Elegance On Tap
For an appliance with a seemingly simple function, your kitchen tap presents a complex choice. With endless options on the market, it can be tempting to take home the first tap that’s easy on the eye, or one that matches the Pinterest picture you saved, but it’s important to take your time while shopping around and carefully choose a design that will go the distance and suit the way you want to use it. To help you pick the perfect tap for your kitchen, we’ve compiled a list of the key things you should consider before making your final selection.
Style
Your tap is an important design element that can both define and enhance the style of your food preparation zone. This is particularly true if your sink is located on an island or peninsula. Think about the overall theme of the room and look for a design that will blend in seamlessly. A low-profile, L-shaped tap can provide a subtle and sleek look, while an oversized C- or U-shaped tap that stands tall over the sink will instantly attract the eye. Minimalist tapware with sharp clean lines and a high-shine finish are the perfect finishing touch to a contemporary kitchen. If you have a more traditional room, a tap with gentle curves or decorative details will add charm and elegance.
Height
When deciding what shape you want your tap to have, you need to know your sink’s width and depth. An oversized C- or L-shaped tap that sits high will allow for large items to be moved freely underneath, but if your sink is shallow, the height from which the water falls could cause splashing. Try to balance the height or position of the tap with what you plan to do and put under it.
Adjustibility
It is always worth installing a tap with a swivel spout and directional nozzle so that filling up large pots or rinsing trays can be done with ease. With this feature, you can manoeuvre the faucet to suit your every food-prep and clean-up need. Swivel spouts are also a must for a doublebowl sink.
Mounting Style
Where exactly do you want your tap to sit? Wallmounted styles will leave you with extra bench space and make for easy clean-up, while a benchmounted tap creates a classic and seamless look. If you are giving your kitchen a quick and cost-effective makeover, a sink-mounted tap is generally cheaper to install and replace.
Flow
Taps are available in dual- or single-flow styles; the choice is entirely down to your personal preference. Single-flow taps mix hot and cold water within the tap’s body and spout, ensuring that by the time the water has left the spout it is well and truly mixed to the desired temperature. In dual-flow taps, hot water is fed through a separate pipe within the spout, with the cold water passing around the outside. Although the water only mixes once it has left the tap, the benefit is that the spout should never become too hot, and backflow is minimised.
Ergonomics
It’s easy to fall in love with a striking design, but remember that children and elderly family members with limited hand mobility may also be using the tap. Round- or cross-handle fixtures that require a grip and twist motion can be difficult to operate by those with restricted hand movement and strength. With this in mind, taps with lever handles are the smartest option. Another benefit of lever-operated mixers is that they can be used with just one hand or a nudge of the wrist, which comes in handy when you’re multitasking or need to wash your foodsplattered hands while cooking.
Professional Power
A professional-style tap with a pull-out hose will be the best friend of any avid home chef. When it comes to food prep and clean-up, nothing beats the powerful directional spray and easily manoeuvred hose of a commercial pull-out tap as it cuts through stubborn food debris, grease and gunk.
Material and Finish
Brass or black? Chrome or copper? With so many finishes and trend influences on the table, the finish of your tap can be the hardest choice. It wasn’t long ago that chrome and brass were just about all the looks on offer, but now there are bold alternatives to suit any taste or budget. Chrome or polished steel is traditional and timeless, while brushed steel or nickel will match kitchen appliances. Matte black is also very popular in modern design, with white and bronzed metals also making an impression. Stainless steel is likely to meet everyone’s usage requirements. It is regarded as the most hygienic of metals, with a surface that harbours no mildew or bacteria. Scratches can also be buffed out and it is available in polished or brushed finishes.
Compliance
Before buying any water-using product, be sure to find out its Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) rating. The formula is pretty simple: the more stars on the WELS label, the less water the product uses and the more money you save. Tapware can have a maximum star rating of six, which indicates it uses less than 4.5 litres when on full. By comparison, a one-star product can dispense anywhere up to 16 litres per minute.
Critical Parts
In single-lever mixers, the key mechanical part is the internal mixer cartridge. In dual-handle taps, it’s the valve mechanism. Ceramic cartridges are best, and you should check that the supplier can provide replacement cartridges should yours become damaged by foreign objects in the water supply. Also, check that spare parts like O-rings and hoses are readily available.
Durability
The easiest way to spot a poor-quality kitchen tap is to judge its weight. Poor quality is characterised by a lightweight, thin-faucet body and the absence of that solid feeling.
When you compromise on quality, you will find that connections are prone to breakage or leaking, and replaceable parts might be hard to source separately when you encounter a problem.
A Little Something Extra
Don’t like the taste of the tap water in your area? Kit out your kitchen with a filtered-water tap. You will have peace of mind knowing you’re drinking safe, healthy water that also tastes good. A tap that dispenses boiling water is another clever and convenient addition.
They are safe to use and boast in-built filtration to deliver cleaner, fresher, steaming hot water on cue. You’ll also save on bench space once you toss the kettle.
