A sink is certainly the center of any kitchen. No matter how small or big your kitchen is, it would look terrible and even incomplete without a functional and well-designed sink.
To make the kitchen look more modern and appealing, many people prefer to use a combination of both bar and kitchen sink faucets. Yes, that’s something new which you might not see in every kitchen. The fact is, most people do not like this combination, they choose one main kitchen sink that can handle all the work.
In other cases, if their main sink is having any issues, they sometimes consider a secondary sink called a bar sink which is comparatively small in the sink. This style doesn’t suit every kitchen design, since it takes lots of space and requires a hefty budget.
A bar sink faucet mainly serves as a workstation. If you have a large family and your main sink is always occupied, then a bar sink is a great option where you can wash dishes or vegetables while saving your time. The most interesting part is, you can install a bar sink faucet anywhere even in your living room and hallway so you could easily wash fruits without having to go to the kitchen.
So, if you are interested to install a bar sink in your kitchen but do not know the actual differences, then this is the right article for you. Here we have highlighted some key differences between bar faucet and kitchen faucet.
Difference Between a Bar and a Kitchen Faucet
Well, many people do not know the real difference between a bar and a kitchen faucet- which is completely okay as it’s not a trend that most people follow. And normally many people use only one faucet at home and they do not install the other one unless they need it.
However, when your kitchen is first manufactured, you may find some issues with your sink space as well as the kitchen counter area. A person who is using a kitchen couldn’t do his job properly if there is less space or if the sink is not properly functioning. These issues can often be fixed with the creation of another sink which is usually called a secondary sink or a bar.
When you have this type of sink, two people can easily work simultaneously in the kitchen without any issues. This secondary sink can simply improve the productiveness of everyone using the kitchen.
Now there are issues regarding space constraints in your kitchen, so your secondary sink is comparatively smaller than the main sink. Because this is a smaller sink, you cannot install a full-sized or a tall faucet as it will look strange.
That’s why you need small faucets or bar faucets instead of using a big sink. These types of faucets are usually smaller and compact; however, they are still as meaningful as main sink faucets. Bar faucets are sometimes called the “prep faucets” as you can use this sink generally for small tasks like washing fruits or vegetables or cleaning other ingredients before cooking.
It’s recommended to install the bar faucets and secondary sinks near the stove so you don’t have to take too many steps for reaching to your other kitchen areas and main sink. That’s the reason, bar faucets increase efficiency and make things easy for everyone working in the kitchen.
What are the Main Characteristics of Bar Sink Faucet?
Now we already know that bar sinks are comparatively smaller than your main kitchen sink, but do you know what are its common features? Let us help you learn that too.
Bar sink faucets are typically available in the single handle, but sometimes you can also see them with two handles for more efficiency.
The handle will have a spray attached to its pipe in the faucet, so when you need to use your faucet, just pull down the spray into your sink or in an outward direction.
You will find spray heads on bar sink faucets which also feature fingertip controls so you can easily regulate the water flow.
There are also some advanced models available in the market today that would even respond to your voice and then start running water on positive signals. You can even tell the faucet to run a certain amount of water, and then after a few seconds, it will automatically stop.
Considerations for Choosing a Bar Sink
You don’t need to consider much when it comes to choosing a bar faucet for your kitchen. You just need a proper system that easily matches the main kitchen sink faucet, and you can easily find that system in the same place where you buy the main kitchen sink. You can get a bar faucet that complements your kitchen sink and make the entire area look more appealing.
Materials for Bar Sink
What should be the material of your bar sink, is another point to consider.
Well, solid brass and stainless steel are two common materials that you should choose always. These materials are durable, reliable, and easy to clean.
Stainless steel bar faucets are comparatively more popular as they are affordable too. You can also find a faucet with zinc or plastic alloy- which is quite cheaper but does not guarantee a long lifespan as compared to stainless steel or brass materials.
Sizes of Bar Sinks and Kitchen Sink Faucets
The size of bar sinks may not rise from 13 inches from the actual level of the sink. You may find 9 inches bar faucets as well.
But what about the size of the standard kitchen sink?
The average height for your kitchen faucet is normally 8 to 13 inches. But its actual height can still vary according to the brand and model of the faucet.
Make sure the height of your faucet always complements the size of your sink. If the sink is tiny and the spout is relatively too high, then it’s possible to get water splashes while using the sink. That’s why choosing a proper size should also be your central focus.
How to Choose the Best Kitchen Faucet?
Faucets you see today are way more modern and lavish than decades ago. They are more stylish, purposeful, and come with a lot of amazing features. That’s why many people feel confused after having tons of choices and they couldn’t decide what’s the right faucet for them. So have a look at these tips and find out what’s the best faucet that can address your needs well.
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Maintenance level:
Faucets come with various maintenance levels. For example, you will find that regular faucets would usually have rubber gaskets as well as discs inside. So, their average wear down always depends on the pressure of water and the usage of the faucet. The new faucet models will have ceramic discs inside, and when you use them properly, the ceramic-disk faucets will live longer than rubber discs which need no repair even after years.
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Hygiene level:
If you live in a house with a big family and each member use kitchen after some time, then it’s recommended to use a touchless faucet to maintain hygiene level. Traditional faucets with one or two handles may not offer such ease, convenience, and hygiene as a touchless one. These are also a more cost-efficient solution as they already have “low flow” modes that help save tons of water in the long run.
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Cost-effective solution:
Choose the faucet that includes water-saving features because saving maximum water is extremely crucial today if you want to keep your bills lower because the faucet generates more pressure every time you use it. That’s why, we believe single-handle pull-down kitchen faucets are the most cost-effective, easy to use, and traditional solution that won’t break your budget and is easy to install as well.
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Operational efficiency:
If your faucet is not good in operation and functionality, then it means you have wasted all your money. You can measure the efficiency of your faucet by its overall design, features, performance, and the way it runs in different conditions.
We always see faucets that are advertised as “high-performance”, “Long term durability” and “commercial-level”, when you see such taglines and features, it means these faucets are more valuable than others and thus offer maximum operational efficiency. You will see some advanced models have different added features that allow them to deliver great pressure with a single touch of a button. Or sometimes even run with a turn of a lever.
Final Thought
Choosing a faucet and installing both bar and kitchen sink faucets are probably much more challenging for every homeowner today as people need to understand their benefits, operations, and other features. So, if you are confused about the two options, it’s better to evaluate things carefully and consider all the benefits and features offered by bar and kitchen sink faucets.
If you have efficient space in the kitchen, bar, and kitchen sink both are great options. But if the space is limited, you can try installing the bar outside the kitchen somewhere for making things easy. Whatever options you choose, be sure to check all the things so you can make an informed decision.