Like every other home appliance, your kitchen faucet will require maintenance or even replacing.
Aside from the stove, the sink is one of the most important and most utilized components of your kitchen.
It’s crucial for preparing ingredients, washing dishes, and sanitizing your cooking utensils.
You might want to change your faucet for a number of reasons. If you live in an area where the water is hard (water with high mineral content), your pipes and faucet aerators get clogged frequently.
You’ve got no other choice but to get a new one. Perhaps binge-watching Master Chef has inspired you to give your kitchen an upgrade.
Whatever the case may be, you need to be mindful of a couple of things when getting yourself a new faucet.
Selecting the Right Appliance
The correct appliance should simplify your cooking/washing experience, not complicate it. Moreover, it should look like it belongs—which means it should match the rest of the kitchen.
There are many things to consider; to make things easier, I’ve compiled 7 of the most noteworthy tips for you to bear in mind.
The Design
Needless to say, choosing a design is of utmost importance. The faucet is a conspicuous part of the kitchen.
Decorating or organizing around it is like putting together a puzzle; everything should fall in place, forming a beautiful picture.
Luckily, there’s a design for every aesthetic possible. Take a good look at the entirety of your kitchen and then ask yourself whether you want something that’s traditional or contemporary.
Traditional
Traditional is the simplest route. It goes with practically anything and comes in a number of different varieties in terms of color, texture, and finish.
The designs are rather sophisticated too, and they’ll add a touch of elegance to your cooking space.
It’s also the more affordable option. Not only are you having to spend less money, but you are also being given a lot more freedom when mixing and matching the decor.
Contemporary
If you want to take more of a minimalistic approach, then this option is for you.
Faucets that are more modern/contemporary tend to cut back on the details and focus more on the overall technical design. It aims to make your sink-work a whole lot easier.
This choice of design is also more sanitary compared to the latter. It minimizes physical contact with the appliance; the handles are designed in such a way that you don’t even need to use your hands to get the water going.
Of course, this is the pricier option but it’s up to you to decide whether or not this is a worthy investment.
Finishes
While on the topic of aesthetics, we can’t skip out on the finish of your faucet. There are a plethora of finishes on the market.
You can go for something that’s antique, like rose gold or copper.
If you’re going for a modern look try matte black or polished chrome. Some even fancier options include two tones (gives the appearance of two different colors).
Picking out a finish will definitely make your quest to find the perfect faucet a lot more interesting, given the number of choices you will be going through!
Faucet Handles
Faucets either have one or two handles. Before you decide which option is more suitable for you, take a look at your sink and see how many installment ports it has.
If you aren’t sure where to look, you might want to consult a professional in the field!
Check out plumberspot.com to find plumbers who can help set up your faucet and take you one step closer to the kitchen you had envisioned.
Single handles are great, considering how far faucet models have come these days. You can now adjust the temperature simply by rotating the handle.
However, if you want to keep things a little more dramatic, then you can always choose the two-handle option.
Both choices are very good, and it ultimately boils down to your personal preference and the compatibility of your sink.
Tall Faucet or Short Faucet?
The height of your faucet can be functional or purely for looks. If you’re someone who’s more concerned with the effectiveness of your faucet, then anything with a dramatic height (short or tall) shouldn’t be your focus.
Let’s be honest: something that’s too artsy can cause you to compromise functionality. When choosing your faucet, make sure it’s just right; it shouldn’t be too fancy or too shabby.
Just the Right Arc
The arc of your faucet is very important as it goes hand in hand with how you tend to use the sink.
A bigger arc means that the distance between the sink top and the spout is long. This allows you to wash and accommodate large pots and pans.
The greater this distance, the more space you have, and therefore the more you can wash larger items with ease.
A shorter arc does not consume as much space and is rather low-key when it comes to visuals. You’re not losing much by getting rid of that extra length in terms of functionality and it’ll look great if your sink is much smaller in size.
Check for Ceramic Valves
The inside of your faucet is just as crucial as the outside. The valves installed within your faucets are usually the component that decides their quality.
When purchasing, ask the vendor whether the valves are ceramic or not.
Ceramic valves are usually more durable in comparison to brass ones. This is going to help you reduce water waste as it prevents your faucet from dripping.
Don’t fret about the price! Both normal and ceramic valve faucets cost about the same.
Added Accessories
Don’t you just love it when your appliances have a number of cool features? Your faucets too can be versatile, stylish, and effective at the same time! Many companies have installed a sprayer function into their faucets.
These come in mainly two types. The first is pretty straightforward; along with your faucet, you also get a side sprayer.
The second type is more compact and smart. The head of the faucet is detachable. Simply pull it out or down (depending on the design) and use it as a sprayer!
It’s a nifty tool to have, making it easier for you to get into the nooks and crannies of your dirty dishes. Also, washing fruits will become a walk in the park for you with this added bonus!
Now that you’re all set on what to do when you go shopping for your faucet, it’s time to figure out how to install it.
You can definitely MacGyver your way through the process, whether it be through YouTube or the provided instruction manual.
However, if you’re like me and have no experience in this field, consider letting an expert handle this. Good luck!