What is the Faucet Flow Rate

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Tom Robinson

The flow rate listed on all new faucet brochures is the gallons per minute (GPM) of water faucet smallfrom a faucet. In the case of a kitchen faucet the flow rate is limited by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct 92) and subsequent EPAct actions to 2.2 GPM for kitchen faucets. The maximum flow rate of lavatory faucets and faucet accessories at 1.5 gallons per minute.

All the above maximums are based on an average pressure of 60 psi. The pressure in your home may impact the flow rate. Most faucets are made to operate at a maximum of 80 psi pressure.

Using a lav or kitchen faucet as a tub faucet would likely produce too low a water flow as it would take too long to fill a tub at 1.5 GPM. Tub faucets are normal max of 2.5 GPM.

Older faucets may have a much higher flow rate – as high and 10 GPM – and to save water should be replaced. 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What is the Faucet Flow Rate

Tips on How To Select the Right Granite Counter Top

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Tom Robinson

This article is not an attempt to bestow a design degree but to offer some helpful hints on how to select a granite counter top color.

·        Granite is made by nature and there is a lot of variation betweenslab slabs and even within slabs. Click Here for a video demonstrating the differences within a slab. Always select the exact granite slabs that will be used in your kitchen. If your kitchen requires more than one slab make sure they all come from the same lot and are numbered consecutively.

·        There are different grades of granite. Granite slabs marked “commercial grade” often have more defects, may have carbon (dark black patches,) will have less graining and are usually duller and lack luster. Click here for example. Commercial grade slabs have the same names as their premium cousins but if you mix commercial with premium you will likely not like the results.  

·        There are different finishes. The most common is polished but Honed is available. Honed is duller and can be more prone to damage.

·        How you countertop looks may depend on where in the slab your top is cut. Click here for example.

·        Dark granite colors will darken you kitchen where lighter colors will brighten the room.

·        Dramatic colors can make a big impact on your kitchen but selecting that dramatic color you love may make it difficult to sell the home if it is too dramatic. I once visited a project where the owner selected a blue glass countertop which looked terrible in the vintage Frank Lloyd Wright home.

·        Bring a cabinet door, tile sample and any other major colors with you to look at the slab.

·        View the slab in natural light and light similar to your kitchen (fluorescent or incandescent) if possible.

·        If you want the countertop to be the focal point make it several shades darker or lighter than the other colors in the room. 

·        If there is a large difference between your floor color and cabinet color you are likely best selecting a color range between the two.

·        Be aware of the type of backsplash you want. If it is granite it will blend in. If you add a backsplash of tile or other materials make sure it does not become the dramatic focus of the room unless you want it to be.   

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tips on How To Select the Right Granite Counter Top

How to Select a Kitchen Faucet Part 5

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Tom Robinson

Maintenance: It may seem odd to worry about maintenance on a new faucet but it is best 191-6639to worry about it before you buy than when something goes wrong and your cannot get the parts.

The maintenance of a faucet is directly related to the number of working parts on the faucet. A simple on and off faucet has few moving parts and therefore less to go wrong.  Faucets that switch from spray to flow have more parts and more to go wrong. Some faucets have electronic parts to turn the water on and off. These parts require electric service to the faucet or batteries. Batteries need to be changed so consider the expense and  inconvenience. The solenoid that is used can also go bad and need to be replaced. Balance your tolerance for maintenance with the convenience of the touch feature. Also make sure you understand exactly how the touch feature works. Many need to be turned on before the touch feature works so approaching the faucet with dirty hands as shown in some commercials is likely not as easy as presented in the advertising.  

All faucets have a cartridge which is the part that turns the water on and off and in single handle faucets mixes the hot and cold.  Cartridges can be made of several different materials. All else being equal ceramic cartridges are best. Cartridge are subject to wear but also to may fail due to build up in minerals or even plugged due to debris in the water line. When the faucet is first installed the water lines should be thoroughly flushed to remove any debris in the lines. The good news is the cartridge in most cases can be easily replaced.

When searching for a faucet ask about the availability and cost of parts.

Make sure you save the installation instructions which should have a parts list for future reference.

When cleaning a faucet particularly those with an applied finish wash with soap and water and wipe dry. For more stubborn grime do not use any acid based cleaners or they will damage the finish.  

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How to Select a Kitchen Faucet Part 5

How to Chose a Kitchen Faucet Part 4

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Tom Robinson

Is a lead free faucet important?

Brass Faucet cast with lead

Brass Faucet cast with lead

There has been a lot of discussion including in this blog about the lead in faucets. Some jurisdictions including California have passed legislation requiring faucets to be lead free.

