Kitchen Sink Faucet Buying Guide

You’re almost finished with your kitchen remodel, but you still haven’t found the right faucet for your new sink. Then it happens: during one Saturday- afternoon foray through a kitchen showroom, you spot the perfect polished- brass beauty. Should you buy it? Maybe. But before you plunk down your hard-earned cash, it’s a good idea to make sure you know what you’re buying.

Most kitchen faucets are turned off and on repeatedly, day in and day out, for many years. For that reason, you’ll want to choose one that not only looks great, but is convenient, safe, and will provide durable service for a long time.

Though price is usually a pretty good measure of quality, it isn’t necessarily the best measure—nor does it determine whether or not a certain faucet will best serve your needs. To make a wise choice, you need a clear understanding of typical faucet construction and inner workings.

With a good valve, water temperature shouldn’t change abruptly as you adjust from cold to hot. In addition, to prevent burns, a scald-guard or temperature-limit feature is offered by several makers for single-control faucets. With these, you can remove the handle and adjust the maximum water temperature the faucet will deliver—a wise feature if you have small children (most plumbing codes now require these types of valves in new residential construction).

For water conservation, all new kitchen sink faucets are now mandated to deliver no more than 2.5 gallons per minute; some provide additional adjustable flow rate restrictors.

Warranties vary. The best ones offer lifetime protection against leaks and drips, ensuring that your faucet will provide years of trouble-free service.