Top Nine Things To Know When Choosing a Faucet

Need a new faucet for your kitchen or bath? There’s more to consider than you might think. Before you head to your local home improvement store, think about the answers to the following questions.

The more you know before you go, the easier picking your new faucet will be!

Have you checked the logistics for the faucet?

When fitting a new faucet to an existing sink, check the layout and number of holes before shopping. Base plates are available to cover extra holes if needed. If the faucet is for a new sink, the pieces can be planned to work together.

What kind of valve does your faucet need?

Most faucets use cartridge, ball or ceramic disc valves. A faucet with a ceramic disk valve and solid brass base materials will be the most durable.

What style of faucet would you like?

There are three basic options:

• Deck plate, where spout and handles are contained on a plate
• Non-deck plate, with singular components sold as a set
• Wall-mounted faucets, which leave the rear sink area clear and work nicely for sinks without pre-drilled holes

There are also many different kinds of handles. Single-handle faucets are easier to use than those with dual hot and cold handles. Faucets with a side-mounted handle can be harder to reach, so think about where it will be placed.

What kind of spout should your faucet have?

Straight-spout models are compact and often inexpensive, but you might need to move the faucet to fit a big pot under it. Gooseneck models (10-18″) have higher clearances, but they can cause splashing if your sink is shallow. Some faucets even have adjustable height features.

No matter what type you pick, make sure the faucet head swings enough to reach the entire sink, especially if you have a wide or double-bowl sink. Watch proportions. A large sink looks funny with a small faucet, and vice versa.

What type of finish do you prefer for faucets?

The finish is a personal choice. Chrome-plated brass has been the most popular finish for years, but the less-shiny satin nickel and bronze have been catching on recently. Stainless steel, mixed finishes, and even solid color enamel are now available, too.

What features does your faucet need to have?

Available choices include spray volume control, water pause buttons, built-in filters, touch-sensitive controls, hands-free operation and more.

Water conserving units and aerator faucet heads help with greener lifestyles. ADA compliant faucets are available and are typically labeled as such. Temperature limit stops can provide scald protection.

What kind of faucet accessories do you want?

The trend is definitely for a pull-down spray attachment, but you can also go for a side-mounted spray hose. Spouts with stainless-steel hoses tend not to kink as much as others.

Built-in soap dispensers are a popular accessory for eliminating the dish soap bottle from view.

Consider other conveniences, like a garbage disposal, hot water dispenser, or an under-sink water filtration system.

Consider how the faucet will be cleaned.

For best results, wipe your faucet with a clean, soft, damp cloth. Blot dry as often as possible and buff dry to keep your product beautiful.

Occasionally apply a non-abrasive polish to prevent water deposits and remove build-up of household soaps, creams and sprays to all finishes.

Never use abrasive cleaners or chemical cleaners (including window cleaner) on products with a protective coating or custom finish. Such cleaners might attack the coating and may void the finish warranty.

Choose your faucet!

If you’ve thought about the considerations above, you’ve done your homework. Feel good about your choice and enjoy a new faucet.

If you need help, schedule an appointment to have The Waterworks install your faucet.