There is very little doubt that lead is the water supply or anywhere in the residential environment is not good. It has been linked to birth and learning defects.  If your house was built before 1978 it is likely to have lead in the paint. In many states people selling their homes built before this date are required to test for lead and disclose the results to purchases.

Up until recently nearly all faucets on the market were made of brass which included lead as an ingredient to  mold the brass into a faucet. Traditional faucets contained between 6 and 8% lead by weight. Faucet manufactures worked very hard to product “lead free” brass. They reduced the lead but as of this writing had not found a way to produce a lead free faucet from brass.

The legislation in California allows up to .25% by weight lead in the water channel. Many faucet manufacturers began attaching overlong copper waterlines (copper is lead free) to increase the weight and therefore allow more lead in the brass water channel because the weight of the entire system was higher.    

Recently we have begun to see faucets with copper and plastic water channels to isolate the brass from the water channel. Solid stainless steel faucets such as Eclipse contain no brass and therefore no lead. The kitchen faucets from Freendo that are offered by ANO have a lead free copper water channel.

If you want to include a lead free faucet in your project make sure you read the fine print on the faucet box. We have seen a number of faucets sold with large lettering on the front saying they are lead free only to have a small disclaimer on the back saying they meet California standards but have lead in the water channel.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How to Chose a Kitchen Faucet Part 4

Selecting a Kitchen Faucet part 3

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Tom Robinson

In this third article in the series on selecting a kitchen faucet we will discuss available finishes.

Finish

Faucets come in many finished. The most common are chrome, stainless steel,C-68(KPS3034) brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze.

Chrome is the most common finish but is losing popularity and is now often associated with low end/low priced faucets. The finish is susceptible to spotting. The finish is also easy to damage with common household cleansers and can blister, bubble or peel. Chrome faucets have an applied finish usually over brass or plastic. It is important to understand the underlying structure because plastic, if used in the structure such as neck or handles may have a shorter life than metal. Many big box stores offer faucets with increased plastic and less metal to keep down cost. Often these plastic versions of their faucets may look the same and be difficult to distinguish from the stronger longer lasting version until they break. Finishes applied to brass offer a stronger faucet and the brass is a better base to apply the finish. Brass is a good structural material for faucets but does, however, have some drawbacks in the water channel. See the discussion on lead in future articles.   

Brushed Nickel finish is similar to stainless steel and will often complement a stainless steel sink. The color is warmer or more yellow than stainless steel. The brushed nickel is an applied finish and therefore has the same characteristics of the chrome finish. Some manufacturers have developed “spot free” finishes to deal with the tendency of this finish to show water spots.

Oil Rubbed Bronze finish has gained popularity in recent years as designers and consumers are looking for darker faucets to pair with the increasingly popular composite sinks like the ANO German Made granite composite sink. Oil rubbed bronze (ORB) is an applied finish.. ORB finish can also wear off with use. This is both a drawback and a benefit. Many faucets with ORB finished are designed with areas that look worn to enhance this feature. Typically the darker the finish the more resistant it is to wear. When selecting an ORB faucet make sure you look at the component parts; head, neck and body, as they often are different shades.

Stainless Steel faucets have the benefit to being the closest match to stainless steel sinks and other kitchen appliances. Most faucets sold with a stainless steel finish are a stainless steel finish on a brass or plastic structure. With an applied finish you can have the same issue as other applied finishes including peeling and inconsistent color on parts. Eclipse faucets are manufactured from all stainless steel with no finish to wear or peel, consistent color match between parts, and a lead free all stainless steel water channel.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Selecting a Kitchen Faucet part 3

Picking a Kitchen Faucet Part 2

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Tom Robinson

In this second installment on how to select a kitchen faucet we will explore function.

Function

Will the faucet fit your kitchen environment? How does the on/off lever or 191-7720handle work? If the sink is large and the faucet will be installed near a thick back splash, window sill or other feature then make sure the handle will work easily without hitting the back splash or wall. On many faucets the handle can be positioned in the front instead of the side if the throw will hit an obstacle.  It may appear that this would make it difficult to use the handle without getting your hand wet but all faucets are made to swing from left to right so they can reach  both sides of a divided sinks. The faucet is either right or left when turned on and not in the center.

