Best Kitchen Faucet
Finding the best kitchen faucet is not difficult. Using the internet to find the best kitchen faucet is not the best idea. Simply typing in “Best Kitchen Faucet” returns almost 60 million results? How on earth are you going to choose from 60 million results? Walk down an isle of a store and you are met with hundreds to choose from.
Here are the important considerations when looking for the best kitchen faucet:
- How do you use your kitchen?
- What features do you need?
- How important is durability?
The sink area is the heart of any modern kitchen. The sink faucet is arguably the most impactful part in terms of function and style. It’s very important that you choose a suitable kitchen faucet that will make your daily tasks easier.
The Best Kitchen Faucet and Features for How You Use Your Kitchen
There are basically 3 types of kitchen faucets. These are Classic, Pullout, and Touchless.
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All of the above are Kohler faucets. Each have ceramic disc valves that exceed industry longevity standards. They all have Kohler’s premium metal construction for durability and reliability. All have Kohler’s legendary lifetime warranty. The difference in price represents features. Why I picked Kohler for this example is discussed further below.
Pullout Kitchen Faucet
Many clients appreciate a pullout faucet for ease in cleaning dishes and the sink. A pullout also allows for filling an almost limitless size of pots, pans, bottles, and buckets. This is a really nice feature for those items that cannot fit under the faucet.
The Kohler three-function pull-down spray head with touch-control. It allows you to switch between stream, Sweep spray, and Boost. Sweep spray creates a wide, forceful blade of water for superior cleaning.
Touchless Kitchen Faucet
Touchless faucets are highly desired by those who love to cook and really get their hands into it. With touchless, the faucet stays clean and bacteria free from foods. It has no batteries to worry about. With temperature memory, you can speed through cooking and cleanup. You also enjoy a cleaner, more hygienic kitchen.
All touchless faucets generally have pullouts. The convenience of touchless with the highly desired pullout feature satisfies almost every kitchen faucet requirement.
A touchless faucet enjoys no additional functionality over a pullout faucet. The difference really comes down to the extra feature of hands-free operation.
Classic Kitchen Faucet
The Classic is the traditional single hole faucet. Single ergonomic lever handle faucets are simple to use. This makes adjusting water temperature easy.
The Best Kitchen Faucets are Durable.
Consider that for the average family of 4, the kitchen faucet will:
- Get used more than 32,000 times a year. Between 487,000 to 650,000 times over its life.
- Use more than 29,000 gallons of water each year. Between 439,000 to 585,000 gallons over its average lifespan.
- Modern faucets can easily last 15 to 20 years.
How a kitchen faucet is made determines its durability. The cartridge or stem is the single most important mechanical component of a faucet. Look for a faucet that uses ceramic discs. These discs are lubricated and processed with incredible precision to eliminate friction and reinforce sealing. Plus, ceramic itself does not wear out easily. Therefore, the disc cartridges last a long time and are rarely subject to maintenance. However, they are vulnerable to debris in the water. Tiny residues can lodge and potentially damage the brittle discs. This happens if you accidentally apply too much force when it feels stuck.
Here in Orange County, we have very hard water. Lime, scale, and calcium are normal. These mineral deposits collect on faucets, inside pipes, washer hoses, and inside water heaters. This is why I highly recommend ScaleBlaster.
ScaleBlaster is an electronic water conditioner that is affordable, eco-friendly, salt-free, and chemical-free. This is a maintenance free solution to your limescale deposits and soap scum. It’s completely safe for both the environment and your family. The ScaleBlaster water conditioner may be the best solution for your home. It is low maintenance and has low running costs. ScaleBlaster also provides overall improvement of drinking water.
DAD’s Construction has installed ScaleBlaster throughout South Orange County. I have never had a disappointed client. Clients rave about the difference it makes. My home has a ScaleBlaster and it works like a charm!
Who Makes the Best Kitchen Faucet?
There are 4 major players in the residential kitchen faucet market. These are Kohler, Delta, Moen, and Price Pfister. Ask ten people which is the best faucet, and you will get ten different answers. During my 45 years in remodeling, I have learned that customers really appreciate the enduring simplicity, durability, functionality, and appearance of Kohler. Kohler has been in business for almost 150 years. They certainly understand what the customer wants.
Most clients working independently purchase their faucet from the internet or a big box home improvement store. However, ask a Plumber or Contractor (like DAD’s Construction) where to purchase, and the answer is the same. Purchase from a local plumbing supplier. If you want the lowest price, best quality, and great customer service, purchase through your independent Plumber or Contractor.
Why do Plumbers and Contractors often recommend against buying fixtures from big-box stores? These stores achieve their lower prices by picking lower-quality internals for the faucets they sell. The products may share the same name, model number, and appearance as their counterparts from official supply stores. However, the lower-tier parts are specifically manufactured to supply superstore, home improvement (big box), and internet chains.
Extensive industry research has proven that local plumbing suppliers are usually the better option even though they may cost more. Plumbing fixtures, particularly heavily used ones like kitchen faucets, can be prone to problems and tough to repair. That’s why many people agree that paying for premium hardware is a reasonable tradeoff.
What About Kitchen Faucet Warranties?
With superstore, big box, and internet sellers, there’s a bit of a trick in the customer care policy. Support requires proof of purchase (original sales receipt) to be provided. Without such, the company has rights to disregard buyers’ warranty claims. This could be a pain after years of use and you no longer have the receipt.
Manufacturers and retailers are aware of how people purchase today. Using their phones, paying for something is a push button away. There is no paper transaction or hard copy receipt. A few years (or months) down the road, you have no idea where the proof of your kitchen faucet transaction is.
This is rarely the case with your Plumber or Contractor. With them, if you experience a warranty problem, they will get the replacement part quickly and at no cost. This can save you a lot of money and hassle.
A Lifetime warranty granted to homeowners is worthless if you need to jump through endless hoops. Customer service is well-regarded at all of the 4 major brands. From my experience, Kohler’s customer service is second to none and incredibly consistent. They are responsive, fast, and provide original factory replacement warranty parts at no charge. They are shipped directly to me (at no charge) and received within a matter of days.
What is The Best Kitchen Faucet for Me?
After deciding on your type of kitchen faucet (Classic, Pullout, or Touchless), it’s all about your own personal taste and style. The internal components for each type are essentially the same for every model. The only thing that changes is the look. So, pick your brand (I suggest Kohler), find the type that best suits your needs, pick a model and finish, and enjoy!
Anything Else I should Know?
When replacing an existing faucet, make sure you understand how many countertop holes are required. This is especially true if you have an under counter sink. With a surface mount sink, it’s easy to see how many holes you have. With undermount sinks, you will need to get under the sink with a flashlight and count the holes. You will also need to determine the exact hole location.
Lower quality under counter sinks typically have 1 faucet hole. Higher quality sinks can have up to 4 holes.
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Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Kitchen
Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction. We are experts in Kitchen Remodeling who can manage projects in an efficient manner. DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders. Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements. Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract. We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you. If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.
How Can I Receive More Information on Kitchen Remodeling?
If you would like more information on enjoying the best bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free in home consultation. DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California. This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Aliso Viejo.
