Kitchen Faucets

Information current as of

One of the most shocking aspects of remodeling our kitchen was the price of the kitchen faucet. Why in the world would something so basic and so boring cost $100 and more? I was more than shocked, I was down right angry about it. But I quickly learned that you get what you pay for. There are $50 faucets available, but they're almost guaranteed to leak with a year, and cause you all sorts of problems.

The most popular brands of kitchen faucets are Moen, Delta and Kohler. We have reviewed them in this site, including pictures, price ranges and features.

What to consider when buying a kitchen faucet:

• Which design best fits your decor
• The purpose of the particular sink
• Traffic around that sink, how many will use it?
• The sink's size
• One or two handles
• The overall finish (chrome, brass, colored, titanium or gold plate)

There are dozens of faucet designs on the market today, choosing your perfect one can be an overwhelming task. Stores specializing in kitchens and bathrooms will have the best selection, but you can be sure the price will be up there, too. Just try to remember what I learned; you get what you pay for.

You may want a gooseneck faucet, one that highly arched above the sink and is good for getting large pots or tubs into the sink and out again with room to spare. These are also good for washing small children in the sink.

Safety and convenience are important factors when buying a faucet. Today's models offer several features including:

• Anti scald devices to limit the temperature of water thus preventing scalding accidents (most common with children)
• A memory device which restricts a single handle faucet from reaching the hottest settings
• Hands free operation for children and those suffering from arthritis or other conditions. Also helpful for those with really dirty hands so the faucet itself doesn't get too dirty. You will commonly see these in public bathrooms.

Spout design is the most common feature that is reviewed among homeowners.

More and more people are getting bigger sinks for their kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. This creates a need for spouts with longer necks. The experts would tell you that the spout should get as close as possible to the center of the sink. If your perfect spout doesn't reach that far, consider getting a spray hose in order to reach the farthest corners of the sink for cleaning. You can also get a combination faucet/hose which does just what it says; it combines the functionality of a faucet with a long reaching hose. There are handy but can be leaky and look tacky if not done correctly.

For smaller sinks you wouldn't want a large overbearing faucet. Not only would it look disproportionate, but the splash and water production would quickly overpower the small sink.

The better faucets will have brass parts that are solid and heavier than cheaper plastic parts. Plastic parts also aren't as durable or long lasting.