Kitchen faucets with pull-out spray: features and choices

The mixer in the kitchen is designed for convenient washing of tableware, pots and pans, baking sheets. Oversized containers are not very convenient to wash with a regular tap. Kitchen taps with enhanced functionality and high comfort of use are designed to help in this.

The faucet with a pull-out spray looks like a familiar kitchen mixer, but with a larger spout equipped with a shower. The flexible hose is integrated into the tap spout and is invisible when not in use. As long as the watering can is fixed, it works like a normal tap. Pull on the watering can and a nylon-braided or corrugated hose emerges from the tap. The length is adjustable, it can be rotated in different directions, and not just around its axis. The flexible hose allows you to direct the stream of water in any direction, closer to the sink or away from it.

For the kitchen, this is a very convenient device that allows you not only to rinse vegetables and fruits with a directed stream of water, but also to draw water into any large container without even putting it in the sink. These mixers take up the same amount of space as conventional taps, but are more functional. Faucets with a pull-out shower are presented on the Russian market Chinese company Frap, German Grohe and Blanco, Bulgarian Vidima. More budget options are released Poland.

The advantages of a mixer can be summed up in many points:

• ideal for sinks with multiple bowls;
• convenience when washing the sink itself, you can reach the farthest segments;
• convenience when washing a large amount of dishes;
• the directed stream is fixed in the desired area, and does not spray around;
• the ability to switch the jet to aeration or shower mode;
• vegetables and fruits are easy to wash;
• in the presence of a diffusing nozzle, the water consumption will be less;
• convenience when collecting liquid in a large oversized container;
• a variety of design styles allows you to choose a tap for a kitchen designed in any style.

Like every product, these mixers have their drawbacks. There are so few of them that the advantages of this model outweigh:

• the price category of such kitchen taps is much higher than that of conventional ones;
• maintenance is more difficult, because the pull-out hose becomes dirty, it is difficult to clean it, especially if corrugated protection is used;
• there are complaints about frequent and rapid contamination of the holes of the watering cans;
• a large number of parts provoke leaks and breakdowns, especially in budget products.

There are various modifications of this plumbing. Unlike ordinary cranes, they differ in purpose and type of construction, shape, color, material of manufacture. By appointment, they are divided into 3 groups.

They do not differ in appearance from an ordinary crane. They have an exhaust hose under the countertop or sink, and it is pulled out through the body. The retractable nozzle is attached to the surface of the spout and is part of it. The braid of the hoses is made of rubber or metal; corrugation is rarely used, which is large and does not fit into the body of a narrow spout. It is the handle of a removable watering can. The hose only passes through the body, which makes it easier to fit the thick sleeve.

The spout and shower are side by side, and sometimes the shower is built into the spout. For greater rigidity, the visible part of the sleeve is supported by a special spring. The nozzle itself has a separate lever for controlling the flow of water and regulating the type of jet. Water flows out of the nozzle at a higher pressure than the previous model.

They have a high and flexible pull-out spout that makes it easy to fill tall containers. They provide for water pressure adjustment, and a switch on the retractable watering can saves water. They are considered the most durable and reliable, but expensive.

Kitchen taps with shower have different designs.

1. With pull-out spout. On a stationary bend of the tap, a flexible hose, a nozzle is fixed, which has 2 modes of water supply.
2. With pull-out spouts, at the end of which the ergonomic shower head.
3. With flexible spoutwhere the flexible spring hose is not hidden inside, but suspended separately.

They all have different characteristics.

Has a single lever on a spherical base. It turns on the water supply and regulates the pressure and temperature of the water in the preset positions. The main element of this crane is the cartridge, which is of two types. The ball is a hollow ball with two lower inlet holes and one upper outlet. It rests on two rubber seats, for hot and cold water, against which it is firmly pressed by the pressure of the water.

The water supply to the ball is controlled by a lever. It also matches the saddle holes. Violation of the tightness occurs when scale and other impurities enter from the water supply system. The disc consists of two sintered discs. These are tightly ground, polished metal-ceramic plates. They regulate the pressure and the leaving water temperature.

The water temperature varies from the level of overlap by the upper access disk for cold or hot water.

Has 2 taps for hot and cold water supply. It is easier for them to adjust the desired water temperature.

Turns on when an object enters the field of view of an inline element.

This is a hybrid variant that has both electronics and levers.

