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The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the faucet is the item homeowners use most often. It’s important to specify the highest quality product your clients can afford.
Consumer Reports says faucets have become so reliable these days that there are few performance differences between brands. But there is a wide range of styles from which to choose—from traditional bridge faucets to contemporary electronic touchless units.
One style that has gained popularity with consumers in the last five years is the professional-style pre-rinse unit that is used in restaurants and commercial kitchens. Pre-rinse faucets are designed for the commercial kitchen, so they have high-arc spouts and high water pressure to handle the situation.
But you now can buy a pre-rinse faucet that is more appropriate for the residential kitchen. It offers the style and function of the commercial unit, but it is scaled for the home. And many manufacturers offer a version.
Still, it helps to know what to look for. Plumbers recommend faucets that are made from solid brass (no matter the style) because they are more durable and hold up better to hard water. Some faucets use chrome-plated plastic so they are not heavy, but they may not be as durable as solid brass. Plumbers also suggest ceramic disc cartridges.
Pre-rinse faucets tend to be more expensive than the average kitchen faucet, costing anywhere from $400 to $1,200. True commercial pre-rinse faucets tend to be tall, and some residential units have a similar profile. In some cases, you may have to adjust the upper cabinets to make the unit fit. Fortunately, many manufacturers now produce residential versions that are smaller in scale so they would fit even in compact kitchens.
If you’re in the market for a pre-rinse faucet, here are some products to consider.
