spout of this faucet in a downward direction which makes it a good choice for deep sinks but not a wise choice for the smaller sinks. Still, this faucet is quite efficient in rinsing and washing your dishes thoroughly as you can bring the spray to the utensil, instead of the other way around.
Select a Finish that blends with the kitchen interiors
Once you have decided on the Faucet style, you also need to choose a good faucet finish to match your home. A lot of kitchen faucets are available in several finish options which allows you more flexibility. You can easily select a finish which will suit your kitchen design while providing a long-lasting touch to the faucet.There are colors like bronze, chrome, stainless steel, etc. which tend to match most kitchen d ors and also provide durability to your product. It is also important that you ensure that your faucet finish is fingerprint and stain resistant if you want it to be easier to maintain and clean.
Other Factors to Consider when buying a Kitchen Faucet
Apart from the above-mentioned features, you also need to look at a few factors before you make a decision.BudgetNow, all consumers are looking for a faucet that will suit their budget. Luckily, kitchen faucets are one such product which is available in a varying range of prices so, you can easily find the one which fits your budget.So, it is important that you decide on a budget before you start looking at the faucets. This will allow you to find the best faucet choice in your budget range while providing you with the maximum functionality and features in it.However, always keep in mind that a high-quality, durable and stylish kitchen faucet will cost more than a cheap, basic kitchen faucet. To find out one that matches your budget and needs, you can check out the kitchen faucet buying guide by KitchenGuyd.AestheticsIf you are a person who cares about how their kitchen looks then you would need to select a faucet which is aesthetically pleasing too. Thankfully, there is a wide range of designs and colors available in kitchen faucets which will easily add more charm to your kitchen.Make sure you choose a faucet which matches and complements your kitchen design but is also functional and long-lasting.Spout TypeAs we mentioned earlier, you have a choice between static and non-static spouts to consider. And while pull-out and pull-down faucets seem quite attractive options, not everyone wants their spout to be detached from the faucet.For such people, a kitchen faucet with a sprayer is often a great choice. This allows them to keep the faucet spout fixed in a place while giving them the flexibility to use a sprayer for rinsing and cleaning purposes.Arc TypeYes, this is another important factor to consider when you are purchasing a kitchen faucet.There are two types of arcs available in a faucet: high arc and low arc. A high arc faucet is perfect for those who often fill tall pots and pans with water. The high-arc faucet usually has a height of 8-10 inches and makes it easier for you to fill water.On the other hand, a low arc faucet stands at a height of 3-4 inches and might not allow you to fill water in tall pots/pans. But, if you own a deep sink then it won’t pose an issue at all. So, choose an arc type based on your countertop space and sink size.Water UsageLet’s face it, none of us want to increase our water bill every month by using or wasting a lot of water. And while this mostly depends on your personal usage, you could also choose a faucet which can help you lower your kitchen water consumption.Go for a WaterSense certified product as these faucets are designed to use less water so your daily consumption will be less too. Another great feature would be a Pause feature in your faucet which will allow you to wash utensils and vegetables in your sink without wasting water. Spray OptionsDid you know that faucets with sprayers have at least 2-3 settings to choose from? Yes, that is correct! You now have several faucets which allow you at least spray and stream settings, making it easier to perform cleaning and cooking tasks in the kitchen.So, go for a faucet which offers you more spray settings as this will offer you more convenience and functionality in the long run.WarrantyOf course, when you are buying a kitchen faucet, you aren’t purchasing it for just a few years of usage. You are looking at a long-term investment. This is why it is important that you check the warranty of the product before you purchase it.Many faucets offer lifetime limited warranty and will take care of leaks, and other small damages. As a result, you won’t have to replace the faucet and can avoid a few major repair charges.MaintenanceFinally, make sure that your kitchen faucet is easy to maintain and doesn’t require a lot of repairs. This can be ensured by selecting a model which is built out of high-quality materials which won’t get damaged easily. Also, check that your faucet has ceramic disc valves as this will reduce the chances of leaks and will further prolong your faucet’s life. But in case you do notice any problem with your faucet, check this faucet repair guide to make repairs in time.
Conclusion
There are several types of kitchen faucets available in the market. So, it is important that you take time to understand the different options before making a choice.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Hi!
such a valuable post. this post shows your love for home decor. the way you present your thoughts in words is amazing.
keep it up Mam you are doing a really good job.
good luck!
Hi Courtney P!
Your post is such an amazing guide which helps people like me very much.
Thanks for creating such a valuable knowledge.