Photo: amazon.com
When it comes to kitchen renovations, cabinets and new appliances usually take up most of the budget. Smaller design options, such as B. Faucets, however, can have a significant impact on the aesthetics of your cooking space.
The kitchen’s workhorse, the faucet can serve as vital hardware that allows you to effortlessly wash hands, rinse fruits and vegetables while keeping the space around you clean. Homeowners should think twice before buying that first faucet they see – there is a lot more to consider than brand and price. With hundreds of styles to choose from, not to mention the finishes and other features, choosing the best kitchen faucet for your space can be a daunting task.
If you’re looking for the perfect faucet, check out this list of our top products – these highly rated items will complete your kitchen.
- BEST OVERALL: DELTA FAUCET Leland Touch kitchen sink faucet
- RUNNER UP: Moen Arbor single-hand pull-down kitchen faucet
- BEST BUDGET: WEWE one-hand kitchen mixer with high arc extension
- BEST TOUCHLESS: KOHLER Simplice Response Contactless kitchen mixer
Photo: amazon.com
There are a few features important to keep in mind to ensure you choose the perfect faucet for your kitchen. Whether you’re looking to replace an old faucet or just upgrade, consider the handle, reach, and mounting style.
Handles
There are three options for handles for a kitchen faucet: single, double and contactless.
- Individual faucets are easier to use and install, and take up less space than their two-handle counterparts. However, when it comes to setting the temperature, they are not as precise as double taps.
- Double taps There are separate hot and cold water valves to the left and right of the tap. The handles can be part of the base plate or mounted separately. Installing two-handle faucets is more difficult and requires both hands to adjust the water temperature.
- Contactless models are a relatively new technology that is now available for home use. The main advantage of these models is comfort and cleanliness. A motion sensor activates the water. If your hands are full or dirty, there is no need to touch the device. They cost more than single and double taps.
To reach
Kitchen faucet spouts are available with stationary, pull-down or pull-out options.
- Faucets with stationary outlets Usually a separate sprayer is mounted on the side. Side sprayers have gone out of style these days but are still available in basic models. These units are mounted away from the tap and require a hole in the sink, which complicates installation because of the additional plumbing required.
- Pull-down and pull-out spouts have a built-in sprayer that acts as a stationary spout when not in use. The spout is pulled out of the one-hand tap head on a hose or pulled down. There is a counterweight in the neck of the faucet that makes it easier to retract the hose and spout. These types of sinks come in handy when washing up vegetables or cleaning the sink.
While both pull-out and pull-down faucets share many similarities, the main difference between the two is how much free space is required. ON Pull-down faucet generally has a larger gooseneck spout and the actual spray hose is usually shorter than on extendable models. Pulldowns are an excellent choice for deep single sinks.
Pull-out faucets have shorter spouts and the hose is longer than pulldowns. You can quickly fill pots and pans from your countertop instead of the sink. These faucets are suitable for shallow double sinks.
Mounting style
Most sinks come with pre-drilled mounting holes for faucets and accessories like soap dispensers. When buying a new sink that will fit your faucet, anything you want can be selected as long as the faucet brackets match the number of holes in the sink. However, if you’re replacing a faucet on an existing sink, you’ll need to fine-tune the mounting mechanism. If the faucet comes with a base or top plate, it can cover additional holes that are not used. In general, don’t buy a faucet with more sinkholes than your sink – drilling holes in your sink is not easy and is not recommended as a home improvement.
There are also faucets that can be mounted on a wall opposite the sink. These faucets are usually located near a stove and are mainly used for filling pots. Most homeowners don’t use this style of mounting.
design
Faucet designs are either straight or have a gooseneck curve.
- Straight Faucets are compact and less expensive, but they leave little space in your sink to fill large pots.
- Gooseneck Models are spaced further apart, but they take up more space and usually cost more. Whichever design you choose for your kitchen, make sure you have enough reach and keep it proportional to the size of your sink.
Finished
Faucets are available in many designs. Standard options include chrome, stainless steel, nickel, platinum, pewter, and matte black. The type of surface affects the appearance, the cleanability, the stain and rust resistance as well as the price of the faucet. The glossier the finish, the more fingerprints and water marks will be visible. Many surfaces are also available in a brushed version. This type of surface is perfect for hiding fingerprints and other stains. It all comes down to whether the finish of your chosen faucet matches your existing kitchen and furnishings.
Our top picks
We looked at the best kitchen faucets to choose five that matched the needs of the budget, design preferences, and finishes of the homeowner. We have also selected the best overall for performance and comfort.
Photo: amazon.com
1. BEST OVERALL: DELTA FAUCET Leland Touch kitchen sink mixer
DELTA FAUCET is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of do-it-yourself and construction products and one of the first to revolutionize the manufacture of faucets. This top choice is an excellent combination of traditional style and modern features. This faucet is more than just looks. It combines everything that customers love about a modern kitchen faucet: a pull-down spout, a gooseneck style, a one-hand function for water control and contactless activation for hands-free operation.
The faucet has Touch2O technology to turn the water on and off and uses magnets to properly dock the spray head. There is an LED light that shows the water temperature and three different spray modes.
Photo: amazon.com
2. RUNNER UP: Moen Arbor one-hand pull-down kitchen faucet
Moen is known for creating beautiful products that will last a lifetime. The special thing about this Moen faucet is the Duralock Quick Connect installation system, with which this faucet is easy to install. It also features a long tube – 68 inches long and is equipped with Reflex technology to bend, swivel and stretch in all directions without tangling or damage.
The Moen also controls the water flow with its Boost Steam function, which enables faster cleaning and faster filling at the push of a button.
Photo: amazon.com
3. BEST HOUSEHOLD: WEWE single-lever kitchen mixer with high arc extension
WEWE is a small home improvement company that specializes in a variety of affordable kitchen and bathroom fittings, bath and shower products. The WEWE single-hand high-arch faucet has a slim, tulip-like design that easily fits most wash basins. You get a three-way spray setting: power to add water, spray to rinse, and pause to avoid splashes in multitasking mode. The pull-down hose and water line hose are pre-installed in the kitchen faucet for easy installation. It has a corrosion and rust resistant surface that hides dirt and prevents dirt from sticking to the surface. It’s easy to clean and affordable too!
Photo: amazon.com
4. BEST TOUCHLESS: KOHLER Simplice Response Touchless kitchen faucet
KOHLER is another powerhouse in the home improvement industry, best known for its sanitary products. The Simplice touchless faucet allows you to enjoy a cleaner and more hygienic kitchen environment. It has the Intuitive Response technology tailored to your every move. With a simple movement of the hand or an object like a pan, the smart faucet turns it on or off. Do not worry; Not every movement activates the water. The sensor is precisely designed to prevent false activations.
The Simplice also has the bells and whistles of many high-end faucets such as gooseneck, pull-down spout, magnetic docking system in the spout and an optional power upgrade for cleaning and filling pots. Of course, the non-contact technology comes with a high price. However, if you are looking for a solid, no-touch faucet in the market, this model is worth considering.
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