Hard water can create staining and buildup in your kitchen sink and inside the faucet. But choosing the best kitchen faucet for hard water can make all the difference. With so many options on the market, it's hard to know which will be best for your needs. This is why we've spent several weeks researching hard water kitchen faucets, as well as speaking to individuals who use them and going through reviews of a number of kitchen faucets for hard water.
If you've ever had hard water you'll know how quickly the sink and faucet can become stained with buildup. This is down to not having the right kitchen faucets installed to cope with hard water. What, exactly is hard water? Basically, it's water that contains a high level of mineral deposits, usually because it passes through chalk and limestone deposits. This causes the white crusty buildup you see, also known as limescale. While drinking hard water isn't a risk to your health, it can leave buildup and residue in the sink, faucet and in your pipes. It also causes your dish detergents to not perform at their best, which means you need to use more of it. Rather than scrubbing away at your sink or faucet, the easiest solution is to buy a kitchen faucet made specifically for hard water.
Whether you are replacing the faucet yourself or having someone else do it, you still need to choose the right kitchen faucet for water with mineral deposits to suit your needs and style. With so many to choose from, it can seem a bit overwhelming. However, our guide will walk you through what to look for when purchasing a new hard water faucet, and which are the best of the bunch.
Third Pick
#5. KRAUS KPF-2620 Modern Mateo Kitchen Faucet
Another kitchen faucet for hard water from the Kohler Artifacts range, the K-99260 is the top handled model of the K-99259 side handle model. It too has Kohler's unique three-function pull-down spray head functionality.
- Sweep Spray gives you a wide spray of forceful water via its angled nozzles, making it brilliant for cleaning.
- Berry Soft is a lighter spray for gently washing vegetables and fruit.
- Aerated Stream is a great option for filling up pots and jugs
One of the things we like about this model is the handle placement, which doesn't interfere as much as a side-handle does. It offers the features you would expect from a Kohler faucet.
Pros
Solidly built
Reliable touch technology
Easy to install
Light at base indicates water temperature
Advantages of Using a Kitchen Faucet For Hard Water
A kitchen faucet that is made specifically for hard water has special elements, such as a filter and a ceramic sealed surface that makes them pretty much invincible to the effects of hard water and the damage it can cause.
Staining, Residue, and Buildup
For a start, you will be eliminating the issues caused by hard water, such as stains and buildup. Minerals left behind can build up over time, leaving your sink and faucet stained with white, green, red, brown, and blue stains, as well as leaving a slimy or filmy residue. These stains can be extremely hard to remove, sometimes needing professional products to cut through and remover any scaly buildup. A buildup of residue can also lead to your faucet becoming blocked, which minimizes the amount of water that can come out of the faucet. Installing a kitchen faucet for hard water will eliminate these issues.
Hard Water Damage
It's not just your faucet that can become discolored or damaged. Hard water deposits can also damage any rubber washers used to seal your faucet against leaks, which can lead to even more damage. If you use water from your kitchen sink to fill appliances, such as your tea or coffee pot, these can become damaged with buildup and limescale deposits as well. This not only leads to leaking but can make your hot beverages taste awful. The same goes for crockpots, irons, steamers, and cookers that you fill from your kitchen faucet.
What to Look for to Buying a Kitchen Faucet for Hard Water
We've shown you the top 10 kitchen faucets for hard water on the market. However, it's important to know what to look for when purchasing a new faucet. Here's our buying guide to help you.
Filter – this is the most important aspect to consider when buying your faucet. Your faucet should have a high-quality filter that is made to remove minerals from the water.: Faucets with single piece filters are best because filters that have several pieces can easily become damaged from mineral deposits over a period of time. They are also harder to clean than a single piece filter.
Faucet Design – something to keep in mind, like with filters, is that a faucet that has a more complicated design has more of a chance of accumulating mineral build up over a period of time. A simple, straightforward design is the best way to go.
Materials – it's important to know what your faucet is made of because some metals are more easily damaged than others. Polished chrome and brushed nickel are the most recommended materials for your faucet.
Sealing – a faucet that has a sealing coat tends to last longer and be more effective over time. Ceramic coating is usually the best option and these are designed specifically to withstand the damage caused by hard water.
Price - It is also an important factor when buying a faucet. Top of the line faucets will cost a lot more. However, there are a number of good quality faucets that will do the job and not break the bank. More expensive doesn't always mean better, so make sure you verify the quality of the faucet before you buy it.
We hope the research we have presented, along with the buying guidelines will help you choose the best kitchen faucet for hard water sinks in your home.
