Picking a tap for your kitchen isn’t as easy as it seems. You have to consider your water pressure and the aesthetics of your kitchen. Make the wrong choice, and you’ll need to go through the process of picking a tap again.
If you want to avoid returning your kitchen water tap to the store, ask yourself the following three questions before you purchase any product.
1) What’s your water pressure?
Water pressure is a crucial element when picking the tap you’ll eventually install in your kitchen. Before making a final decision, get your plumber to measure the water pressure levels. You can also do this yourself using a water pressure gauge. You can get one at most home improvement stores. However, it would be best if you got a professional to do this for you.
The location of the tap also plays a role in its pressure levels. Wall-mounted taps and mixers need higher pressure levels than individual hot and cold valves installed on your washbasin.
There are a variety of taps built to handle these sorts of water systems if you have low-pressure levels. High-pressure systems also need a specific type of faucet. You might also want additional features to control the pressure levels and prevent issues such as leakages due to burst pipes.
2) What materials are the taps made from?
There are various options you can get at home improvement stores such as Taps Direct when considering the material type and finish of your tap – brass, stainless steel, and copper, to name a few.
Homeowners use brass in areas with corrosive water. Corrosion occurs due to various factors such as water pH levels below 6.5, high mineral levels, or an increase in water temperature. These three factors increase the likelihood of corrosion in your pipes and taps.
Brass also adds a timeless aesthetic look and feel to your kitchen. Copper is also another timeless material. It is also famous for its antimicrobial properties. Any bacteria in the tap and pipes die off within a few hours. However, copper tap fittings require a lot of maintenance and tend to stain easily.
Lastly, you also need to consider the finish of the materials. Are they chrome or lacquer plated? If they are chrome-plated, ensure you don’t use harsh detergents or cleaning agents to erode the surface. Chrome-plated taps are preferred as they are more durable and don’t easily show signs of wear and tear compared to lacquer finishes.
3) What’s the size of the washbasin or washstand hole?
It seems obvious, but a lot of homeowners rush out to buy a new tap or mixer without checking the washbasin hole(s) diameter. If you are purchasing a complete set (washbasin and faucet), you may not need to bother with this tiny but essential detail.
However, if you are replacing a tap in an existing washbasin, or purchasing each part individually, make sure your faucet matches the pre-drilled holes.
To measure the pre-drilled holes, use a measuring tape to check the radius of the hole. Measure the distance between the center of the hole and the far left. Repeat for the far right. These measurements should ensure you get the right faucet size.
Final Thoughts
Always plan to invest a considerable amount of time in deciding the right tap for your kitchen. It would help if you also bought taps that come with an iron-clad guarantee. A no-questions-asked guarantee shows the manufacturer has faith in their products, and that they’re more trustworthy than the average business.
If you want to avoid a mess in your kitchen after your renovation, consider all of these factors before you buy a tap!
