Setting the right expectations when buying kitchen faucets should help to get the right one. But to set the expectations right, you must know the terms and features related to kitchen faucets so that you understand its capabilities.
Buying kitchen faucets is more than just selecting it by appearance, but knowing exactly how it will help to meet your needs. Kitchen faucets are essential fixtures, and wrong selection can make kitchen work difficult for you. You will use the faucets for numerous tasks like washing dishes, filling pots, rinsing produce, and even occasionally taking a drink, and having the right faucet will make it easy to perform the tasks.
Here are some things about kitchen faucets by Kraus that you must know to ensure that you spend your money wisely and get what serves your purpose the best.
Since faucet styles are secondary as compared to the features as the latter is more critical to ensure proper installation and functioning, we will discuss faucet features in this article.
Faucet mounting
The mount of a faucet means the manner of its installation, and there may be different mounting configurations for kitchen faucets. The options are limited when you are replacing an existing faucet because you must follow the current method of installation unless you go for a significant renovation of the sink. There are three types of mounting – sink mount, deck mount, and wall mount.
For sink mount and deck mount, the number of holes on the sink determines the number of faucets required for the sink. Therefore, you must first check whether it is a single-hole sink or multi-hole sink that governs the choice of faucet.
- Single hole faucets have sleek and minimalist looks because the handle mounts directly on the faucet body.
- Multi-hole faucets typically have a separate handle like a bridge faucet or a widespread faucet and require more than one hole in the sink or the countertop. Usually, there are three holes, but to accommodate various accessories, the number of holes can even go up to six. These are more traditional or elegant faucets that require an elaborate arrangement for installation.
Some faucet configurations might be deceptive because it is difficult to ascertain the number of holes it would need for installation.
Checking the faucet description should help to understand better about the number of holes required. But there are some general rules to guide you correctly.
One-handle faucets will require a single hole only, but if a faucet has a separate handle, then it would require two holes. Again, if a faucet has two separate handles, then it requires three holes for installation. Each accessory that you want to add to the faucet will require an additional hole like installing filtered drinking faucet, hot water dispenser, soap dispenser, and side spray. Extra holes may be necessary to comply with the building codes of some places that necessitate using an air gap to prevent backflow contamination for the
dishwasher.
If you sink has more holes than you need, then cover these with decorative plates or escutcheons to coordinate with your faucet.
Positioning the faucet
Decide the position where you want to mount the faucet that depends on the faucet selection. There is no option but to mount the faucet on the sink itself if it is a sink mount faucet that pairs well with drop-in sinks. If it is a deck mount faucet, you must install it on the counter and usually accompanied by undermount sinks. Apron front sinks typically have wall-mounted faucets that use the backsplash for faucet mounting. These sinks do not have any holes.
Measurements
Having decided about the sink mounting, you must pay attention to the spread, which is the distance between the center of one outer hole and the center of the farthest hole. Besides, you must consider three other important measures like projection, clearance, and height.
Projection – Projection means how the faucet extends over the sink. This is the distance between the base of the faucet and the spout. You must ensure that the faucet will reach far enough so that the spout is at a fair distance from the sink wall and almost at the center of the sink. The projection is especially crucial for wall-mounted faucets. If you are using a double-bowl or triple bowl sink, ensure that the projection is enough for the spout to reach out to every part of the sink. Instead of looking for any particular style of faucet for multi-bowl sink, ensure that the projection is adequate.
Height – Many sinks have cabinets above it, and if yours is of that type, then measure the height to ensure that the faucet will not be obstructed by the cabinet, especially if it is a tall faucet with an arc. The height is especially important if you want to wash large pots and pans in the sink that requires a good amount of space between the faucet spout and the sink.
Clearance – Measure the distance between the faucet hole and the backsplash to ensure that there is enough space for swiveling faucets to operate freely and allow smooth working.
Handle type
A single lever faucet is most popular that allows operating the handle even with your forearm when your hands are dirty so that the kitchen stays clean. Installation of these faucets is easier than side-mounted handles. However, side-mounted handles are better in temperature settings. Hands fee faucets with touch-sensitive spouts are also an option.
Spray type
For more convenience and flexibility in using faucets, you must consider the spray type to ensure that it reaches every part of the sink and countertop as the need may be. Faucets with integrated sprayers are quite standard, and multi-piece set with separate sprayers are also available but require more holes in the sink. A pull-down faucet is the best option as you can pull out the sprayer head, which retracts into the spout after use.
Having learned about the essentials of faucet selection, you should be confident in making the right purchase.
