Kitchen Faucet Features: What to Look For
Kitchen faucets aren’t as basic as they were fifty years ago. Now, they come packed with a variety of different features. In this article, we have outlined the most important kitchen faucet features to look out for. Hopefully, this will make finding the perfect kitchen faucet for you and your family a whole lot easier.
What to know about Faucet Flow Rate
Obviously, the rate in which you get water from your kitchen sink is important. No one wants to wait longer than they have to for their pots or water jugs to fill with water. The average flow rate for a standard kitchen sink is around two gallons of water per minute. Flow rates can range from as low as one gallon per minute to as high as three and a half gallons per minute. Keep this in mind when looking into different faucets. As a rule of thumb, the higher the flow rate the better.
Why choose Single-Handle Faucets
Single handle faucets only have one handle that changes the temperature of the water, depending on where the handle is placed. When choosing a faucet with this feature, make sure the faucet is a good distance away from your backsplash, as the handle has the potential to hit it depending on how wide its rotation is. Single handle faucets are easier to use and install, but they aren’t quite as accurate when it comes to temperature adjustments as two-handle faucets.
Should you install a Two-Handle Faucet?
This feature is more commonly found in traditional style faucets. With these types of faucets, there is one handle to control the cold water and one handle to control the warm water. While two-handle faucets offer more accurate temperature adjustments than single-handle faucets, they are more difficult to install. Plus, you need to use both of your hands to adjust the temperature. Sometimes handles are part of a base plate and sometimes they are separately mounted, so you do have options here.
How Hands-Free Faucets are the best
Faucets with this feature offer convenience to busy families. With these faucets, the water turns on when activated by a motion sensor. That means you won’t have to touch your faucet if your hands are full or if they are covered in dirt. You just simply have to put your hand under the faucet and water will start pouring out. Most hands-free faucets have a manual option, so you can turn off the motion sensor whenever you’d like.
why to look for Pull-Down Sprayers
We always recommend choosing a kitchen faucet that comes with a pull-down sprayer instead of one that is simply attached. The pull-down sprayer will give you more flexibility as to where you want your sprayer to go. It can sometimes even reach beyond the limits of your sink. This flexibility is necessary, as pots and pans come in all different shapes and sizes. Pull-down sprayers also make cleaning your sink a breeze.
what Spray/Stream Options are best for kitchen faucets?
Some faucets come with buttons on the top or side of the spray head that make it possible to switch between spray and stream mode. This gives you more options when it comes to how to clean the dishes in your sink. The spray mode covers a wider surface, but the stream mode applies more pressure to get out those tougher stains. Some faucets with this feature will stay in the previously used mode until the next time you turn on your sink, which is very convenient.
What is PVD Finish for kitchen faucets?
Faucets with a physical vapor deposition finish are scratch-resistant and are less prone to water stains. A PVD finish can be applied to a number of different materials including bronze, copper, gold, nickel, pewter, and polished brass. Faucets with this type of finish generally come with a lifetime guarantee that this will not tarnish, corrode or become discolored.
Conclusion: What are the best kitchen faucet features?
As you can see, kitchen faucets come packed with a wide variety of features. Now that you have a better understanding of what types of features are available, it should be easier to determine what ones are important to you. Deciding what type of faucet to put in your kitchen can seem like a daunting decision, but it doesn’t have to be!
Resources— Moen, Riverbend Home
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