spout reach

18 years ago

How much does spout reach matter?

I read somewhere that, ideally, the faucet spout would reach to the drain so that water would go directly down the drain when the faucet is on.

But I've never been asked about the size/shape of my sink in any of the places where I've shopped for faucets. It just doesn't seem like a big consideration. Plus I'm not even 100% sure what the exact measurement would be, because I don't know down to the fraction of an inch where the faucet will be mounted.

I have a large 1 3/4 sink, so the faucet will have to be mounted off-center, kind of at the upper left of the 3/4, which is on the right. I think many people have this configuration. (Buehl, I know I've seen it that way in your kitchen.) How do you figure out what your spout reach should be in this configuration? or maybe it really doesn't matter?

(I hope it doesn't matter, because the 8 1/2" reach of the faucet I want to buy probably won't reach the drain!)

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Comments (4)

Buehl
18 years ago
If you have a pull down (or even a pull out) faucet, I don't think reach is as important as some say. When I chose my faucet, I didn't check to see if it reached to the drain...with 2 different-sized sinks I would have had to choose which one to reach! You're in the same boat. Additionally, with drains in the back, I think it's no longer a "hard & fast" rule...

What I would check, though, is to be sure it reaches sufficiently far that you don't have to lean over to move the faucet around or put your hands (or dishes) under the stream.

Also, check to be sure the faucet isn't so far forward that it's in the way when you work...you don't want it so far forward that you're constantly moving it out of the way!

The bottom line...be sure you will be comfortable working at the sink with whatever faucet you choose.

(BTW...my faucet has a 9-1/2" reach and seems perfect. The bigger bowl in our sink is 21-3/8" x 18-3/4" and the smaller bowl is 10-1/2" x 15-7/8")
jayav
18 years ago
To me spout reach did not matter before but now it does. I have a Price Pfisher with a 8.5 or 9 inch reach and a copper sink. During installation of the sink and counter we discovered that the faucet had to be set at certain spot only. Even then I did not think the reach mattered but once I started using the kitchen the fact that the spout did not reach deeper in to the sink (closer to the drain) meant that water constantly splashed on the back side of the sink...which I hate.

I am now trying to find a faucet with the right number of holes (has to fit in 4-hoes) with a deeper reach. I would suggest getting the sink first and knowing where the faucet would be installed to calculate the minimum reach you would need.
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lascatx
18 years ago
I saw something about the reach being over the drain. My prep faucet does that and it is terrible. It splashes like crazy in that position, so we always have it turned a bit.

I do think reachmatters, but not to put it over the drain. You want the stream of water to be where you are comfortable reaching and working under it - washing or filling. You also want it far enough from the back or corners of your sink to allow you to wash large things without banging or splashing out the back -- and not too far forward for similar reasons on the front.
mmme
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you!!! Very helpful responses, as always. I think I will go with my second choice faucet. It's more expensive, but I think that extra inch (bringing it to 9 1/2") sounds like a good idea.