Shopping for taps may not be rocket science, but it’s not something to be taken lightly either. This is especially true if you want to make the most out of your investment. The right faucet, after all, we’ll make cleaning up after a day of cooking convenient and fast.
So make sure you understand each type of faucets’ pros and cons before you buy one.
Pull out Faucets
Pros
- Comes with a longer hose for easy and convenient washing of pots and pans, and the sink
- Add convenience when filling large pots and pans with water
- Short spout makes it suitable for sinks with limited space around or above it
- Flexible spray head minimises splash-back
Cons
- Not advisable if you have a small sink
- Not advisable if you need to fill tall items with water, such as pitchers. You would have to tilt them, spilling the content in the process
Pull down faucets
Pros
- Perfect for a deep sink
- Comes in a variety of spray options for convenient rinsing, washing or filling
- Single downward fluid motion accounts for ergonomics
- Less manoeuvring means fewer kinks in the hose
Cons
- Tall spout requires bigger amount of space over the sink
- Water pressure loss could be a problem because of the spout’s height
Dual handle faucets
Pros
- Supplies hot and cold water
- Traditional setup separates the hot and cold handles on either side of the faucet
- Sprayer is usually kept separate, providing more options to use the tap
- Two handles allow more precise temperature adjustments
Cons
- Two handle installation is a bit complex
- Require the use of both hands to adjust the tap to your desired temperature
- Adjusting the water flow and temperature can be a learning curve for some
Touchless faucets
Pros
- More convenient to use than pulling a spray head or operating a lever
- No need to touch the fixture to let the water out if your hands are dirty or full
- Keep your hands clean after washing. No need to touch anything afterwards.
- The best touchless faucets have an activator on the front, and a switch for manual operation
Cons
- Require AC power or battery to operate, bringing built-in energy cost
- More expensive than other types of taps
- Only come with one temperature setting, usually warm
- Installation can be tricky
Side-spray faucet
Pros
- Provide non-sprayer faucets with spray capabilities
- Easily fit and fill existing faucet holes
- Works with all faucet styles
- Most come with a traditional design
Cons
- Adding one means you’ll need to make another hole on your countertop
- Sprayer may be more awkward to use because it’s not integrated into the tap head
- Doesn’t come with a lock-spray mode, requiring you to hold the trigger all the time you’re using it
- May have less pressure than a built-in spray
To help you make the right choice for your kitchen tap, contact Seven Seas for advice given based on the kind of sink you have and the overall design of your kitchen. And, whatever faucet you choose, we can also help you with the installation.