pull-down kitchen faucet
Courtesy Kohler Co.
Who hasn’t woken up with a sink filled to the brim with dishes, a messy remnant of last night’s lasagna dinner, or a late night baking party with your kids? Somehow, the pan you left to soak grew into an intimidating pile. In these moments and thousands more like them, a powerful kitchen sprayer can be a lifesaver. Not familiar with these kitchen utensils? Here you will find out exactly why you need a spray head in your kitchen and how you can decide which type is right for you, according to experts from two leading brands that specialize in kitchen faucets.
Related: The Secrets of Our Dishwasher
Task Master Extraordinaire
“Whether you’re rinsing the corners of your sink or removing fresh vegetables from the garden, a faucet with the right sprayer will help you get your kitchen chores done quickly,” explains Danielle Radic, Kitchen Product Manager at Moen. Sprayers can better control the flow of water, improve maneuverability, and help fill containers faster, she explains. One of the benefits of a sprayer, according to Stephanie Krickeberg, senior product manager for kitchen faucets at Kohler, is that it can be pulled around the entire sink, reaching hard-to-reach places that you might otherwise miss. “Without a sprayer, you’re limited to where the faucet is delivering water,” she says.
Kitchen sink style
Spray settings include stream or spray options with a touch control that lets you switch between them. Brands like Moen and Kohler use proprietary technology that dramatically increases the flow rate. This is a boon to fill large pasta pots and water jugs faster.
Sprayers fall into three buckets: pull-down, pull-out and side spray kitchen fittings. Pulldowns do exactly what the name suggests: the pulldown from the tap body with extended reach and flexibility. They are often larger and have a higher arch than excerpts. “They’re great for areas where you want a bigger faucet for a more dramatic look or easy maneuverability of large pots and pans in and around the sink,” says Radic.
The story goes on
Pull-outs have a rod that pulls out of the faucet base and works well in tight, vertical spaces. “Integrated spray heads like pulldowns and pull-outs offer the best of both worlds by creating a seamless look while maintaining the functionality of a sprayer,” says Radic. Function, she adds, should always be in the foreground.
Sidespray kitchen faucets are stand-alone devices that are installed next to the tap in two-hole sinks. Sometimes it’s the best choice for your particular cuisine. “Certain design aesthetics like a traditional bridge cock don’t always work well on a pull-down sprayer,” says Krickeberg. “A side spray can be added to get the same sprays and features that would be seen on a pulldown while maintaining the desired aesthetic.”
Weigh your options
The spray designs range from modern to traditional and come in a variety of colors, materials and finishes. Plus, they’re available in a variety of prices, from budget-conscious options to luxury investments. According to Krickeberg, contactless or intelligent functions ensure a higher level of comfort and cleanliness. Kohler’s Crue model, a pull-down spray head with Boost technology ($ 390, kohler.com) is the brand’s cheapest model, while Kallista One, a laminar flow pull-down faucet, scores the highest ($ 1,750 Dollars, Kohler). com).
When deciding which spray nozzle is right for your kitchen, you should consider your kitchen layout and design aesthetic. “Your kitchen faucet should reflect your personal style. So first choose a design that suits your needs,” says Krickeberg. And other factors play a role. “It’s important to think about what daily tasks you do in the kitchen and choose a faucet that will enhance your experience in the room and help you do everyday tasks more efficiently.”
If you are a practical DIY enthusiast, you can likely install a new faucet yourself by following the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Not that practical? It might be time to call the plumber.
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