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Touch this faucet anywhere to turn water on and off without readjusting the flow rate.
Photo courtesy of Delta
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A proximity sensor under the faucet lets you turn water on and off with the wave of a hand.
Photo courtesy of Kohler
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A pull-down sprayer with a long hose improves convenience and saves water.
Photo courtesy Kohler
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Waving a hand over the top proximity sensor turns water on and off
Photo courtesy of Moen
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A pull-down sprayer with a pause button allows you to conveniently stop the water flow for savings.
Photo courtesy of Moen
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Move your hand within several inches of the top proximity sensor to turn water on and off without readjusting the temperature.
Photo courtesy of Moen
Question: My kitchen faucet has a slow drip, and the finish is worn. I want to replace it with something more attractive and convenient, since I often wash dishes by hand. What is the most efficient design to purchase?
Answer: Most people think of a kitchen faucet as just a simple valve to turn water on or off and to adjust the water temperature. But the selection of a kitchen faucet has a significant impact on water and energy savings, not to mention convenience, health and kitchen decor.
First, don’t ignore that dripping faucet for too long. Even a slow leak can add up to substantial energy costs over time, especially from the hot-water line. Keep in mind, heating water is the greatest home-energy consumer after general home heating and cooling.
Two primary factors affecting water and energy efficiency of a kitchen faucet are the maximum flow rate and the convenience of controlling the flow and temperature. For many years, two-handle (hot and cold) controls were popular. Today, one-handle kitchen faucets are more commonly used.
Sizes and shapes of faucets not only define your style and decor, they may impact your overall water consumption. Look for the WaterSense label as you shop. This is the Environmental Protection Agency’s listing for plumbing products, similar in concept to EnergyStar. To qualify for a WaterSense label, the faucet must be 20 percent more efficient than standard products in a category.
The most recent feature offering convenience and efficiency in kitchen faucets is touch control. Without using a faucet handle, you can control water flow with just a wave or a touch of your hand. Water is not wasted in continually readjusting the temperature.
This provides significant water and energy savings—particularly when rinsing items during food preparation and when washing dishes by hand. For most people, using a standard faucet when washing dishes by hand consumes more water and energy than running a properly loaded, efficient dishwasher.
Another advantage of this feature is that dirty hands touch the faucet handle less often, so the attractive finish lasts longer. With health concerns about cross contamination of foods, less touching of the handle is a real plus. Few people wash the handle each time they touch it.
Of the two touch-control technologies, you can choose either one-touch or touchless options. The one-touch type senses a touch from your body, and the slight electrical change from your touch opens or closes a special valve. You can hold dishes in each hand and tap anywhere on the fixture with a forearm, hand or elbow to start and stop water flow.
The other technology is touchless. It has a proximity sensor on the top or in the front of the faucet neck. Waving a free hand over the top sensor triggers the flow of water. A sensor on the front of the neck senses hands when they are in a typical hand-washing position.
Tall spouts with pull-down sprayers are convenient to use and can result in savings. Depending on your under-cabinet clearance, select the tallest one you can. You will appreciate the height when you have to rinse a large platter or fill a large pot.
The pull-down sprayer increases the functionality of the faucet. If you use the sprayer feature often, select one with a pause button. This allows you to stop the flow temporarily and restart without repeatedly waving over or touching the fixture.
The following companies offer efficient kitchen faucets: American Standard, (800) 442-1902; Delta Faucet, (800) 345-3358; Kohler, (800) 456-4537; Moen, (800) 289-6636; and Pfister, (800) 732-8238.
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