Ever bought a touchless faucet before?
No?
This is a list of things you must check before buying a touchless kitchen faucet.
Even if you are already familiar with this type of faucets you will still benefit from the following list.
- Build Quality
The build quality of any product is an indicator of its durability, the better the build quality the more life you can get out of it. As you know the faucets in your kitchen are used regularly, probably on an hour to hour basis. So it is of paramount importance that the faucet and its components are made of high quality materials, otherwise you will have to suffer a leaky faucet.
When it comes to kitchen faucets those made of brass is the best. Brass doesn’t corrode, and since faucets have water running through them I can’t stress enough how important it is for them to have corrosion resistance. Most touchless kitchen faucets have a brass lining inside them where it comes in contact with water.
What is an easy way to find out of your faucet is of good build quality? Simple, just weight it with your hand. If it is heavy chances are it is of high quality.
- Position of motion sensors
The position of the motion sensors on your faucet varies from brand to brand. Some brands have the motion sensor on top of the spout, others have it on the base of the faucet. Some of the best touchless kitchen faucets even come with two motion sensors; one for the spout and the other for the base.
I personally prefer the ones with two motion sensors. For me, waving my hand above the spout is more convenient, and the sensor at the base will keep the water running when I place my hand or a pot for washing in the sink.
Pick according to your convenience and comfort. There is no wrong answer here.
- Power source
Touchless faucets operate either on battery or on A/C power. But the most common ones are battery powered. For any faucet the batteries last more than two years, so you don’t have to worry about replacing them frequently. There are also hybrid versions which run on both. But I prefer battery powered ones for its simplicity and lack of any power cords.
- Features and size
Every product has its own set of extra features to improve its performance. But now most features on products are just marketing gimmicks. So when you are buying a touchless faucet for your kitchen focus on only those features that matter.
Most touchless kitchen faucets come with a pull down faucet head. This is a feature that vastly improves your convenience when cleaning. Some of them even come with a magnetic docking head. Another common feature is a handle that helps to easily control the water temperature. These are useful and probably the only features your faucet needs.
Also make sure that the faucet you buy fits your sink as they are available in different sizes. It can be quite frustrating to realize that the faucet you bought is oversized. Always do your homework before you make the purchase.
- Service & Warranty
Service availability and warranty are two things many people fail to see the importance of. Warrant is an indicator of how much the manufacturer trusts its own product. A faucet with a long warranty is likely to last longer. And yes, many of us checks that before buying.
But;
Most people don’t think about service/parts availability. Many faucets these days are made in China and are distributed by companies that do not have an outlet near you. This is especially true when you buy online. So in this case, trying to approach a service center or the manufacturer for any damages or warranty is futile. I suggest you go with a brand you are familiar with.
- Design and Finish
A good touchless kitchen faucet with excellent design and finish is not hard to find. In fact, most of them are designed to be great looking. Just make sure that the faucets you buy do not look out of place in your kitchen.
- Installation
Pick a brand that provides clear instructions on how to install the product. Make sure that the product you buy comes with all the tools that will be required to install the product. If you can find any online guides, that’s even better.
- Price
Touchless Kitchen faucets come in a variety of price packages. Evaluate all your options, and choose a faucet that gives you the best value for money.
I recommend that you weigh your options by assigning weights to each of the consideration factors mentioned above, and evaluate your options accordingly. If you’re price conscious perhaps you can compromise a little on design, and find something decent that is in your budget.
Decide on a budget before you start looking at options. This way you won’t be tempted to purchase a faucet that you can’t afford. Planning in advance can save you from a lot of problems in the future.
I hope my check list helps you to buy the right touchless faucet for your kitchen. If you have any additional points to add feel free to let me know in the comments.
