Buying the right kitchen faucet depends on largely what existing plumbing you have to work with. Buying a new kitchen faucet can be overwhelming and frustrating if you haven’t considered the details before you begin shopping.
Start with the sink
There are many different kitchen faucet and sink designs available, but they are not always necessarily compatible.
Start by taking a look at your kitchen sink to determine how many faucet mounting holes are available. This applies whether you are installing a new faucet in an existing sink, or if the new faucet is also installed in a new kitchen sink.
If your existing faucet has a mounting plate, check under the sink to see how many holes the mounting plate covers. Each new faucet will indicate on the packaging how many mounting holes it needs for installation and are available in 1-4 hole versions. Some faucets will provide multiple options in one to accommodate different sink configurations.
The location of the sink mounting holes is another thing to keep in mind. Often the faucet is located close to the center of the sink, but this is not always the case.
If the faucet will be mounted on one side of the sink, the spout needs to be long enough to reach the opposite basin for it to be of use. A tall spout with a pull-down spray nozzle is another option for a sink with corner mounting holes.
Check the water lines
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Make sure that your new kitchen faucet is compatible with the water supply lines.
Before you go shopping take a look under the sink and make a note of the existing water line size and the shutoff valves. If the existing water shutoff valves are a different size from your new faucet, you will need to change the shut-off valves before you can install the new faucet. It is usually a good idea to replace the shut-off valves when installing a new faucet anyway as an old valve is more likely to fail should you need to shut off the water. If you do not have separate shut off valves, you might want to consider calling a professional.
Know the finish
The third item to consider before you buy a new kitchen faucet is the finish. Although this is just for aesthetics, it is an important consideration when replacing any plumbing fixture. Make a note of what finish you have or want to have, for your kitchen hardware. The kitchen faucet should match the finish of sink accessories, such as the air gap, soap dispenser, and sink-hole cover whenever possible. A shiny chrome finish will look out of place if the rest of the fixtures are a brushed nickel finish.
Having this information will narrow down the choices and make your buying decision easier. Now you just have to pick one!
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