Kitchen Sink Faucets
Are you doing a little remodeling and thinking of upgrading your kitchen sink faucets? Good choice! Since the faucet sits center stage atop the sink, it does grab your attention.
If you have hard water, chances are it’s been playing havoc with the inner workings of your kitchen faucet. Besides contributing a steady drip-drip-drip, hard water residue may have stained your fixture leaving it an unsightly mess. It’s time for a new one!
But what are you really getting when you pay top dollar for new kitchen faucet? Chances are, all you’re getting is less money to spend on the rest of your kitchen upgrade. A leading consumer reports organization did some testing on kitchen faucets to get the real scoop. In a surprising turn of events, their tests discovered that despite the marketing hype, faucet prices have little to do with performance. In this case, you don’t always get what you pay for!
When it comes to faucets for the kitchen, it’s the exterior finish and not the brand that ultimately determines long-lasting durability. Now, who would have thought!
Of course, spending extra money does open up more options to choose from. But how do you choose which is the right faucet for your kitchen? Prices range from $75 up to a whopping $600! Let’s examine what to look for.
Lifetime warranties that cover leaks and stains is about standard in the faucet industry. Thanks to technology, most get the job done of delivering water exceptionally well. Except for the cheapest faucets on the market, today’s kitchen fixtures are built with better valves and tougher finishes. So performance is not really the true test – they all do a good job of that. What is worthy of watching out for is what happens to the faucet with everyday wear. Just how does it stand up to scratches, stains, bumps and bruises?
What the consumer group decided to do was perform their tests on the finish of the faucet and not the brand. Ultimately, this is what you’re interested in when buying a kitchen sink faucet.
Okay, a little chemistry class. Faucet exteriors are assaulted with charged metal atoms. These particles chemically bond to the surface of the base metal in a process called physical vapor deposition, or PVD. The thing is that different metals affect different finishes. Even bronze and nickel. The review team discovered that faucets with PVD finishes stood strong despite earnest attempts to scratch and mar them. PVD finishes are not bullet-proof however and strong corrosives (i.e. drain cleaner) can lightly stain them.
A shiny chrome plated faucet is popular in many kitchens. Chrome is pretty durable but can be scratched with a heavy-duty scouring pad. If you like the look of chrome, use caution when cleaning your faucet.
Tested were the single-handle pull-out faucets, the fastest-growing style. They combine spray head and spout for added convenience and flexibility. But the findings are applicable to other faucets, too. Here’s what was found in the faucets review:
Bronze offers a distinguished look to the kitchen sink and a good choice if you’re not into shiny fixtures. Choosing the right treated bronze is important though. Tests showed that a faucet with PVD finish held up well in abrasion tests where the bronze without the PVD finish – not so good.
When you’re considering a kitchen upgrade, a new faucet will certainly give a whole new look to the sink and the entire kitchen. Kitchen sink faucets are relatively inexpensive (compared to other items in kitchen remodel!) and provide a distinctive look you’ll enjoy for years.