Water-Based Kitchen Upgrades to Consider

When you start planning a kitchen remodel, you may be dazzled by a vision of your new countertops and cabinets. You probably know you'll need the plumber in for some work, but upgrading water-based appliances and features might not be high on your list. Those considerations should make the list, though.

Keep reading for some upgrades to consider for your remodel project.

Hands-Free Faucet

A luxurious upgrade is the hands-free faucet. You're probably familiar with the situation in which you need to turn on the faucet to rinse your dirty hands. But, of course, you need your hands to turn on the faucet, thus making the handles dirty. A hands-free faucet alleviates that issue.

Most hands-free faucets feature a gooseneck, which is a high arch. They usually come with a pull-out sprayer. Most models use a motion sensor to turn the water on. However, some homeowners find the sensors finicky. In that case, you could choose a touch-based system, which allows you to tap anywhere on the faucet to turn the water on.

Pot Filler

The pot filler is the ultimate in luxury, maybe even more so than the hands-free faucet. Unless you're running a pasta-based catering business out of your kitchen, you don't need a pot filler. But you probably want one. They're so convenient for those times that you do need to fill a large pot of water - and they make your kitchen look like it's run by a chef.

The pot filler streams water from right above your stovetop, which is why they're so convenient for filling those large pots - you don't have to transfer a heavy pot of water. Naturally, though, they do necessitate new plumbing from the main line to that location. You'll need to plan ahead for the height of the filler so it has easy clearance when your pot is on the stove.

Under-Sink Water Filter

Water is integral to cooking and cleaning, so you want your water to be as clean and pure as possible. Unfortunately, you can't control all the piping your water goes through before it gets to your house. You can, however, control how clean and pure the water is when it flows out of your sink with an under-sink water filter.

If you're retro-fitting an existing sink, you may need a plumber. However, if you're adding the installation at the time of a remodel, you can just provide the filtration system for your plumber ahead of time. Under-sink water filters are capable of removing a range of impurities such as heavy metals and chemicals. Consider having your water tested so you know what filtration you need.

Beverage Faucet

One of the growing trends in kitchen remodeling is to designate a space for coffee or drinks. This space may occupy an island or a corner of your existing countertop space. The designs usually incorporate a sink. Many homeowners opt for a beverage faucet for this sink.

A beverage faucet is smaller than your traditional kitchen model. It also incorporates its own filter, so you don't have to purchase a second under-sink filtration system. Beverage faucets usually install only with a cold-water line. Their purpose is to provide filtered water for drinks.

Water-Efficient Dishwasher

All modern dishwashers save water over models built prior to 1994. Indeed, those old models wasted as much as 10 gallons of water per load, according to experts. However, if you're looking at a new dishwasher anyway, consider investing in one that's especially efficient in water usage. These models use as little as four gallons of water per load, which represents a significant savings.

Water-saving models clean your dishes just as well as other brands, if not better. They use innovative dish rack configurations to strategically position the dishes for best cleaning. They employ soil sensors that can sense how dirty dishes are - the sensor adjusts the cycle as needed. Finally, more efficient jets and water filtration promote less water usage in the appliance.

Consider the above upgrades as you plan out your kitchen remodel. Contact Mike's Plumbing for the plumbing services involved in their installation.