How to choose a good kitchen tap?

28.05.2021

Category: Guides

Author: Mexen

Even though more and more people have a dishwasher in their homes, the traditional sink is an indispensable element in the kitchen: quick rinsing of dishes, food products, or even washing kitchen elements. A sink is an essential part of every kitchen, and with it: a well-chosen kitchen tap. This fixture must be a considered choice - it not only needs to serve for many years but also to meet our needs well. Kitchen taps are available in an extremely wide range of models, finishes, and styles: we advise on how to choose a kitchen tap!

Types of kitchen taps

The current market offer of different models can be overwhelming: one might think choosing a tap is easy and simple, but it isn't that straightforward! Much depends on the size of our kitchen, the sink itself, and the functions the tap is to perform. In terms of installation type, we distinguish two types of taps:

freestanding taps: these are mounted in the sink hole or directly in the countertop. It's the most common model - its installation is not difficult, and flexible connections for cold and hot water are connected under the sink or countertop. Moreover, the size of taps and holes is standardized, so there are no problems when replacing the tap with a new one.
wall-mounted taps: this type is mounted directly to the hot and cold water connections coming out of the wall. The popularity of this solution is decreasing year by year, and it is mainly chosen by people who are replacing fixtures without a full renovation of the entire installation.

Another distinction for taps is the handles: there are single-lever and dual-lever taps. With a single-lever kitchen tap (as the name suggests), we regulate both the water temperature and the stream intensity with one handle. This type of tap can be operated with one hand, which is a much more convenient solution than a dual-lever tap. In its case, we have two knobs - for hot and cold water, and each regulates the water stream intensity. This type of tap is used less and less often - most of us opt for convenient solutions.

Which sink tap - remember practicality!

Are you wondering which kitchen tap to choose? Keep in mind that practicality is extremely important here: the kitchen tap is used very often - for washing dishes, food products, larger elements (like large baking trays or heat-resistant dishes). Often, it's also here where we fill bowls or buckets - a great solution is a kitchen tap with a pull-out spout! This type of tap is equipped with a retractable hose, usually between 1 and 1.5 meters long. Thanks to this, even in a single-bowl sink, you can wash a large frying pan, pot, or baking tray - the spout allows control of the water stream at 360 degrees, so it's a good choice, especially for a small kitchen. Moreover, such spouts allow for quick cleaning of hard-to-reach places and make it easier to fill a bucket or bowl.

Kitchen tap: summary

When choosing a tap for your kitchen, you need to pay attention to a few important aspects:

functionality (adjustable water stream, easy operation, additional aerator that makes the water more aerated),
quality of workmanship (appropriate components, ceramic head),
appearance (classic silver taps, or black or chrome, for modern interiors).

Choosing a kitchen tap can be quite a challenge - however, we hope our guide dispelled your doubts!