3 Tips for Choosing a New Kitchen Faucet & Sink

If you are remodeling your kitchen, then you should learn all about your replacement kitchen faucet and sink options before you begin the remodeling process. Many faucet and sink styles exist on the market today, and each has their unique advantages.

Read on to learn three tips for choosing a new kitchen faucet and sink that is right for your family's needs.

1. Choose Your Faucet Style Wisely

There are five main types of kitchen faucets:

• Single-handle. This basic faucet style is simple and easy to install and allows you to control temperature conveniently with one hand.
• Double-handle. These faucets have one handle that controls hot water and another that controls cold water, which some people prefer. However, double-handle faucets require two plumbing connections instead of one.
• Pull-down. This faucet type has hose that extends only downward hidden inside of a goose-neck spout. This hose allows you to project water strategically and forcefully toward any area of your sink.
• Pull-out. These faucets have a removable spout that contains a hidden hose that can extend in any direction and not just downward.
• Hands-free. Equipped with motion detector sensors, hands-free faucets automatically begin dispensing water when hands are placed in front of sensors.

Basic single- and double-handle faucets are simple, economical faucet options for everyone. However, if you are an avid cook, you may find that a faucet with a retractable hose makes cooking and cleaning up easier. Hands-free faucets are great options for families who want to prevent the spread of germs around the kitchen more easily.

2. Consider All Faucet Material Options

Kitchen faucets can be made from several different materials, and each has its unique advantages.

The two most popular types of faucet materials are brass and stainless steel. Brass is a metal alloy composed of copper and zinc. This unique combination of metals is attractive, yet not quite as corrosion-resistant as stainless steel.

Since all metal corrodes more quickly in a humid environment, keep your kitchen humidity level in mind when deciding between these two faucet materials and choose stainless steel if your kitchen is frequently hot and steamy.

Faucets made from plastic or zinc are economical; however, these materials are not quite as durable as other options.

3. Select a Stylish Sink Basin

You also have many kitchen sink basin styles to choose from. Many, but not all, come in single- and double-bowl options. Double-bowl sinks work best in most kitchens.

However, a single-bowl, or basin, sink is a good choice if you have a small kitchen that requires a small sink; splitting a small sink into two bowls would lead to each bowl being so small that it would be difficult to fit pots and pans into. Single-bowl sinks also tend to be more affordable than double-bowl sinks.

Popular kitchen sink styles include:

• Drop-in or self-rimming. This classic sink style is popular and economical. Drop-in sinks have rims that extend slightly over the surface of the surrounding countertop.
• Undermount. These sinks have edges that drop slightly below the surrounding countertop surface to provide your kitchen a more streamlined appearance. With no rim, these sinks also make keeping the sink and surrounding countertops clean easier.
• Integrated. These sinks are built right into the surrounding countertops to eliminate all sink rims and seams. However, you must replace your countertops to obtain an integrated sink.
• Apron or farmhouse sinks. These sinks are large and rectangular and have a unique vintage appearance that many homeowners love.

There are other, less common, sink styles on the market, including small prep sinks and island sinks that are often included in the kitchen designs of avid cooks. Unlike kitchen faucet types that vary tremendously in function, kitchen sink types mainly vary in appearance, although some are easier to clean than others. Choose a sink style with an appearance that complements your kitchen design well.

Keep these three tips for choosing a new kitchen faucet and sink in mind when remodeling your kitchen. Contact the plumbing experts at Aurora Plumbing & Electric today to schedule your new kitchen faucet and sink installation today.