Faucet Height - How important is it? Please help!

ni_2006

18 years ago

It sounds like faucet reach is quite an important consideration when selecting the appropriate faucet. How about the height of the faucet?

I will have a 9 inch deep sink (plus about 1.5 inches from the granite). I can have any height without any interference from window shutters, etc.

I am considering getting a faucet that has a 9-10 inch reach and is at least 9 inches high. Is that too high? Will have have too much splashing to worry about?

For those of you with high faucets, do you like them? How about you with faucets that are 6-7 inches high, are they high enough?

Help!! Never thought faucet shopping would be this tough!

Featured Answer

zelmar

18 years ago

I think water pressure has a lot to do with splashing--whether it is a low faucet or high faucet. I have a high gooseneck faucet with a 10" undermount sink. When the faucet is in spray mode, I get splatter (just like I did from the old cheapo handheld sprayer I grew up with). In stream mode I get no splashing. The water in spray mode seems to come out with much more force and I can fill a pot much faster with it.

The distance between my counter top and the place where the water came out in my old faucet really bothered me. I felt like I had to snake a stock pot between the faucet and sink edge to get it into the sink. I love the freedom the new faucet gives.

Also, no matter which faucet I use, the closer I hold an item to the water source (especially spoons), the more splash I get. I don't notice water splashing any more in our deep sink/goose neck than I did in our old shallow sink/1970s (or before) faucet.

I would think turning the water flow down a bit (not full force) would help with any splashing problems.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

pbrisjar
18 years ago
High faucet = lots of splashing and mess. Not only from hitting the sink but also from holding your dish/whatever close to the faucet, which would be significantly above the sink level. (This from personal experience with a too-tall faucet with horrible reach.)
rhome410
18 years ago
Our faucets (at main and prep sinks) are 15-16" high with about 9" reach. I don't find them too splashy or messy. They have pull-down spouts, which I consider very important...That way when we need to use a strong stream we can pull it down into the sink and any splashes stay inside. I like a high spout for filling large pots, pitchers etc., and working within the sink without bumping the faucet or having it in the way visually. I also just like how they look.

Just in case it's helpful, our faucets are the Kohler Simplice and the high arc, pull-down version of the Elkay Moda.
Related Professionals
Florence Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Georgetown Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Morgantown Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Westerly Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Napa Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Roswell Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Southaven Kitchen Remodelers · Martinsburg Kitchen Remodelers · Pueblo Kitchen Remodelers · Chattanooga Custom Countertops · Gloucester Custom Countertops · Hudson Custom Countertops · San Angelo Custom Countertops · Salem Custom Countertops · Queens Custom Countertops
bluekitobsessed
18 years ago
After reading Pbris' post and pix (thank you!), I decided against a high gooseneck arch (a big upside down U) and instead went with a lower gooseneck (an upside down L with a graceful curve at the faucet end). It's 14" from faucet to bottom of sink, with no splashing. I'm able to fill my pitchers easily. I wanted a side spray for aesthetic reasons, although many GW'rs will recommend pull out/pull down sprays.

The faucet decision routinely ranks as one of the hardest, BTW.
mygar
18 years ago
I have a high gooseneck like rhome. I love it! I like the looks of it and it has a pull down. I also like that it rotates 360 degrees and I set pots on the countertop beside it and swivel it to the side to fill because I have the clearance to do that.

It is the Delta Allora.
Buehl
18 years ago
Keep in mind that the distance b/w the faucet and the bottom of the sink is determined in large part by the depth of your sink. Two people w/the same faucet but different depth sinks will have two different "faucet to bottom of sink" measurements. The sink depth can also affect splashing.

We have the Kohler Vinnata...16-5/8" from the top of the arch to the countertop plus a 1-1/4" countertop thickness + 9" sink depth... The only time splashing is a problem is if you put your hand or other shallow item in the stream above the countertop level. Both my DH and I really like the faucet!
tyrak
18 years ago
We've been in our kitchen less than a year and have changed the faucet out because of too much splashing. But the reach and not the heighth problem. we have a depth of 12" between sink and countertop and a 23 1/2" front to back so we needed a big arch type faucet. The first one we had was about 15" tall but only a 7" reach and you would always get water behind the sink our new one is about the same height but has a 10" reach which works great with minimal splashing.
pbrisjar
18 years ago
bluekit - glad to hear I've saved at least one person my pain.

I'm really hoping that I'll get used to my faucet (even though it was installed about 5 months ago, I've only had intermittent access to it), but I have serious doubts that I will.
rhome410
18 years ago
The measurement I gave for my faucets was from counter to top of arc...overall height. The faucet-bottom (where water comes out) to sink-bottom measurements are 17 1/2" (main) and 16" (prep).
Buehl
18 years ago
Good point RHome! In our case it's 10" b/w the bottom of the faucet head (where the water comes out) & the countertop. Plus the 1-1/4" countertop + 9" sink depth.
ni_2006
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you all for sharing. In terms of the height, I was refering to the distance between the faucet head and the countertop.

Based on what I am reading, the top choice is:

Kohler Forte (with a height of 8-11/16" and reach of 10-1/8").

Now I have to post another question to see if anyone has this faucet and if they like it....

wish this was easier....
User
18 years ago
I really love the look of the taller gooseneck faucets, but chickened out thanks to pbrisjar and a few others. I also know my family would likely not enjoy too much difference from what we had. I opted for the delta saxony, and I am very pleased with it. Very user friendly, and I find it very good looking(but then we all know that is subjective:). I believe it is comparable in terms of dimensions. I installed without the "escutcheon" plate.

Here is a link that might be useful: delta saxony