Essential in every kitchen like a sink, today's faucets can be modern, designer, classic, or retro. Whether a mixer, single lever, or with thermostatic control, they are chosen based on individual needs. There are various types available, including aerators, hand showers, and ceramic heads.

A kitchen faucet is connected to the hot and cold water pipes through flexible fittings of suitable sizes and threads. Inside the faucet, these pipes lead to flow control devices, known as mixers or single levers, depending on the type. This is where the mixing of cold and hot water occurs to achieve the desired temperature and flow.

But how do you choose?

Kitchen Faucet: Mixer or Single Lever?

Mixers represent older technology, with a knob for cold water and one for hot. You need to adjust the hot and cold water separately to achieve the desired flow and temperature – a laborious and uneconomical maneuver. Mixers offer 3 types of installation:

• 1 hole for mounting on the sink or countertop, more practical;
• 2 holes for mounting on sink or countertop;
• wall installation.

Single-lever faucets are more recent and practical. They allow you to adjust the flow and temperature with one hand. Moving the lever up and down affects the flow, while moving it from left to right changes the temperature. This allows for a rough maintenance of the temperature setting. Some models have a notched flow limiter and an anti-scald system.

Thermostatic mixers are used in bathrooms, especially for showers and bathtubs, and allow for adjusting and maintaining the chosen temperature. Very practical and also very safe.

A thermostatic mixer has two knobs, one for adjusting the temperature, marked in Celsius degrees (°C); the other for normal use, ensuring water flow. The main advantage of this type of mixer is that the water temperature is always as desired.

By adjusting the temperature properly, a thermostatic mixer avoids scalds, especially in older sanitary installations where hot water production (boilers, water heaters) is not regulated by temperature-limiting devices. Therefore, this type of mixer is recommended for children and the elderly.

Chrome and other coatings are subject to the aggression of normal maintenance products and time. A cheap faucet quickly loses its coating, while a high-end mixer keeps it longer.

The type of alloy guarantees the absence of harmful substances that could penetrate the water. Low-quality faucets may contain lead or other heavy metals. The health risk is therefore higher, and it's better not to take it, especially for a kitchen faucet.

Water exits the faucet through a device called an aerator. The filter inside mixes air with water and channels the flow to eliminate splashing. It's important to check the ability to disassemble and replace the filter on the chosen faucet for two reasons:

• the mesh grid filters the water and tends to clog and scale over time. Therefore, the filter needs to be removed for regular cleaning;
• you can adjust the filter to reduce the flow rate, adding more or less air. It's an ingenious and economical system to reduce water consumption without feeling like the faucet is a bit anemic! It's good for nature, your wallet, and can be done in 5 minutes.

There are many types of kitchen faucets with manual showers. This facilitates rinsing vegetables or dishes because you can direct and move the water jet as desired. Filling a container will be child's play. Some showers allow you to adjust the type of jet according to the task, switching from a normal jet to a rain-like one, much more effective for rinsing. There are two types: integrated showers and inverted U-shaped ones.

Faucet Styles for a Trendy Kitchen

Aesthetic criteria are subjective. There are many styles, from retro to contemporary, classic, and the simple lines of a designer kitchen faucet. There's much play with materials and shapes.

There are also brushed stainless steel finishes, simpler, or copper or brass finishes for a more rustic look. Most faucets have a chrome coating (glossy or satin). Less commonly, some kitchen faucets may have a colored coating to match the countertop in modern and colorful kitchens.

RA-MA selection

Looking for the right faucet? at RA-MA,you can find artisanal faucets made of solid brass and available in various finishes, small works of art created by skilled Italian craftsmen with high-quality materials. Conveniently available online.