How to choose kitchen faucets?

At this point in time, there are so many plumbing supplies that picking up a regular kitchen faucet may not be so easy. If you have been racking your brains for a long time about which faucet to choose for the kitchen is better, then we suggest that you make with us a small overview of the different types of faucets.

Varieties of materials: the most durable mixers

Before choosing a kitchen faucet completely, you need to familiarize yourself with what material it is made of. The material primarily depends on how long the device can last.

Brass and bronze

If the budget does not allow you to buy very expensive items for the home, we recommend that you choose a model made of brass or bronze, because these materials are known for their non-exposure to the influence of a liquid medium. But the main advantage of materials is their high degree of wear resistance. Among other things, the brass or bronze technique looks simply excellent.

Silumin

Among the most budget models, it is worth highlighting an alloy based on silicon and aluminum, which is called silumin. Kitchen faucets made of this material are relatively small in cost, but they do not last very long.

During the selection, you may come across a low-quality silumin model (for the most part, designs are beige, but other models can also have a beige shade), so you should carefully check the goods before buying for weight - usually silumin mixers are very light.

No less economical option are polymer (plastic) models. The design is cheap and lightweight. The material is good primarily because it is not exposed to adverse chemical influences. However, such mixers due to the low strength of the material will not last long for their customers.

Ceramics

Ceramic kitchen faucets are distinguished by their beautiful and very expressive appearance, which is, of course, their main advantage. They combine perfectly with stone countertops, as well as sinks based on porcelain stoneware.

In terms of reliability, this material can be much inferior to metal-based alloys and has a short life.

If you prefer ceramic models, we recommend that you buy a faucet and a sink in one set.

If the sink is already at your place, then you should choose the right mixer for it in style. Very often in specialized stores you can find color faucets for the kitchen, so the buyer can easily select the “correct” faucet for his sink.

Steel

The most practical and durable are faucets made of stainless steel. Mixers made on the basis of this material are characterized by excellent elasticity and resistance to physical damage, heat resistance, as well as relative chemical inertness. Stainless steel has no harmful and dangerous impurities. The cost, however, of such products is quite high.

How to choose a kitchen faucet based on the parameters of height, lever and spout?

Types of kitchen faucets:

• The double-lever mixer for the kitchen is considered the simplest model at the moment, which has one tap and two valves.
• A more modern model is called a single lever mixer for the kitchen. The degree of intensity of the water flow, as well as the temperature of the liquid can be easily adjusted by hand or finger.

Models with a long spout are equipped with a control lever located on the side of the product, and models with a short spout are equipped with a control system located directly above the spout in the upper part of the structure.

Each of these options, when viewed in terms of ergonomics, is considered convenient and practical. Choosing a design with a long spout or a short one is up to you, some prefer a thin regulator that can be controlled using only one hand, while others choose a wide lever, as it fits easily in the palm of your hand. The main advantage of the side lever is that the body and spout can always maintain their original appearance. Water or foam cleaner will not drain onto these structural elements.

The market offers many products that have a thermostat. You can control it with the help of a special sensor, which is built directly into the body or into the sink. When you bring your hand to the electronic sensor, water begins to pour, having the temperature level that you set in advance.

Determining the optimal height

Spouts are sold in two varieties: low and high. Which specific product do you prefer? In this situation, it all depends on how deep the bowl of the sink itself can be. A bowl with a shallow depth (approximately 160 millimeters) along with a low spout can create some inconvenience when washing dishes with large dimensions. Among the shortcomings of the design with high height, its cost stands out, as well as the likelihood that splashing may occur with too strong water pressure.

High spout designs are best suited for those bowls that have a depth of 200-205 millimeters. If the depth level of the bowl is about 195 millimeters, then a model with any height of the spout can approach a similar sink.

An important element of a kitchen mixer can be a swivel spout, which makes it possible to divert a water stream in the necessary direction. If you have a sink with two sections in your apartment, a spout of this kind can be both necessary and quite useful at the same time. A wide turning angle is the main guarantee of the comfort of using the sink.

Additional functions

Nowadays, most kitchen faucets have a built-in filtration system that allows you to always supply the landlord with clean drinking water.

Some modern models have a kitchen faucet with a pull-out watering can. The hose usually has a length of 70-80 centimeters. Such a system will give you the opportunity to fill containers and pans directly from the tap, which are usually located not in the sink itself, but in a specific work area, which is quite convenient in everyday terms. The kitchen faucet with pull-out watering can has a very flexible hose that makes cleaning the sink even more convenient and enjoyable.

On sale now you can also find touch faucets for the kitchen. They work according to this principle: brought the object - the water went, removed it - the water stopped flowing. Such a system is characterized by a certain degree of convenience, but the cost of such products is usually very high.

Appearance Features

In order to make the sink and faucet in the kitchen look organically not only in color alone, but also in the material itself, you should choose accessories for washing that belong to a single series.

Faucets can be selected according to a specific style: for a kitchen in a retro style, you can choose a single lever mixer. If the kitchen has a classic style, then a ceramic or plastic mixer selected by you will be just the way.There is a huge selection of faucets, characterized by completely different external qualities, so you should not focus on anything concrete.