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Kitchen Taps Buying Guide

With products for washing dishes, making hot drinks, and prepping produce, this kitchen taps buying guide covers the essential features needed for a smart setup. Find kitchen taps that cut water consumption, multifunctional models to ease everyday tasks, and space-saving designs for small rooms. Compare materials such as chrome and brass, and styles such as swan-neck or swivel, making it easy to find the best match for any taste. These sinks and taps buying guides help when making an informed choice, whether simply browsing or discovering the benefits of premium extras, like on-tap sparkling water or hand sensors.

What to consider when planning a tap?

Water Pressure

A tap should be compatible with the water pressure. Gravity-fed systems have low pressure compared to combi boilers or unvented cylinders. Ask a trade professional about what is best.

Water Type

Water hardness can have a big impact. In hard water areas, a built-in filter can reduce limescale, watermarks, and clouding of glass. It can also provide a better taste, so drinks are tastier.

Lamona Brushed Steel Effect Adra swan neck monobloc tap

Uses and Requirements

It's important to consider what it will be used for. Swan-necks make filling large pans or bowls easier, while pull-outs make light work of cleaning up - great for professional spaces.

What types of kitchen tap are available?

Hockley Super Matt Fir Green Sink and Tap

Traditional & Modern Mixer Taps

Delivering hot and cold water, mixer styles are a great all-round option for many homes. This makes them a popular choice, readily available in various on-trend colours and finishes.

Explore kitchen mixer taps

Pillar & Deck Mixer Taps

Available in pairs, they offer full control over cold and hot flows, making it easy to get an exact temperature. They have a traditional look and can work on low-pressure systems.

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Garda Single Lever Pull Out Tap Brushed Nickel Hockley Sandstone

Pull-out & Professional Mixer Taps

A practical option liked by professionals, pull-out devices make it easy to direct water. Stains or debris can be removed without much scrubbing, making light work of washing up.

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Quooker Fusion Round Patinated Brass Tap

Boiling Water Taps

Supplying water at 100-degree Celsius, they are a time-saving option. From sterilising bottles to boiling veg, they speed up a variety of tasks. A premium choice, they use less electricity compared to a standard kettle, which lowers household bills.

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Pronteau Kynance Brushed Nickel 3 in 1 J Spout Instant Hot Water Kitchen Tap

Instant Hot Water Taps

Offering the benefits of instant heated water while keeping the initial costs down, hot water taps are a good alternative. They provide a stream that has a temperature of 98-degrees Celsius, saving time on a quick brew or meal prep.

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Bridge Taps

Common in classical rooms, these taps feature separate inlets joined by a bridge. This is where the water mixes, before emerging from the central spout, similar to a mixer tap.

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Sensor Taps

Reducing the need to touch the fixture, sensor models are an excellent choice for maintaining a hygienic space. This makes them useful for busy homes, as they are easy to keep clean.

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Polished Nickel Handspray and Bowden Polished Nickel J Spout Mixer Tap

Hand Spray Taps

Hand spray taps make it easy to direct a stream. Separate from the main fixture, they can be pulled out from the surface, making them a flexible option for washing up, rinsing veg, or cleaning pets.

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Choose a colour

Chrome

The silver tone and highly-reflective finish of chrome is versatile and fits into many styles both old and new. Alongside a sleek appearance, chrome is durable and easy to clean, making it a low-maintenance option.

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Hockley Super Matt Fir Green In-Frame Sink and Tap

Brass And Bronze

Aged metals are a go-to, thanks to their handcrafted appeal that blends heritage and contemporary styles. Brass has a warm palette that is bright and inviting, working well as a standout feature.

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Nickel

Brushed nickel contains a more subtle finish than other metallic options, such as gold, whilst retaining a premium appearance. They are flexible choice that is suited to both modern and heritage schemes.

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Black

Black fixtures have an on-trend look that creates a dramatic backdrop when paired with other dark features. They also hide dirt and look cleaner for longer, which reduces the need for frequent cleaning.

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What are the different functions?

3 in 1

Supplied with a water tank, 3-in-1 taps dispense cold, hot, and boiling water. They save time when making food or drinks and free up counter space, making them a great option for small spaces.

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4 in 1

These 4-in-1 fixtures provide boiling, hot, cold, and filtered water. The filter removes impurities, making it a good pick for hard water areas, and minimises limescale build-up, ensuring long-lasting use.

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Quooker Fusion Stainless Steel Tap running

5 in 1

5-in-1 fixtures produce boiling, hot, cold, filtered chilled, and filtered sparkling water. A multi-functional option, they can reduce plastic waste as there is no need to buy water bottles.

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