Add a pot filler faucet if you want to make an instant statement in your kitchen renovation. This small addition immediately draws attention to your stovetop or range, boosting your property value. But what exactly is pot filler, and is it worth the investment?
Learn all about this unique kitchen faucet below.
What is a Pot Filler?
A pot filler is a wall-mounted double-jointed faucet that swings out over your cooktop. As far as kitchen luxuries go, pot filler is an interesting and helpful accessory for large open kitchens, where the range installation is ideal far from the sink.
Pot filler typically delivers cold water from your main water pipe behind the kitchen walls. It also has two valves near the wall and another at the front outlet. You should always shut off the wall valve when the pot filler is not used to prevent leaks.
What to Consider for Pot Filler
Should you add a pot filler faucet in your kitchen renovation or upgrade? Here are the top things to keep in mind:
1.Cost
Pot filler adds to your kitchen makeover budget in three ways: buying the fixture, installing it, and a permit for a new water line for it. On average, pot filler costs $300 on the low end, while luxury designs can cost thousands of dollars. Installation costs depend on the plumbing work the pot filler will need, whether that’s new kitchen plumbing or retrofitting.
2. Faucet Size and Placement
The pot filler installation is either a wall mount or a deck mount beside your cooking range. It needs lots of clearance because the faucet swings out and folds back. Pot filler needs to be high enough to use with your tallest pots but also low enough for shorter cooks to reach.
You also need to decide how many burners the faucet should get and give it enough space from cupboards and range hoods.
3.Safety Features
The last thing you need is a leaking faucet dripping over your range. Choose high-quality pot filler with double safety valves and the highest plumbing ratings to save your water bill.
What are the Benefits of a Pot Filler?
The pot filler, also called a pasta arm or kettle faucet, makes sense in a busy kitchen. Let’s explore the advantages of a pot filler in your kitchen design.
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Less Strain
If you make big pots of pasta, soup, or stock, pot filler will save you the work of moving a filled pot from your sink to your stovetop. Simply position your pot on the burner, open the valves and pour cold water into it. This is good news for elderly cooks or those with mobility challenges: no more hauling bulky pots across the kitchen.
Convenience
The pot filler is also a quick way to top up your kettle, water bottle, humidifier, fish tank, or other items when your sink is full. You can also use a pot filler to refill your coffee maker reservoir or electric kettle since these appliances typically sit next to the cooktop.
Fewer Spills
Pot filler makes for a safer, cleaner kitchen because you fill your pots at the stovetop. There’s zero chance of spilling water from a full pot as you cross the kitchen.
Better Workflow
Sometimes having two faucets can be a lifesaver, like when cooking big meals for the family over the holidays. You can save time by filling multiple pots and pans with a pot filler on the cookpot, which frees up your prep or table setting time. The pot filler is also very practical if you want to add a bar or breakfast area to your kitchen design. It’s simply easier to have a separate kitchen faucet to supply these activities.
Beautify the Kitchen
Pot filler is a chef-inspired addition to a kitchen, which adds a touch of sophistication to your space. There are overwhelming choices of pot filler designs from modern to traditional, stainless steel to matte black finishes, and so much more. Pot filler can be the focal point of your kitchen or a discreet addition for purely practical functions.
Add Value to Your Property
A pot filler ranks among the top of all the renovations that boost your home’s market value. In fact, 49% of starter homes with pot filler sold above their value. Buyers like to imagine how they’d cook in their prospective kitchen, and pot filler may be just what they need for extra convenience.
What are the Downsides of a Pot Filler?
It’s important to think clearly about adding pot filler to your kitchen design. After all, your kitchen faucet may be enough as it is. Here are some potential disadvantages of a pot filler in your kitchen.
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Risk of Leaks
It takes a while to get used to a pot filler’s double valves, which will likely leak over your cooktop. A pot filler leak is worse than a regular sink faucet with a drain directly underneath it. Water from leaking pot filler can ruin your range, wall, and floor.
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Tough to Clean
You can scrub and rinse your regular kitchen faucet easily over the sink. The pot filler is more challenging since it’s more exposed to smoke, heat, and grease from the pots and pans on the stove. This can tarnish the finishing, and grime may collect on the pot filler joints.
The pot filler design might also make it difficult to clean because it reaches around the valves and over the stovetop.
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Carrying Steaming Pots from the Range to the Sink
You can fill a big saucepan with pot filler for pasta, but you’ll still have to carry it back to the sink to strain it. The same goes for cooking lobsters and boiled potatoes. Only dishes like stews and soups benefit from a pot filler because you can serve them in bowls.
Chicken, beef, or vegetable stocks are also good with pot filler because you can scoop portions into Tupperware or plastic bags for freezing.
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Infrequent Use
Pot filler may be a lovely addition to your list of kitchen luxuries, but how often will you use it to justify the cost? Again, the pot filler is worth it if you cook big meals regularly. Otherwise, your standard kitchen faucet will do just fine, so you can spend the pot filler budget on other luxuries that make more sense.
Bottom Line
The pot filler is one of those kitchen luxuries you can never really appreciate until you try it, and then you can’t imagine cooking without it. When planning your kitchen renovation, always put pot filler in the scope of work during the design stage.
This accessory may be just the element you need to elevate your kitchen design, save you the hassle of moving heavy pots or help you close that deal if you’re selling your home. With so many pot filler designs available today, you’re sure to find one to match your budget and taste. If you need help deciding on a pot filter for your kitchen renovation, get in touch with us today.
