Choosing kitchen sink faucets is indeed a challenging
task and demands your time and attention. In the present times, with
such a diverse variety of sink faucets hitting the market, you will keep
thinking as to which one to go in for. Faucets are mostly available in
one or two handle. The main idea is to control the water flow and the
temperature of the water. While selecting the type of faucet, consider
the fact that faucet directs the flow of water, towards the center of
the bowl. The best kitchen sink faucet should be one that lasts for a
longer duration of time and has a low maintenance cost.
Select a sink faucet that suits well with the theme of your kitchen is
one more consideration to make. The first and foremost thing to look out
for in a kitchen sink faucet is its durability. Go in for sink faucets
that do not drip. Some of the features that a good sink faucet must
provide comprise of hot-limit safety stops, pressure-balancing valves
and thermostatic valves. Some of the things that need to be taken into
consideration before making the final choice of sink faucets are size,
functionality, finish, spigot etc. To know more about the various types
of kitchen sink faucets available, read through the following lines.
Types Of Kitchen Sink Faucets
Ball Faucets
A single handle type, Ball faucet is commonly used in kitchen sinks. It
was also the first type of washerless faucets available. Its single
handle moves over a rounded ball shaped cap, above the base of the
faucet spout. The plastic ball inside the faucet body controls, both the
flow and the temperature of water. However, since the making of ball
faucets involve a number of parts; this variety tends to leak more than
the other washerless faucets available.
Disc Faucets
A latest entrant in the modern faucet technology, disc faucets have a
single handle over a wide cylindrical body. In this variety of disc
faucets, there is a wide cartridge that holds two ceramic discs. At the
time of use, these discs slide over each other to control the
temperature and flow of water. One of the best features of this faucet
is that it does not require much maintenance.
Cartridge faucets are available in both single and double lever. In the
contrast to the ball type (which requires you to push back the lever),
the single lever cartridge faucet operates in an 'up/down' motion to
regulate the water volume and a 'left/right' motion for temperature
control. The double cartridge faucet, on the other hand, is extremely
similar to the compression washer faucet. However, the action of the
turn off and on motion is much more smooth and consistent one than in
the compression type.
Compression Faucets
One of the oldest varieties of kitchen sink faucets, Compression faucets
are identified with the separate hot and cold water handles. Operational
on a double lever, it requires a person to tighten the handles down to
close off the water flow. The least expensive variety, it works on a
compression stem, which is a type of screw with a washer at the end of
it, pressing against a valve seat.
