There are a number things to consider when you chose a new kitchen faucet;
style, brand, function, finish, maintenance, warranty, budget and where to purchase. Nothing is worse than picking a great looking faucet at a great price only to find out it does not work the way you live, it does not hold up or you cannot get parts.
Style: There are a lot of styles
· Basic sink mounted faucet without spray
· Wall mounted
· Faucet with side sprayer
· Pull out faucet with built in sprayer
· Gooseneck faucet with pull down spray
· Pull out faucet with no spray function
· Pot filler faucets
· And more
First Considerations
The wall mounted faucets usually require in wall reinforcing and certainly require in wall plumbing. If you are remodeling consider the extra cost of making changes inside the wall.
If you are replacing a faucet you also need to consider the number of holes in your counter top. Your counter or sink may have as few as a single hole and as many as five. If the faucet you purchase does not cover all the holes you will need to have plugs that match the counter or sink. Even you install plugs they will likely not hid the holes completely.
A typical faucet will have three holes for the faucet and if the faucet has a side spray a hole for the sprayer. The counter may also have a hole for a soap dispenser. Faucets made for new hard surface countertops with undermount sinks are often designed with a single hole with a built in sprayer. Single hole faucets may have base plates either included or sold separately to cove the three holes form more convention faucets.
Is Brand Important
The answer is yes…. and no. Faucets with recognizable brands have been around longer and may have a track record. However, in recent years many of the brands have begun reducing the value of their brand value by offering cheaper look-a-like faucets to be able to sell to the big box store market. Many brands have two versions of popular models one for the plumbing trade and the other for the home center market. Often the two are indistinguishable unless you put them side by side or weight them. The original faucet may be several pounds heavier because the big box version has been cost engineered to include more plastic and less metal. Lesser known brands may be more sensitive to their consistent quality level.
In future articles we will deal with more considerations when selecting a new kitchen faucet.