They are also divided along the length of the hose:

• shortened, with a spout up to 20 cm;
• average - hose length from 20 to 24 cm;
• long - from 24 cm

By the type of installation, they are divided into recessed into the table top or mounted on the wall. The length of the outflows is presented in different versions and can reach 1 meter. The spout of such a tap can rotate around its axis. The model is considered good if there are many turning angles:

• rotation angle up to 140 ° is available for all economy class models;
• 180 ° rotation is provided for middle-class products;
• VIP models rotate around their axis.

There is a division according to the number of spouts.

• With two spouts... The spring-loaded shower head is attached from the outside. It is classified as professional.
• With one spout... A faucet with a tip or just a hose extends. They are compact and designed for home use.

By the type of spout, mixers are divided into straight lines, as well as "G", "S", "C" and "R" -shaped. The most popular are the first two options. According to the shape of the outlet: round, square, oval, rectangular. These parameters are more aesthetic, so they do not have a big impact on quality. By design, there are all-metal and flexible corrugated, and the material of manufacture is steel, granite and ceramics. Particular attention is paid to the type of enclosure.

1. Cast. There are no seams in these housings, and the parts are joined using a special technology. It is considered to be more reliable in operation.
2. Made. Consists of several components, so the risk of breakage increases. The service life of a properly assembled mixer is quite long.

Faucets are available in a variety of materials, so it is important to determine before purchasing that more important - price or durability.

• Plastic... They are the most short-lived, but they are cheap.
• Brass. The product will last a long time, looks like a classic tap.
• Bronze. Suitable for retro style.
• Ceramics. Has an unusual, modern and stylish look, but will not last long;
• Silumin. This is an inexpensive material, but in terms of wear resistance it is inferior to others, except for plastic.

When choosing such a mixer, it is necessary to take into account some features of the room's space and furnishings. Focus on the length of the tube that is convenient for use in your kitchen.

• In a small kitchen with a small sink, it is better to install a compact mixer. A short hose is sufficient for cleaning large containers. It is also suitable for sinks with multiple bowls.
• If you have a large sink with several bowls, a semi-professional mixer will do. Its long hose makes it easy to clean dishes and food, and its strong pressure washes away traces of sand and dirt. It will harmoniously fit into different styles of kitchen design, especially high-tech.

You should not focus on the cost, which depends on the pricing policy of manufacturers. Products with a monolithic metal watering can last longer.

The ideal choice - with a 180 ° swivel angle and additional spout. This is true if you are filtering water. Matte models are easier to clean, but if your sink is shiny, you should opt for a shiny metal faucet. An additional convenience is the mode of water supply from the jet to aeration. At the same time, there are mixers of different price categories on the market.

• Crane 4001 / V Jamaica of the Italian company Argo. Single-lever classic shape, low-rise brass faucet, chrome-plated. Its inner cartridge is made of ceramic. Price from 3400 rubles (2019).
• Franke 740 model from the company of the same name from Italy. Its design is the same as the previous model. The body is made of the same material, with a granite-like coating and a 120 cm hose. It costs more than 10,000 rubles (2019).
• Grohe Zedra made in Germany, has a streamlined design and a tall crane. Automatic switching of the aerator mode to the jet when the tap is closed.Its body is chrome-plated steel and has a 5-year warranty. The cost is over 17,000 rubles (2019).

This mixer can be installed even by a person who is not familiar with plumbing. The main thing is a stock of patience, time and the necessary installation tools:

• screwdriver;
• Adjustable wrench;
• a set of wrenches of several sizes;
• rags and napkins;
• a basin or bucket that is placed under the work area to avoid leaks.

To install the crane, you must study the attached instructions, and then follow the procedure.

1. We shut off the supply of cold and hot water.
2. We untwist the old tap with an adjustable wrench.
3. Having loosened the nut fastener, we attach flexible hoses to the new product.
4. We lower the hoses into the hole in the sink.
5. We are installing a new mixer with shower on the sink.
6. We tighten the nut under the sink, keeping in mind the gasket and washer. It is very important to keep the crane upright, for this it is better to have an assistant.
7. We connect the hoses for supplying water to the nozzles. Manufacturers mark pipes in different colors. This helps to properly connect the tubing to the hot and cold water supply.
8. We tighten the nuts until the key starts to turn tightly.
9. We hang the supplied weight on the flexible part of the mixer. This helps to pull the watering can and return it back.
10. We check if the product turns and extends freely.
11. If the process is difficult, it is necessary to expand the hole in the sink with a drill.
12. We restore the water supply and see if the tap works without leaks.
13. If it leaks, tighten the nuts.
14. After finishing the installation, we drain the water for several minutes, after removing the aerator. The mixer is ready to work if there are no smudges.

For information on which mixer for the kitchen is better to choose, see the next video.