When it comes time to pick a faucet for your project, what do you look for first? The aesthetic? The durability? While neither decision is inherently "wrong," we're here to provide tips on how to find a faucet that not only fits cohesively in the kitchen or bath, but withstands for years to come.
Lead Free Construction For Safety and Reliability
According to a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a stunning number of faucets offered by online retailers contain lead. These mass-imported faucets utilize factories with little oversight of faucet construction, meaning regulations that keep safety in-check don't always come first.
Every single Pelican faucet is carefully tested, certified, and meets U.S. lead-free compliance standards. We understand that health and safety should never be at risk!
The Importance of Ceramic Cartridges
A faucet is just a faucet...right? It probably won't come as a surprise that not all faucets are built the same. While some might have dazzling finishes and unique concepts, they might come with insidious design flaws that cause headaches over time.
If a faucet doesn't allow for correct water flow, this may lead to calcium build up--which is common in areas with harsh water quality. This can cause pipes to become clogged and corroded over time.
A great solution is to choose a ceramic cartridge. Faucet cartridges help control water flow to the spout and are located within the faucet handle. A ceramic cartridge is more durable than plastic and more rust-resistant than metal. All Pelican faucets come equipped with ceramic cartridges.
Design Necessities
Faucet design has come a long way in recent years, leading to enhanced usability.
For kitchen faucets, consider your exact needs. Will you be hosting dinners often and require a faucet that is able to extend to other areas of the sink basin? A faucet with an extending or pull-out sprayer is great for cleaning cumbersome items. Nearly all of our Fountain Series kitchen faucets come with this feature, adding to overall user-friendliness.
Another component to consider is if the faucet comes with more than one spray mode. This allows you to switch from a softer or harsher flow depending on what's needed.
Tip: Consider a Swing Faucet
The PL-8206 doesn't just look different than the rest--it functions on another level. Its dual swing joints are able to rotate the faucet head 360 degrees.
Single vs. Widespread vs. Centerset Faucets
As the name implies, single hole faucets only require one hole for installation--with the handle being attached to the head of the faucet. Unless you're constrained by space, this decision ultimately comes down to aesthetic appeal.
Widespread faucets and centerset faucets contain three holes for the faucet - one of the spout, separate holes for the hot and cold handles. Centerset faucets utilize a spread of 4", typically, which is ideal for smaller countertop spaces. The handles are included on the faucet itself, whereas widespread faucets typically are placed into the countertop at 8" apart.
Tip: Utilize Deck Plates
Pelican offers deck plates to cover pre-existing holes that aren't needed for single-style installation.
Selecting the Right Faucet Height
When considering the correct height for your faucet, there are a few details to keep in mind.
First is the spout length, which is the amount of space from the very bottom of the faucet to the highest part of the spout. Faucet heights can also be referred to as "arcs," with "low arc" faucets typically being under 8" of spout length, "mid arc" faucets being within 8-12" , and "high arc" faucets over 12".
Low arc faucets make the most sense for smaller spaces, like limited footprint bathrooms and tiny kitchens.
Mid arc faucets are typically more aesthetically pleasing and offer a fair amount of space for washing.
High arc faucets are a great match for deep sinks but may splash water with shallow sinks.
Consider the users who may come in contact with the faucet, and think about their specific needs. We'll explore ADA-specific requirements for faucets soon.
Our Dedication to Quality - and Commitment To You
While we ensure all Pelican products are in terrific shape before ever leaving our facility, we understand that life happens. We offer a seamless claims process for ease of mind and are always available to extend our knowledge and advice.
We Keep it Simple
No need to wait weeks, or even months, for a replacement part. Once you fill out our claims form, our team will connect within 24 hours to identify any issue you may be experiencing. We'll ship out a replacement cartridge, faucet head, or aerator that same day.
Accessibility in Faucet Design
When faucet handles work as they should, we hardly pay them notice. But when they're difficult to turn--or even turn too easily--it's hard to ignore.
Thinking of the right faucet handle requires you to think of the rest of the kitchen or bathroom space. A faucet handle that goes well with the rest of the space makes it tranquil instead of an eyesore. For instance, pairing a farmhouse-inspired kitchen with an oil-rubbed bronze handle is a showstopping choice.
We offer a wide range of ADA-approved faucets for both kitchen and bath spaces. We've ensured that these faucets meet operational standards for safety and convenience to the user, from convenient spout heights to accessible handles that don't require straining or dangerous movements.
The Allure of the Right Finish
Did we save the most beautiful part of the faucet for last? Perhaps!
It's hard to go wrong with selecting the right faucet finish, here are our tips for choosing the best one.
Brushed Nickel
A Brushed Nickel faucet is a great option for kitchen and bath spaces that already have a stunning focal point, like an apron-front sink or unique bathroom sink. It plays nicely with a wide range of materials around the room, from stainless steel, to porcelain, to granite composite.
Chrome
While Chrome certainly isn't a new face on the block, it's not hard to see why this design staple has stayed around. Chrome has a quiet, elegant quality to it that ties together the room.
Matte Black
Matte Black is an excellent choice when designing a space that requires an extra bit of moodiness. Use it as an attention-grabber against a stark white or gray color palette, or to tie in a gunmetal sink into the room.
Brushed Gold
Brushed Gold is classy with a dash of pizzazz. It's the right amount of charm to add if you're wanting a unique flourish to a kitchen or bathroom.
Oil Rubbed Bronze
Want a darker faucet with a little bit of a glisten? Oil Rubbed Bronze has the same appeal of Matte Black without dipping too far into darker tones.
