Choosing the right kitchen faucet

Choosing the right kitchen faucet may seem like an easy task, but there are a few things you should know before making any desicions. Making a substantial purchase is sometimes frustrating when you do not understand all of the ins and outs of a faucet. Yes, you may know the finish and features you want, but what about quality and ease of use? Here Is an attempt to answer some questions you may have.

KITCHEN FAUCET HANDLES

The two handle faucet is making a comeback. For about the last 20 years it seems, everyone and their uncle had a single lever chrome kitchen faucet. These days people are searching for a look that's fancier. Two handle faucets offer a greater range of design options. Many fixture companies offer dozens of design options on handles alone. With this one feature, you can create a custom look for your faucet. Not to be outdone, single lever faucets now also come with a variety of handles. The main problem with this is that once you choose a style, you are usually stuck with it. It is important to remember that different manufacturers' handles are not interchangeable. Whatever you decide, there are more options now than ever.

KITCHEN FAUCET FINISHES

Years ago, finishes corroded or tarnished, espescially polished brass. These days you do not have to worry about your kitchen faucet's finish. Today fixture manufacturers use a special process called PVD or physical vapor deposition. The PVD process integrates the finish into the faucets base metal. This means that the finish is a part of the faucet, not just a coating on the outer layer. This makes the faucet resistant to tarnishing, corrosion and scratches. With the development of PVD there are numerous choices of finish now available at reasonable prices.

KITCHEN FAUCET MANUFACTERER

With the spread of the world wide web, and international trade expanded, there are now more options than ever. A word to the wise would be to stick with a major brand name. You may pay a little more now, but it could definately be worth it. Not to say you can't get a decent off brand faucet from Indonesia. The problem is not quality per se(although it is usually substantial), but replacement parts. Most plumbers are wary of installing off brand faucets. This is because the replacement parts are almost never available to the mainstream market. If there was ever a problem with your no name faucet, you are stuck with buying and installing a whole new faucet. Major brand name faucets, such as Delta, Moen, Sanliv and American Standard have faucet parts readily available should a problem arise. In fact, most plumbers are already familiar with these brands, and their parts.

HAPPY SHOPPING

Whichever kitchen faucet you decide on, make sure you realize that this small item can increase or decrease the value of your home. There are a lot of choices out there, and there are many, many great faucets to choose from. Happy shopping!!

Please visit www.sanliv.com to select more modern kitchen and bathroom faucets

Ceramic Disc Faucets

An emerging trend today is the ceramic disc valve, a type made popular by high-end European faucet makers and now produced by American Standard, Kohler, Price Pfister, and many other American faucet manufacturers. A ceramic disc faucet actually has two fire-hardened ceramic discs—an upper one that moves and a fixed lower one. The two discs move against each other in a shearing action, blocking water or allowing it to pass through. The seal between the two discs is watertight because they are polished to near-perfect flatness.

Ceramic disk faucets are nearly maintenance free and are generally guaranteed not to wear out. Ceramic valves are more durable over the long run in a broader variety of water conditions than any other variety of valve on the market. The discs themselves have diamond-like hardness—they are impervious to line debris, mineral buildups, and other common problems that affect valve life.

If a peeling from galvanized pipe or a small rock gets into the valve, it can score the surfaces, but these occurrences are rare. If a ceramic disc faucet drips, don't try to force the handle closed—just flutter it back and forth a few times to dislodge any particles.

The range of control with a ceramic disc faucet varies. From full-off to full-on may require only a quarter or half turn; for a fuller adjustment range and greater flow, three-quarter-turn models are also available. In general, all washerless faucets offer very precise, ergonomic control. Even a child can turn one of these faucets off and on with one pinkie. They're also good for people who have arthritis or who want something more decorative than a lever style.

Ceramic discs are popular because of their ease of use and reliability. Though competitively priced ceramic disc faucets are now available, ceramic discs that cost $100 or more are used primarily in mid-range and high-end installations. If a repair is ever needed, the entire ceramic disc cartridge is replaced, which runs from about $15 to $25.

Please visit www.sanliv.com to select more modern kitchen and bathroom faucets