Most but not all kitchen faucets have a spray function either as a separate stand alone accessory or built into the faucet with a button to switch from flow mode to spray. This function can be on a fixed faucet or as part of a pull out hose.  If the sprayer is on a hose check out the length of the hose. Will it reach all areas of the sink. If you select a gooseneck faucet how is the head held in the neck of the faucet when the hose is not in use. Some faucets use magnets. These work well if the head is light but the magnet can wear out over time. Some faucets rely on a weight system to hold the head up. See the following discussion on weight vs. spring retractions systems. Many have a mechanical retaining clip that mecanically holds the head in the neck. Make sure the magnet or mechanical system can be replaced if it fails and the whole faucet does not need to be replaced.

 If the faucet you are considering has a pull out hose make sure the hose retracts easily. There are a several different retraction systems and each has benefits. The most common is the weight system where a weight is placed on the hose to draw the head back into the neck. The benefit of this system is that the head will return automatically to the neck and will not hang down. The problem with the weight system is because the system works on gravity the area under the faucet must be clear. If the area under the sink is not clear the weight can bang on the waste or supply pipes. Boxes or other suppliers can block the weight so it does not pull the head back.

Less common is the spring retractions system where the hose is installed through a spring that aids in the retraction. In this system the head needs to be push back into the neck but the spring aids in the retraction. The benefit of this system is that there is no weight to bang on the plumbing and the system is not dependant on gravity so it works even if there is a soap box under the faucet.  

In our next article we will look at finish, maintenance and warranty.

Posted in Faucets, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Picking a Kitchen Faucet Part 2

How to Select a Kitchen Faucet

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Tom Robinson

There are a number things to consider when you chose a new kitchen faucet;191-7717 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.

Posted in Faucets, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on How to Select a Kitchen Faucet

Cleaning ANO German Made Granite Composite Sink

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Tom Robinson

Cleaning your new ANO German Made Granite Composite sink is easy. No harsh chemicalANO-200U Midnight are required!

  • When your sink is first installed it should be thoroughly cleaned to remove any construction related debris, dust and dirt.
  • Use soap and water and soft cleansing pads like Scotch Bright or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
  • For stubborn water spots, soap scum or other spots mild cleansers like Barkeepers Friend can be used.
  • To avoid build up of minerals or soap scum the sink should be washed, rinsed and wiped dry after use.
  • To remove mineral build up a mixture of white vinegar and water will remove the minerals. There are also a number of commercial cleaners available. such as CLR or Lime Away. Do not use acid based cleaners. Use only pH neutral cleaners. As with any cleanser test it in a small hidden area.
  • If you need to remove labels they can be removed with acetone – nail polish remover.
  • Mineral oil or commercial conditioners can be applied to a clean sink to enhance the luster.
  • DO NOT use steel wool, bleach, ammonia or drain cleaners. 
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cleaning ANO German Made Granite Composite Sink

Features and Benefits of ANO German Made Composite Sink

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Tom Robinson

There are a lot of sinks on the market being sold as “Granite Composite Sink” or just ANO-200U Walnut“Composite sinks.” The ANO German Made Granite Composite Sinks is made from 80% natural stone material and 20% acrylic resins. There are a number of colored sinks made of acrylic resin typically called solid surface sinks that are often confused with Granite Composite Sinks but are softer and more easily scratched and stained.

Features or ANO German Made Granite Composite sinks:

  • 80% natural stone and 20% resin
  • Scratch proof
  • Chip resistant
  • Heat resistant
  • Stain Resistant
  • Non porous – hygienic
  • Color all the way through the material
  • Impervious to household acids
  • Easy to Clean
  • Fade resistant
  • Resistant to damage from temperature change hot to cold or cold to hot.
  • Deep 9 1/2 inch bowls from underside of granite
  • Standard drain openings so fit any standard basket strainer or disposal ring – ANO offers color matched strainers and disposal rings
  • Lifetime Warranty

Benefits of ANO German Made Granite Composite Sink:

  • A beautiful sink that will last a lifetime just like your granite countertop.
Posted in Composite sinks, Kitchen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Features and Benefits of ANO German Made Composite Sink

New Soap Dispenser From Eclipse Stainless

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Tom Robinson

Eclipse Stainless has modified the existing Standard soap dispenser and added a new model.  Eclipse discovered that some dish soaps – Dawn in particular – have an ingredient that reacts to stainless steel and can cause the canister to deteriorate particularly at the welded seem at the bottom. To eliminate this issue Eclipse has changed to a high quality plastic canister.

Eclipse has also introduced a new Deluxe soap dispenser. This model has more detail and matches well with the KPS3034 Poseidon faucet.

Standard Soap

Standard Soap

soap dispenser deluxe

Deluxe

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New Soap Dispenser From Eclipse Stainless