On average, an American spends over five times more time in the kitchen than in the living room. A notable amount of this time is spent washing dishes, hands, filling pots with water, and cleaning up foods like vegetables using the kitchen faucet. Therefore, a kitchen faucet has to meet a lot of usage demands, many of which are specific to each individual. That is why you should ensure that you choose the perfect faucet for your kitchen. Here is how you should go about it.
1. The faucet should have adequate height
Your kitchen faucet should have adequate height in order to help you fill things like jugs and other large containers with water. Essentially, a good kitchen faucet should be at least 8 to 10 inches above the sink plane so that you can fill large pots with water without restrictions.
2. Decide on a One-handled, Two-handled, or Hands-free Faucet
Some people don’t mind having to turn the faucet on and off whenever they need a flowing stream of clean water. If you are among them, then a one-handled or a two-handled faucet might be suitable for you.
The one-handled version has a cleaner look, while the two-handled alternative makes it easier to control cold and hot water flows. On the other hand, the hands-free version is perfect if you prefer a faucet that offers the best usage convenience.
3. The Desired Reach
A kitchen faucet should come with adequate reach. Sometimes this reach needs to extend beyond the kitchen sink, for when you need to fill something like a bucket on the floor with water. Therefore, the faucet should come with the right sprayer to make sure that the water can get to all places where it is needed within the vicinity of the kitchen sink. In this regard, you have the option of a pulldown, pullout, and side sprayer.
4. Understand the Kind of Sink You Have
The sink you have in your kitchen can affect the experience your kitchen faucet gives you. For instance, if the sink cannot handle the water volume your faucet generates, then you will always find yourself having to turn it down to give your sink a chance to catch up.
Even when you have the best kitchen faucet on the market, this usage experience can make you regret your purchase. So, make sure that your sink is built to handle your faucet’s water volume. Otherwise, be wiling to renovate it so that it works well with your faucet.
5. Choose a Faucet that Matches Your Kitchen’s Decor
As much as you want every installation in the kitchen to stand out, it is best when this happens in a positive way. Therefore, when you use a modern faucet in a traditional kitchen, it will stand out like a sore thumb.
Consequently, you should make sure that your choice kitchen faucet goes well with the style of your kitchen. For instance, some kitchens work best with a faucets that have a shiny chrome finish, while others would go better with versions that feature an understated matte finish.
6. Have a Preferred Mounting Style
A faucet can be mounted on the deck or on the wall. The wall mounting option is better if you want a faucet that does not mess with the counter, or when you lack adequate space to mount the faucet on the deck.
On the other hand, a deck mounted faucet is mounted on the counter , and it is a good option when you don’t want to mess with the wall. Otherwise, where both options are viable, you can choose the style you prefer best.
7. Price and Quality
You would be shocked at how expensive some kitchen faucets can be. But price does not always equal quality, fortunately. For instance, brass faucets, however affordable they might be, will have less maintenance demands and a longer life of service in comparison to most other materials, however expensive. On the other hand, plastic faucets don’t last as long, and their value for money proposition may leave something to be desired.
Conclusion
Choosing the right kitchen faucet is very important, considering how much these installations are used around the home. Basically, things to consider during this process include the functionality of the faucet, your kitchen’s design, the features you need the most in a faucet, and your preferences with regards to installation styles. Ultimately, the best kitchen faucet is that which meets all your expectations as far as your usage needs and design choices are concerned.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.