How to choose a kitchen faucet?

Do you dream that your kitchen is not only beautiful, but also functional? How to understand the wide range of models presented and choose the right mixer? Should you rely only on your taste? Maybe it's better to consult a specialist? We'll talk about this and more below.

Species diversity of designs

Main types and design features of modern products:

With two valves - this is a “classic of the genre”, when hot and cold water is supplied through two separate taps. Most often they are used by conservatives with established habits. They are considered the best option when heating water with gas water heaters. The taps are opened by handwheels made of metal, plastic or ceramic, and the water is mixed in a special chamber in the center.

The valve is a faucet with a rubber or ceramic gasket. The disadvantage of the first is rapid wear, the second is afraid of abrasive particles. The positive thing is that the axle boxes can be quickly replaced.

With one lever – it regulates both water pressure and its temperature. Currently, they are very popular as they are the most convenient to use.In order to open or shut off the water, it is enough to turn the handle, which is in a vertical position, to the left or to the right. It is very simple to regulate cold and hot water at the time of mixing by operating the lever in the horizontal plane.

According to the type of internal structure, these mixers divided into balls, with plates made of ceramic or especially durable plastic. The latter are most often produced in China and their quality is, to put it mildly, questionable.

Does not require contact - switching on occurs at the moment when you bring your hands to the mixer. Sensors are not widely used in home kitchens because they are quite expensive, although their convenience and cost-effectiveness are undeniable.

Control is carried out by a touch panel, sensitive to the lightest touch, and often by sensors configured for movement. A huge plus is that the water immediately stops flowing as soon as any manual manipulation under the spout head stops.

Distinctive features of the material of manufacture

The stores sell different types of products:

Metals and their alloys (including steel, nickel, bronze, brass). Bronze and brass have the greatest durability: water has little effect on them, and their appearance can be called luxurious.

Optimal price/quality balance is typical for steel products. It is better to choose the chrome version for reasons of ease of surface care.

Advice! Immediately stop buying a silumin (aluminum + silicon) mixer, because this alloy is short-lived in operation. And what gives it away is the unusual lightness of the device.

Ceramic slightly inferior to metal ones. They are less durable, but will be an excellent addition to the kitchen interior.

Granite They are very rare on the market, and such products are bought exclusively for sinks made of similar material.

Plastic are not afraid of aggressive environments and corrosion, but are too fragile (a suitable place for use is perhaps in the countryside).

Important! It is considered the most practical “symbiosis” of a metal body and ceramic internal elements.

Spout by shape and size: which one to choose?

This is a very important element that forms the external outline and overall impression of the model. It must meet a number of requirements:

• Possess rotating properties and free movement in all directions, especially if the sink is multi-sector.
• The optimal height for washing large items of kitchen utensils, so that it is convenient to draw water into them. It all depends on the volume and geometric shapes of the bowls in the sink (but without fanaticism - otherwise the water will splash in different directions).

They are:

• low (not higher than 190 mm);
• medium (not higher than 240 mm);
• high (more than 240 mm).

Experts recommend choose the middle ones, taking into account the design of the sink sink.

Technical features of connecting spouts with mixers:

• Cast material is characterized by increased strength, protecting the faucet from leakage through the joints;
• prefabricated ones are more demanding to maintain, but are very convenient to use;
• The functionality of the product is greatly improved by the complex hinge device of the model from reliable manufacturers.

Variety of spout shapes satisfies the most aesthetically demanding taste: straight, rectangular, s-, z-, j- and u-shaped, etc.

Besides, spout can be flexible, when the shape and length are adjusted at the discretion of the housewife herself.

An additional bonus is a water divider for aerating the water and changing the jet cone from a regular shower to a flexible retractable shower.

Some housewives prefer faucets with multiple spouts. Depending on the situation, in this case you can switch to a short or high “spout”.

Advice! It is best to buy a sink complete with a mixer, because structurally it has already been selected by specialists specifically for this model.

Side lever or top lever: which is more convenient?

If the spout is highAs a rule, the lever is placed in the lateral plane, the low one in the upper plane. In terms of convenience, there is not much difference. This is more of a personal preference.

But practice has shown that the side position is still better, because it prevents the detergent solution from getting on the surface of the mixer.

Mounting methods

They are different:

Right on the countertop. It is unlikely that you will be able to handle such a fastening yourself; only a master with a set of special tools can carefully cut through it.

To the wall, which is quite difficult to do. To make everything look quite aesthetically pleasing, you will need additional decoration using nozzles or tiles.

Directly to the sink, where there should be a corresponding slot. This is the easiest way to do this, but it is important that the products are manufactured by the same company to avoid disharmony in color.

Purchasing a kitchen set will make the task much easier.

Rotation degree

The bigger it is, the better. Then washing vegetables and fruits, as well as any dishes, becomes very convenient. Modern budget models fully comply with the required level of comfort, turning no less than one hundred and forty degrees.

Expensive faucets show technical characteristics of about one hundred and eighty degrees and even three hundred and sixty, which is only suitable for a kitchen island.

Additional functions

In stores you can buy:

• With pull-out spout – works in two modes: normal and shower type due to the built-in retractable hose with a tip.
• With filter system and two spouts for purified water and regular water.
• With switching to “dishwasher” or “washing machine”. This eliminates the need for additional communications.

It is important to know

You should buy a mixer from trusted suppliers and well-known manufacturers. Trying to save money may result in operational problems for you.

Advice! When choosing, hold it in your hands to feel the weight of the product: the heavier, the higher the quality. Remember that unscrupulous companies often replace ceramics and steel with cheap and lightweight silumin.

Check if there are instructions and warranty obligations.

There are modified faucets with one tap, but paired inlets, the water supply through which is regulated by levers (Lemark Villa).

Many have paid attention to models with LED backlighting, the shade of which depends on the water temperature.

Trusted manufacturers

The most popular in our market:

• Grohe, Hansa, Hansgrohe (Germany);
• Oras (Finland);
• Delafon (France);
• Damixa (Denmark);
• Gustavsberg (Sweden);
• Vidima (Bulgaria).

Mixer Gustavsberg (Sweden)

Among the well-proven domestic brands are Aquaton, products of the Motovilikha Sanitary Engineering Plant, as well as Santekhpribor and Sunmix.

Design solutions

For an original kitchen design, you can choose faucets in different colors, all kinds of shapes, with large and small handwheels and levers.

However, for the sake of fashion trends, you should not sacrifice the convenience and functionality of the equipment. The main thing is an ergonomic combination with the kitchen interior.