How Do Kitchen Faucets Work?
The kitchen faucet is one of the most commonly used tools in the home, and this simple sign of home life has been a staple in some form since ancient times. But how does a faucet work?
Here is a basic overview of the workings of kitchen faucets to get you started.
The Valve
Arguably the most important part of the sink, the valve controls the flow of water and changes the temperature of your water. Modern sinks typically use cartridge valves, which are a single unit that can be replaced if necessary.
Different kinds of sinks, including single handle or double handle, use the same valve concept to control water.
The valve gets water from your house pipes, which can be attached to your sink in a variety of ways, depending on the style of sink you have. The water is typically mixed in the body before passing out of the spout, although some uncommon sinks still have one valve each for hot and cold water.
The Handle and Spout
The handle or handles are (obviously) the part that you turn to get water out of kitchen taps. This handle is attached to the valve, which is how you’re able to easily manipulate such a small part to change the water flow and temperature.
The spout is where your water actually comes out. Spouts can be customized, and people choose many different options for their homes. The basic concept is always the same, but there are a lot of options for how you get your water!
Pulldown spouts are a favorite among many people, allowing you to direct the flow of water and more easily wash out your sink. Rotating spouts that can fill two sides of a sink is very common with kitchen sinks, but are sometimes seen elsewhere in the home as well.
Many spouts have an aerator on the end, which helps reduce splashing. Typically it’s the circle of mesh you see on the end of your spout, which breaks the water flow into lots of tiny streams. This helps keep the feeling of high pressure, even if the flow is reduced.
Styles of Kitchen Faucets
There are plenty of styles of kitchen sinks and faucets to choose from. For the most part, different styles don’t make a lot of difference to the actual workings of the sink.
You can get a water faucet in a variety of materials. These include brass, zinc, stainless steel, and plastic.
There are also plenty of shapes and styles to choose from. Curved, straight, retro, and modern are just some of the many options for style choices. Figuring out how to choose what sink you want can be tough, but thankfully there are plenty of experts who can guide you!
Learn More!
If you want to learn more about kitchen faucets, how they work, or anything else with appliances and home maintenance, we’d love to help!
Feel free to contact us with any questions you have. We’ll do our best to answer any questions you may have and help you find the best sinks and appliances for your home!
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