Kitchen Faucets are quintessential to the functionality and completeness of a kitchen. Without a simple and reliable kitchen fixture to conveniently deliver temperature-controlled water, cooking and cleaning could be many times more difficult.
This section will tell you what features to look out for when you are shopping for the best kitchen faucet for your kitchen. We will also be outlining the benefits of each feature or design choice presented to you.
What are the types of kitchen faucets?
There are many features that typically make up a good kitchen faucet, but none of them are as important as Reach and Handle. They are the parameters by which most kitchen faucets are classified, and are the most important parts of the faucet. They heavily influence the design and functionality of the kitchen faucet.
Types of faucet based on their reach
Reach is about flexibility, functionality, and how much distance a faucet can cover while it’s transporting water. There are two main types of faucets under this type categorization: stationary and pull-out/ pull-down faucets.
Stationary faucets
Stationary faucets are faucets whose reach, size, and length remain constant after installation. They extend over the sink bowl in a bold arc with an even-sized spout for water delivery. They are perfect for small shallow sinks.
Pull-down and Pull-out faucets:
Pull-down and pull-out faucets are faucets with built-in sprayers and extendable spouts. The spouts are attached to long hoses that give the homeowner more reach while cooking or cleaning in the kitchen. Pull-out and pull-down faucets are more or less the same, with only a few key differences.
Pull-down faucets have a taller leaner gooseneck spout which curves upwards into the basin. They are great or sinks with deep basins. On the other hand, Pull-out faucets have shorter, leaner spouts and lengthy hoses that extend your faucet’s reach over the countertop. They are best for shallow double basin sinks.
Pull-down and pull-out faucets
There are three different types of handles you will typically get when you purchase a faucet.
Single-handle faucets
This the basic kind of faucet you find in most homes. It takes up very little space and provides decent control over the temperature.
Double-handle faucet
This type of faucet is harder to install than the single-handle faucet and separates the hot and cold water valves in the faucet to different handles. They also have better temperate control than the single handle type.
Touchless faucets
These types of faucets use new-gen motion technology to control the flow, heat, and pressure of the faucet. These handles are marketed towards individuals who prioritize convenience and cleanliness. The sensor activates the faucet when it senses movement, so you can use with when both your hands are busy or wet.
How much do kitchen faucets cost?
The cost of a functional faucet for your kitchen could be as low as $50 and as high as $250.
For $50, you get a bare-bones water faucet with no pull-down or pull-out faucet or accurate temperature control. At $100, you will get better construction materials like stainless steel or brass, and you might find a compelling double handle pull-down faucet. At $150, you get quality craftsmanship, high-end features, such as magnetic docking, etc. At $200 and above, you get finishes to improve the product's longevity, improved customizability, smart home features, etc.
Are your mounting holes right for your kitchen faucet?
This is usually not a problem unless you are upgrading from a basic faucet to something better. Most kitchen faucet manufacturers tell you exactly how many mounting holes you will need to install their products, so you can either prepare your sink or choose another water faucet.
If you have too few holes on your kitchen counter, then you have to make more holes. And if you have too many, you will need to seal the extras.
What extra features are available?
Aside from the essential features that should make or break your purchase decision, there are also other bonus features you can look out for while you’re shopping.
Finishes
The finish of your kitchen faucet serves a double function. The first is to protect the metal the faucet is made from, and the second is to beautify your kitchen. Most manufacturers carry five to six finish options. When you’re buying your kitchen faucet, you can choose to make the finish stainless steel, nickel, platinum, pewter, or matte black. High-end manufacturers sometimes offer gold and silver finishes also for their products.
Your choice of finish affects the price of your faucet, so make sure you remember that while you are shopping for the best kitchen faucet for your kitchen.
Smart features and extra features
Some kitchen fixture manufacturers take special care to bake in useful smart, and convenient features. A good example of that is the automatic shut-off feature that prevents home flooding by shutting off your faucet after it’s been flowing for minutes. Another is a thumb trigger on pull-down and pull-out faucets, the faucet swivel feature, pressure control, or magnetic docking.
These are not the only additional features you can with your faucet, and you typically get more or fewer options depending on the manufacturers you go with. Since all faucets perform great at this point, these extra features are marketed as a unique edge over the competition.
FAQs
What water faucet brand is best?
We recommend buying kitchen faucets from Delta faucet, Moen, Kohler, Price Pfister, and Kraus. These manufacturers prioritize quality and provide the best kitchen faucets at affordable prices.
Can you install a water faucet yourself?
You can install a water faucet yourself as long as you have the right tools and basic knowledge of faucet installation works. All the information you need should be in the manual that comes with the faucet.
Are touchless faucets worth it?
They are. Depending on what kind of cooking prioritize in your kitchen or home, a touchless sensor might make sense to you.