There
are such a wide variety of faucets to choose from today that
it can become a bit of a nightmare when it comes to selecting
the right one for you. The first thing to consider is your needs
and wants when it comes to selecting the right faucet.
Safety:
Most scalding accidents happen when a child turns on
the hot water faucet instead of the cold. If you have small
children, avid cooks or a person who have extreme difficulty
manipulating faucets in the house, then a sensor, automatic
or one lever faucets are the way to go. A scald-guard or temperature-limit
feature is available for single-control faucets.
Durability:
There
are four kinds of faucets;
1)
The compression valve faucet uses
rubber washers. This faucet is the most common type on the market
and is the least expensive. Washers wears out eventually causing
faucets to drip. Some newer designs raise and lower the washer
without grinding it into the valve seat, extending their life
considerably.
2)
Washerless faucet designs do not use
washers and valve seats to control water flow. They offer precise
control and reduce leakage problems that result from worn washers.
3)
The ceramic disk faucets are extremely
durable, nearly maintenance free and typically carry a lifetime
guatantee. This type of faucet might be more expensive than
the compression valve and washerless faucets but will cost you
less in the long run when it comes to repair and maintenance
fees.
4)
The cartridge faucet is more about
the "feel" than the "look" of the faucet.
Cartridge units are offered on both single handle and two handle
faucets. Much like the ceramic disk, the cartridge faucet usually
does not need any maintenance which makes it woth the price.
Installation Needs:
Consider the sink or countertop's hole configuration
(the number of holes you need in your sink), before purchasing
faucets. One-piece faucets (combined handle and spout piece),
need a single hole for installation. The traditional faucets
need 4 holes e.g. a seperate hole for the hot and cold taps,
a hole for the spout and a hole for the sprayer. If you need
extra features like soap dispensers or sprayers, make sure that
the holes in your sinks can accommodate them.
Levers
/ handles:
a)
Single Handle Faucets:
A good choice for older users who have difficulty opening faucets
with round knobs or children who usually reach for one handle
or the other. There are single-handle models that let you adjust
the flow mechanism to limit the amount of hot water available.
For disabled persons, look for a faucet with the "ADA Approved"
label.
b)
Two Handle Faucets: The choice of a one or two-handled
faucet is purely personal. With one handle, you enjoy convenient,
single-handed control of water temperature and volume. Two-handled
faucets offer more handle styles and spout designs.
c)
Variable Center-set faucets
are widespread faucets connected by hoses rather than solid
piping, and are the most common in contemporary widespread lavatory
faucets. These can be mounted into 8inch centered drillings
or offer those with undrilled countertops to vary the spacing
even further apart for custom spacing.
d)
Single Hole Mounting: These faucets are mounted
through a single hole. These usually have a single handle, but
at times can have two.

Pot
fillers:
Pot filler faucets are installed near the stove, and
might make a great addition when remodeling your kitchen. Pot
fillers allow the user to avoid the headaches and time consumption
spent on trying to fit a large pot under the standard faucet
height.
Water
conservation:
You would be surprised to find out how much water that
innocent drip in the bathroom faucet is wasting. A pinhole leak
can waste as much as 70 gallons of water in one day - 20% of
a typical home's daily water use. All new faucets are now mandated
to deliver no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute. There
are faucets available with additional adjustable flow rate restrictions.
Styles:
Styles of faucets you can find are;
-
Classic or traditional: an everyday and functional look
-
Vintage: antique, Victorian
- Contomporary: sleek and modern
Finishes:
More practical finishes for a bathroom or kitchen faucet is
brushed and satin finishes which cleverly hides scratches.
The least practical would be colorful enamel coatings. They
are generally more expensive and more susceptible to scratches
and chipping.
Guarantees
and warranties:
Get in the habit of buying products with warranties.
The best ones offer lifetime protection against leaks and drips.
Rather pay a bit more and know that if the product you bought
breaks within a year or two, that it will be replaced without
cost. If you buy cheap, you buy expensive in the long run.
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