For most homeowners, faucets probably fall under the list of items that are rather cut and dry. In other words, it’s likely not something you expect to be creative with and put a lot of thought into. However, believe it or not, faucets are one of the easiest ways to add a unique touch to your bathroom or kitchen. Not to mention, it’s also one of the best ways to freshen things up, without turning the project into a complete remodel. As we often do here on the blog, we always enjoy providing easy tips that any homeowner can utilize. Whether that be in terms of important maintenance tasks or more fun stuff like design ideas, there’s always something you can do to improve your home’s plumbing system.
On this week’s blog, we’re going to be focusing on faucets and in particular, kitchen faucets. Generally speaking, you usually have a few more added-styles and design types to pick from with kitchen faucets, as opposed to those in the bathroom. We’ll take a deeper look at these various kitchen faucet styles, as well as discuss a few recommended brands to consider the next time you find yourself faucet shopping.
Types of Kitchen Faucets
While kitchen faucets were once rather bland, it’s safe to say they’ve seen plenty of advancements over the years. You now have plenty of options at your disposal and can truly pick one that matches your vision for the space. Here are a few differentiating factors to consider:
Single-Handle or Dual-Handle – Unsurprisingly, one of the basic decisions you’ll need to make is deciding between a single-handle and a two-handle faucet. We see each of them on plenty of occasions in both bathroom and kitchen settings. For residential uses, single-handle faucets tend to be more popular in the kitchen, but there is really no major advantage to one or the other.
Pull-Down or Pull-Out – Next on your list of basic kitchen faucet qualities is deciding between a pull-down and pull-out faucet handle. For deeper sinks, pull-down faucets tend to be the preferred option, as they make it easy to get added water pressure on those tough to remove spots without water going everywhere. On the other hand, due to how pull-out faucets work, they have a little more flexibility in what they’re used for. So, if you needed to fill up a larger pot in a place other than directly in the sink, that would be easily completed.
Finishes – While each of the items above referenced specific types, it’s important to also acknowledge the various finishes. This is the part where you can truly find something that blends in with the rest of your kitchen. Considering a kitchen faucet will likely see a rather significant workload, it’s important to keep durability in mind when considering various options. Remember, the brand itself will also have a substantial impact on the actual durability and toughness as well.
However, back to faucet finishes. There are quite a few finishes for homeowners to consider. Chrome has long been a popular choice in both the kitchen and bathroom, while continuing to be a budget-friendly option as well. Stainless steel is another great fit for those striving for low-maintenance finishes and at the same time, emphasizing durability. Looking for a more modern-looking style in your kitchen? Matte black might be the perfect fit for you. It’ll surely stand out and serve as a focal piece in your kitchen. How about something with a little more pizzazz? Brass, copper, and bronze are all capable of adding a unique touch with varying qualities. Long story short, there is no shortage of kitchen faucet finishes in the year 2022! With such a wide range of styles at different price points, you’ll have no trouble finding one perfect for your kitchen!
Voice-Activated Kitchen Faucets
Technology might not be a topic you regularly think about in regards to plumbing, but there’s no denying that the two are intertwined. Over the years, we have witnessed so many different elements become pieces that can be controlled with smart phones and so on. In addition to a number of other advancements, it goes without saying that the voice-activated feature of certain kitchen faucets has been a neat one!
There are a handful of brands out there that currently have voice-activated faucets for sale. While each may vary slightly, the core premise holds true. They allow you to say a command, such as “pour 1 cup of water,” and the faucet emits that much water. Here’s a couple of examples you can reference if you’re interested in learning more:
Moen – Moen, who is certainly among the industry leaders, has a number of different smart faucets available for homeowners. While we could go through each of these styles individually, I just linked one of them HERE. If you’re looking for a kitchen faucet that will truly make life in the kitchen easier, then any of Moen’s smart faucets would be a good starting point. This model, in particular, allows the ability to not only use the voice-activated features, but also control the faucet via their app. Not to mention, Moen’s smart faucets also come in a handful of different color styles, so you’ll have no trouble finding one that matches your existing color scheme in the kitchen.
Delta – Going along with the theme of industry leaders in the faucet world, Delta is also near the top of the list. Their voice-activated technology works in tandem with either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It is compatible with several of their newer kitchen faucet models and offers a lot of similar features as mentioned above with Moen. For more information, as well as a few FAQ’s, take a look at their website HERE.
Commercial Faucets?
While this blog post was largely intended to be focused on residential kitchen faucets, we understand faucets are just as important in commercial kitchens as well. No matter if it’s in the bathroom or kitchen, commercial facilities should always make sure durability is a priority when shopping for new faucets. Chances are they’ll see increased usage in these situations and need to be able to withstand the daily wear and tear. If you ever need some recommendations for quality commercial faucets, reach out to our team and we can steer you in the right direction.
Faucet Services in Kansas City
As you can likely guess, faucet repair and installation has always been a popular service for our Kansas City plumbing business! It’s something that’s not only important from a functional point of view, but also can provide an aesthetic boost as well. Nonetheless, as evidenced throughout this blog, picking out a kitchen faucet is a decision that provides you with plenty of options. From the different types/styles, finishes, added features and so on, it’s not as straightforward as one might expect.
In the voice-activated faucet section, we hinted at a couple of the major brands in the faucet world: Delta and Moen. Both are brands we see and recommend on a regular basis. To sum it up, you can’t go wrong with either of these companies. However, there are more than a few others out there that we feel confident recommending. Here are a few more worth checking out: Kohler, Pfiser, American Standard and Gerber. Given that these different companies operate at different price points and offer a wide range of styles, we’re sure you can find something for your kitchen. If you live in or near the Kansas City area and are interested in getting an estimate for any type of faucet services, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (816) 348-3481.