Kitchen faucet

A kitchen faucet needs to be very functional in addition to being attractive. It also needs to be durable, as it is the most frequently used faucet in most homes. We recommend that you purchase a well-made faucet (which does not mean it has to be very expensive) with a warranty. The spouts on kitchen sinks tend to be long and usually swivel so the user can focus the water on different areas of the sink. Some kitchen faucets have integrated spray nozzles to aid in clean-up and food prep. Kitchen faucets are often turned on while the user is cooking, cleaning, or otherwise engaged. For this reason, single handle faucets are popular in kitchens, as they enable a mix of hot and cold water to be turned on with one motion. Touchless/sensor faucets have been popular in public washrooms for many years, but they are gaining popularity in home kitchen faucets. Touchless/sensor kitchen faucets provide "hands-free" water in a sink where the user's hands are often busy cooking or cleaning.

Bar faucet

Home bar sinks tend to be small, and likewise bar faucets tend to be proportionally smaller. The spouts tend to be slender and tall, making bar sinks functional for entertaining tasks like rinsing and filling pitchers.

Bathroom faucet

Bathroom faucets facilitate personal hygiene and grooming. There are bathrooms faucets sold in every imaginable style and finish, as well as some creative styles you may not have even imagined. If you are shopping for a faucet for a child's bathroom, consider purchasing a faucet with hot limiting safety valves.

Laundry faucet

Laundry faucets, also called utility sink faucets, are function in performance and appearance. Most are made of stainless steel.

Shower faucet

Shower faucets (as well as bath faucets and combination shower/bath faucets) are unique in a couple of ways:

Shower faucets and spouts are often attached directly to a wall (sinks faucets are usually attached to the sink), making them more challenging to change. Sometimes, changing an old shower faucet can involve tearing out your shower tile. For this reason, buying a solidly built shower faucet that will last for many years is a particularly good investment.

Shower faucets and spouts are separated by a physical distance.

In higher-end showers, the faucet handles may simultaneously control water flow from multiple shower heads.

Shower faucets are also unique in that once you are in the shower, you may have to be standing under the water stream while you are trying to adjust the temperature. In this situation, it is important that you be able to make accurate adjustments to water temperature. Thermostatic valves enable you to "lock in" several temperature settings and use these in place of making manual temperature adjustments every time you shower.

Bath faucet

Bath faucets have many of the same qualities and issues as shower faucets. See our comments above in the shower faucet section on this page.

Bidet faucet

Bidets have been popular in Europe, and are gaining popularity in high-end bathrooms in the United States. You can purchase a bidet faucet from any of the major US manufacturers, or from one of the European manufacturers if that is your preference.