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Contents:

1.    What you should know first

2.    Choosing your kitchen faucet

3.    Desirable features

4.    Cleaning and maintaining your faucet

More than ever, the kitchen is the activity center of our home. In addition to fixing and eating meals, the kitchen has evolved into a social hub, study hall, family gathering place and one of your home’s most important entertaining rooms. At times, it seems activity around the kitchen faucet never ends, so a sturdy, hard-working faucet is essential to meet contemporary kitchen needs.

This article will show you what to look for when choosing a kitchen faucet. Click here if you’re ready to learn how easy it is to install your new faucet. The benefits from a new kitchen faucet begin with your creativity and needs, and it will serve you well for years to come.

What you should know first: Sink, meet faucet. Faucet, meet sink

For starters, determine the kind of sink you have. The most popular bowl choices for a sink are single, equal double, 1 ½, triple and 1 ¾. Only after you determine what kind of sink you’ll be using can you move on to your faucet.

Other questions to ask before replacing your faucet include:

·         What’s the theme of your kitchen? Numerous faucets to match your décors await including art deco, classic, country, functional, modern, retro, rustic, traditional and Victorian.

·         Do you want to carry the theme throughout your home or keep it in your kitchen? This is something to consider when shopping for a kitchen faucet.

Choosing your kitchen faucet

It’s no surprise that the most versatile fixture in the home has so many available options. Here are just a few things to consider when shopping for a kitchen faucet.

Which is better for my sink, a single-handle or double-handle faucet?

This one’s up to you, and with a bit of research, you can decide what’s right for you. While a single-handle faucet offers convenient control of water volume and temperature, double-handle faucets offer additional styles and spout designs.

Will the faucet fit my sink?

Determine your basin configuration (i.e., the number of holes in your sink). If your sink has three or four holes, determine the space between the holes. If your sink has three holes, determine the spacing of the holes.

In addition, be sure to measure the exact dimensions of your kitchen sink so that your new faucet will fit properly.

Backsplashes, or kitchen ledges, are decorative additions to kitchen sinks located on the wall behind the faucet. Depending on the size and depth of the backsplashes, their location just behind the faucet can sometimes cause problems. If the backsplash is too thick and the faucet is located too close to the wall, the faucet (both single- and double-handle) could bump into the backsplash and prevent the faucet from working properly.

Also:

·         Avoid a petite faucet on a big, bold sink, and vice versa.

·         A spout that’s too short may not reach far enough, so choose a faucet that directs water into the center of the bowl (a fixture with a high-arc spout or pull-out spray are wise choices).

·         Make sure your new faucet matches the correct hole drillings in your sink: four-inch centers, eight-inch centers or single-hole.

Finish matters

Look for a long-lasting, low-maintenance finish to complement your kitchen décor. Numerous manufacturers offer a variety of finishes to match any interior décor.

Desirable features

Contemporary kitchen faucets make cleaning easier and safer, save you money and are environmentally conscious.

1.    Ceramic disc cartridges

2.    Sidespray and pull-out spray

3.    Accessories

4.    Eco-friendly options

Ceramic disc cartridges

It goes without saying that your new faucet should work without dripping. Trends in designs have improved significantly in just the last decade. Taking the place of rubber washer gaskets are ceramic disc cartridges which last a lifetime. Considered the industry’s hardest, most reliable valving material, single-cartridge and washer-less valving systems use ceramic discs to control water flow and are designed to last a lifetime.

Side spray and pullout spray

Recent improvements in the design of kitchen faucet spouts have made the cleaning of your food and sink and overall maintenance much easier and more efficient. While the traditional faucet spout is still an extremely popular choice, the side spray and pullout spray have helped revolutionize contemporary kitchen sinks.

Side spray

A side spray is a hand-held sprayer attached to a hose and mounted to either the right or left of the faucet, based on your individual needs. Pull the side spray out from its base and squeeze its handle to get started. When in use, the water flow from the side spray will override that from the faucet spout.

These are available in numerous finishes, so they can match the finish of your entire kitchen (not to mention your kitchen faucet).

Pullout spray

A pullout spray, on the other hand, is connected to the faucet spout. They offer the functionality of a side spray with the streamlined look of a one-piece faucet. Pullout sprays (also referred to a pull-down spray) allows you to adjust the water flow, choosing between an aerated stream and a spray. This is especially convenient if you require mobility and versatility in your cleaning.

Pullout sprays can be easily controlled with one hand, leaving the other hand available to hold pots or pans, clean vegetables or anything else you can come up with. If you expect to use the spray on a frequent basis or if you alternate quickly from regular water flow to spraying, consider a pullout spray.

Accessories

A number of complementary items are also available to coordinate theme, finish and color and tie your entire kitchen together. Choose from items such as a soap dispenser, air gap, garbage disposal flange or basket strainer.

Eco-friendly options

Following in the footsteps of the lighting industry, plumbing manufacturers are increasingly offering eco-friendly products. Elements of Design and KWC offer environmentally conscious kitchen faucets, and Kohler offers its Wellspring line, including its sensor-driven touch-less fixture.

Cleaning and maintaining your faucet

Once you install your kitchen faucet, you’ll want to clean and maintain it. To care for your faucet, wipe with a clean, soft, damp cloth. The ideal cleaning technique is to always blot dry any water from metal surfaces as often as possible. In addition, buff drying should keep your product looking beautiful. Occasionally apply a non-abrasive polish to prevent water deposits and remove build-up of household soaps, creams and sprays to all finishes.

Finally, never use abrasive cleaners or pads, or chemical cleaners of any kind (including window cleaner) on any product with a protective coating or custom finish. Such cleaners will attack the protective coating and use of products like these will void the finish warranty.

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