If you have never heard of a pre-rinse kitchen faucet, perhaps you’ve seen one without realizing it. These tall, snaking water spray heads are often seen in commercial kitchens and restaurants or as a background piece on cooking shows.
Besides their reputation for generating strong blasts of water, they are known for being a little pricier than your regular faucet generally because they are made from stainless steel and have a pull down faucet design.
It stands to reason then that the cost to replace kitchen faucets of this type will no doubt require a larger investment than your average faucet.
Features of Pre-Rinse Kitchen Faucets
Pre-rinse kitchen faucets offer a range of features, depending on which style you choose:
Style Types
First and foremost, consider the faucet mounting style you prefer. There are two types from which you can choose.
Deck-mount faucets mount to the counter at the back of the sink compartments.
Splash mount faucets attach to the vertical splash mount at the back of the sink compartments, otherwise known as a wall mount.
Choosing between these two types is usually a matter of distance and access to the kitchen sink plumbing and functionality for user comfort.
Pre-rinse units come in two types of styles. Roto-flex faucets are more flexible. Users can take advantage of elbow connections to move the faucet around with ease.
Gooseneck faucets, on the other hand, are stationary, although they include a spring that allows users to move their directional position somewhat. Goosenecks are usually the more common variety that you will find in many households.
Built-In Features
Besides their eye-catching looks, pre-rinse faucets consist of a high arc spout that generates a powerful spray pressure emanating from a pull down faucet spray head.
These are most often useful for blasting the grease-filled plates, cutlery, and silverware you might expect to see in a commercial kitchen setup.
Optional Features
Many pre-rinse kitchen faucets offer optional add-on features you purchase separately:
- Some pre-rinse units come with spray valves, but spray valves are also sold separately. Different types of spray valves provide different flow rates — the rate at which the water streams through, measured by GPM or gallons per minute. You might presume that the stronger the amount of water, the better, but this is not always the case. Low-flow rate valves generate a lot less water but act just as effectively in washing down grease and grime.
- Hold-down rings keep the sprayer valve open on spray valve handles to prevent user fatigue over periods of extended use.
- Some models utilize club handles, foot valves, and wrist handles in place of the usual valve handles.
- Add-on faucets are swivel faucets attached around the base of the pre-rinse unit.
- Mini pre-rinse faucets are a good alternative for their taller versions, leaving you with a bit more space with which to work.
- Some feature a pull out faucet spray head design.
- Stainless steel is a common material used in higher end models.
- Buy a model with a limited lifetime warranty.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Getting a Pre-Rinse Kitchen Faucet
A pre-rinse unit is a good choice when you will benefit from its specialized features — unless the disadvantages turn you away.
Advantages
- The style and visual appeal are some of the obvious reasons people are attracted to pre-rinse faucets. These models look good and stand up to scrutiny in commercial kitchens — especially on cooking shows that want to highlight their appearance as a background piece.
- Intense water pressure makes these faucets ideal for dealing with dirty dishes at a faster rate than regular faucets.
- Their tall height makes filling extra-large pots and pans easier.
Disadvantages
- With prices ranging from $650 to $1,200 per unit, a pre-rinse unit is a pricey investment.
- The unit’s tall height means you can’t have overhead cabinets.
- Pre-rinse units are not known to be water efficient.
How Much Will It Cost To Install a Pre-Rinse Kitchen Faucet?
Pricing varies from company to company, but a reasonable estimate is about $297 to $333 per faucet. This estimate applies to bulk installations of, usually, about six faucets. A single installation may cost even more.
When you factor in the pre-rinse kitchen unit price range of $650 to $1,200, you will be paying around $947 to $1533 for the package. The cost to replace a kitchen faucet of this type will likely run a similar amount.
How Do You Install a Pre-Rinse Kitchen Faucet?
Installing a pre-rinse unit is easy. If you encounter any difficulties fitting your pre-rinse unit into your sink, consult the unit manual for additional instructions.
Materials and Tools You Need
You need to ensure that you have the necessary materials on hand for proper installation. Some of these may come with the pre-rinse unit.
You will need:
- Pre-Rinse Unit
- Silicone Injector
- Washers and Lock Nuts
- Two half-inch threaded Brass Nipples
- Basin Wrench
- Channel Locks Pliers
- Crescent Wrench
- Supply Lines
Step-By-Step Process
It is finally time to get your pre-rinse sprayer unit up and running. When you install your pre-rinse kitchen faucet, having more than one person on hand will help make attaching the unit easier and lessen the chance of improper installation.
- Fit the pre-rinse sprayer unit into one of the holes at the side of the sink to test the fit.
- If the faucet is the right size, remove the unit and then pick up the silicone injector.
- Squirt a little silicone circle all around the hole.
- Place the pre-rinse unit back into the hole. Press it firmly against the hole, letting it stick to the silicone application.
- Go under the sink and make sure that the unit stays secure. (This is where a second person will come in useful.)
- Screw the washers onto the underside of the unit.
- Secure each washer’s position by using the locknuts.
- Use the basin wrench to secure the unit firmly.
- Quickly attach the two brass nipples onto the supply lines.
- Use your channel locks pliers to hold the nipples in place while using your crescent wrench to secure the bolts firmly.
- Take the other supply lines connected to the kitchen sink plumbing and screw them into the other end of the brass nipples.
- Tighten their bolts with your crescent wrench as well.
- Remove the valve and turn on the water for about a minute or two to clear impurities.
Have Kitchen Faucet Problems?
If you need tips on removing a kitchen sink without a basin wrench or about that size hole you need for your kitchen faucet, be sure to visit our other blog posts.
Mr. Kitchen Faucet is here to help you with all your sink replacement and repair needs. Our reader reviews can also help you narrow your purchase choice.