Kitchen Faucets - Buying Tips
A Selection Guide to Buying Kitchen Faucets
By Mark J. Donovan
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Regardless if you are buying a new
kitchen faucet as part of a remodeling project, or simply just replacing your
existing kitchen faucet, there are several kitchen faucet buying tips that you
should first consider.
If you are looking at kitchen faucets
as part of a complete kitchen remodeling project then you have fewer concerns.
If on the other hand you are replacing an existing kitchen faucet, then first
and foremost you need to make sure you buy a kitchen faucet with the same number
of holes in the kitchen countertop as the old kitchen faucet.
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Buying Kitchen
Faucets? - Check Holes Before Buying
There are your traditional 3-hole
kitchen faucets with separate hot and cold handles, and there are your 1-hole
kitchen faucets with a single integrated handle and spout to choose from. In
addition, the 3-hole kitchen faucet models frequently require a fourth separate
hole for the sprayer and/or soap unit.
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With a complete kitchen remodeling
project your kitchen faucet options are completely wide open. You can either use
the traditional faucet with separate hot and cold handles, or the one-piece
centerset faucet with integrated handles and spout, depending on your
preference.
Though the one-piece centerset faucet has gained in popularity in
recent years, traditional 3-hole kitchen faucets still are ideal for both
contemporary and classical kitchen styles. Some also feel that they have better
water temperature control with traditional faucets.
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Many homeowners choose one-piece
centerset faucets due to their sleek look and ease of use. In addition to
integrating both the hot and cold handles into one handle/spout assembly,
many one-piece centerset faucets also integrate the sprayer unit as well.
Other Kitchen Faucet Buying Considerations Include:
Buying Kitchen Faucets? - Consider
Style and Finish
It is important that your kitchen
faucet style and finish blend in well with your kitchen cabinet and hardware
selections. Normally you want to match the kitchen faucet finish with the finish
of your cabinet hardware (knobs / handles). If you are planning a contemporary
kitchen design, then an integrated handle/spout kitchen faucet may make more
sense.
Also, if your specific cooking
preferences require the frequent use of large pots and pans then you will want
to make sure you select a kitchen faucet with a tall, curved spout.
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Consider
Water Volume / Flow Rates when Buying a Kitchen Faucet
Though regulations today specify the
maximum water flow rate out of a faucet to be 2.5 gallons per minute, there are
still choices. Normally homeowners want high water flow rates out of their
kitchen faucets to aid in cleaning dishes, so make sure you read the fine print
on any kitchen faucet box before you buy it.
Kitchen Faucets with
Integrated Water Filtration Systems
A few newer kitchen faucet models
also integrate water filtration systems into their heads. Normally you can
select water from either the water filtration spout hole or the
normal spout hole, pending if you are looking to drink the water or clean with
it. Water filtration systems need regular maintenance and could affect water
flow rates so keep this in mind when investigating these types of kitchen
faucets.
Mechanical Considerations when Buying Kitchen Faucets
Mechanically there are a few major
kitchen faucet designs. Some use compression valves and cartridges, and others
use ball valves, or washerless valves. Others even use ceramic disks for
turning on and off the water. Each has their unique advantages and
disadvantages. Some are easy to repair and some are more durable and expensive
than others.
Compression valve kitchen faucets are
the most popular and the least expensive, however they are limited to
traditional separate hot and cold-water faucets. The compression valves are made
out of rubber and grind against the valve seat to form the seal. They are
notorious for wearing out after only a few years, however they are easy to
repair. Most homeowners can replace a compression valve.
Washerless valves do not use washers
and valve seats. Instead they typically employ O-rings. They are typically lower
maintenance than compression valve based kitchen faucets.
Ball Valves are used on integrated
handle/spout faucets and also employ O-ring seals. The ball valves have slotted
openings that control the mixing of hot and cold water out of the spout.
Ceramic disc valves are the latest
trend in kitchen faucet technology. They are designed with much more precision
and are thus used in higher quality, more expensive kitchen faucets. Typically
ceramic disc valve kitchen faucets are guaranteed to not wear out or leak.
So before you go out and buy a kitchen faucet, make sure you look at all the kitchen faucet options, and fully
understand your own kitchen requirements before buying one.
For more
help on remodeling your kitchen, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Kitchen
Remodeling Bid Sheet.
The
Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet
will help ensure that your kitchen remodeling project goes smoothly and you get
the finished kitchen you are
looking for. In addition, it will help to ensure that your remodeled kitchen will be accomplished on time and on budget.
How to Finance your Kitchen Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related information on Kitchen Faucets, Countertops and other Kitchen Remodeling
Ideas
Additional Kitchen Design Resources
Kitchen Faucets and Appliances from Amazon.com
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