Kitchen faucets come in various sizes, shapes, brands, configurations, finishes, and price points. The options are endless, and there’s something to meet nearly any aesthetic taste, whether you prefer the sleek, modern style faucets or the classic, traditional style faucets.
When it comes to kitchen faucets, both pull-down and pull-out faucets are popular. Given the similarity of the name, it’s easy to confuse the two. But are they the same thing? Or something else entirely? This article tackles pull-down versus pull-out faucets, so keep reading to learn more.
What Are Pull-Out And Pull-Down Faucets?
Pull-down faucets and pull-out faucets share a few similarities, but the differences create a clear divide. Before we evaluate the pros and cons of each option, let’s examine what each option is. While the name of each option gives a clear indication of what it actually is, it can be confusing to differentiate the two.
A pull-down faucet features a spray wand, which is essentially an extension of the faucet. To use the spray wand, you pull the end of the faucet head. Many kitchen faucets feature this design, with a high arc and a modern or contemporary feel.
On the other hand, a pull-out faucet requires you to pull out to remove the spray wand. Generally, the spray wand on a pull-out faucet is larger than that on a pull-down faucet. In some cases, the spray wand is part of the pull-out faucet, while it is mounted separately on the sink ledge in others.
Pros And Cons Of Pull-Out Faucets
As with most products, pull-out faucets come with several benefits and drawbacks. A few of the high points of pull-out faucets include:
- Longer hose: Most pull-out kitchen faucets feature a lengthy hose, which enables you to reach pots and pans on the counter, filling them without clearing space in the sink to rest the pot/pan.
- Low profile: Unlike the high, elegant arch of most pull-down faucets, pull-out faucets feature a low profile. The lower profile is excellent for small kitchens with cramped sink areas or low cabinets.
- Less splashing: Compared to pull-down faucets, these faucets minimize splashing, ensuring you keep the surrounding counters and cabinets splash-free.
On the flip side, a few of the drawbacks include:
- Not ideal for filling taller dishes: Filling tall pots, pitchers, or vases can be tricky due to the low profile of pull-out faucets. In addition, the low profile can make washing larger dishes a bit tricky, especially if you have a shallow sink, as there’s not much clearance.
- Limited range of style and design options: Although options are plentiful in the pull-out faucet category, the variation from one option to the next is generally minimal. So, if you’re looking for an exotic, stand-out, eye-catching faucet, a pull-out faucet might not be your best bet.
- Not ergonomic: The pull action required to remove the spray wand from the rest of the faucet isn’t as ergonomic as the pull-down faucet. While this isn’t a deal-breaker for most folks, it’s something to keep in mind.
Pros And Cons Of Pull-Down Faucets
Like the pull-out faucet, the pull-down faucet features a few ups and downs. A few of the benefits of a pull-down faucet include:
- Ergonomically correct: The pulling motion required to operate these faucets is more ergonomically friendly than the pull-out faucet. Users can easily pull the spray wand down and out in one fluid motion, leading to less maneuvering to use the wand.
- Great for filling larger pots and pitchers: Due the high arc design most of these faucets feature, filling larger pots and pitchers is quick and easy.
- Ideal for better height clearance: The high-profile design allows for easy washing, particularly with large pots and pans that are tricky to clean with a low-profile faucet. The design offers better clearance, enabling you to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
- Perfect for frequent use and deep sinks: The design lends well to kitchens with heavy traffic and deep sinks. So, if you constantly use your kitchen or have an expansive, deep sink, these faucets are an excellent choice.
On the other hand, a few of the cons of pull-down faucets include:
- Cheap models are problematic: For the most part, cheaper versions of the pull-down faucet style are problematic at best. While they usually do the job well enough, cheaper models are prone to dangling heads. The docking system, often featuring faulty weights and mechanisms, fails to keep the sprayer wand in place, allowing it to dangle. Although this isn’t the end of the world, it doesn’t look very nice.
- Not ideal for low water pressure: These faucets don’t usually perform well in scenarios with low water pressure. Although there certainly are some exceptions, you may want to steer clear of pull-down faucets if water pressure is an issue in your home.
- Short hose: These faucets often feature a much shorter hose than other sprayers. There’s usually plenty of hose for rinsing out all areas of the sink, but beyond that, you might not have much luck.
Which One Is Better?
Ultimately, the choice of which option is better for your home falls to you. Everybody’s situation is different, so there’s not necessarily a “better” option. Both choices offer various pros and cons, which can be helpful to weigh your decision in the favor of one over the other.
For example, if you have a busy kitchen, where you regularly wash large dishes, a pull-down faucet may be the better option for you. On the other hand, if you have a cramped kitchen or need a longer hose, the pull-out faucet configuration may be the better choice.
Either way, it’s up to you. To help you out in your decision-making process, check out some of the popular faucet models in each option below.
Recommended Pull-Out Kitchen Faucets
- Kohler K-10433-BN Forte: High-quality and well-made faucet with excellent ratings
- Dura Faucet DF-NMK852: Perfect for compact spaces
- Moen 87039: User-friendly design, perfect for any kitchen
Recommended Pull-Down Kitchen Faucets
- Delta Faucet 9159-CZ-DST Trinsic: Advanced features and sleek design
- Kraus KPF-1610SS: Great budget-friendly option
- Moen Arbor 7594ESRS: Highly rated with excellent features
- Kohler K-596: Beautiful, elegant design with useful features
Have you ever covered the issues with bacteria growing on the nozzles of the pull-down? It is out of sight since is faces down and we realized that in needed some disinfectant spray and a brush to clean it up.