Kitchen Faucets: Basic Types
Faucets are manufactured in three basic styles. With a two-handle centerset style, common in the bathroom, the spout and both valves are combined on a single base unit. Single-handle faucets, common in both baths and kitchens, are centersets where hot and cold are controlled by one lever or knob that's often part of the spout. The third type is called a widespread faucet-with this, the hot-water valve, cold-water valve and spout are all mounted separately.
Though antique-style separate valves-where hot and cold each have their own handle and spout-are still made, nearly all present-day faucets have mixing valves, where hot and cold are mixed and delivered through a single spout. Kitchen Faucet Materials and Finishes
Though faucets appear to be made from different materials, most are made from brass and are given any of several finishes, from powder-coated enamel to gold plating. Parts may be fabricated-machine stamped or pressed- or cast in molds, the better of the two methods. Kitchen 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 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 and 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. Faucet temperature-control valves and safety considerations With a good valve, water temperature shouldn't change abruptly as you adjust from cold to hot. In addition, to prevent burns, particularly to children in bathrooms, 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 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, insuring that How to Install a Kitchen Faucet
The main determinant of how easy or difficult it is to install a kitchen faucet is access.your faucet will provide years of trouble-free service. Installing a faucet into a new sink is simple because you can do it before setting the sink in place, with full access to the faucet parts, including the hard-to-reach mounting nuts.
If the sink is already in place, replacing a faucet can be a challenge since your only access is from under the sink. This will require you to lie on your back and work around the supply lines to get to the mounting nuts that will secure the faucet.
Even with the aid of a nifty tool called a basin wrench that extends your reach, it's still an awkward task. Depending on your circumstance, you may find it easier in the long run to remove the sink first.
After installing your new faucet, remove the aerator from the faucet and flush the lines to ensure that any debris does not clog and reduce the water flow. On a standard faucet, simply unscrew the aerator at the end of the spigot and let the water run for a minute or two.
With a pullout sprayer faucet, the aerator/filter is housed in an inlet in the sprayer head. Just unthread the hose, remove the aerator/filter, and flush.
1. Many new faucets require some assembly before mounting to the sink; if that is the case, follow the manufacturer's directions. With most pullout sprayer faucets, the sprayer needs to be threaded through the faucet body first.
2. Insert the rubber gasket between the base plate of the faucet and the sink top to create a watertight seal. If no gasket is provided, pack the cavity of the faucet with plumber's putty, then insert the faucet body through the holes in the sink top. Thread the mounting nuts provided onto the faucet shafts, then center the threaded shafts in the sink's holes and tighten the nuts firmly.
3. Many manufacturers include a special long socket specifically to aid in tightening the mounting nuts. A hole in the socket accepts the shank of a screwdriver, guiding it as you tighten the nuts. If you're mounting the faucet on an installed sink, use this method.
4. If you're installing a pullout sprayer faucet--or a faucet with a separate sprayer--now is the time to connect the sprayer to the faucet body. Check the manufacturer's directions to see if using pipe-wrap tape for this connection is recommended. Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the connection.
5. Most pullout sprayer faucets and faucets with separate sprayers come with a counterweight that attaches to the sprayer hose. This weight helps retract the hose back in to the sink cabinet after you've used the sprayer. Follow the manufacturer's directions on where to secure the weight, and take care not to crimp the hose as you attach the weight.
6. Hook up the faucet's hot and cold supply lines to the water supply shutoff valves under the sink. If necessary, gently bend the copper tubes coming out of the faucet for better access and connect flexible supply tubes to them. Simply wrap a couple of turns of pipe-wrap tape around the threaded nipples on the valves and connect the tubes. Tighten the nuts with an adjustable wrench.