Reasons Not To Include a Pot Filler In Your New Kitchen Design
Pot Filler Or No Pot Filler?
As your kitchen remodel becomes real, you are going to be asked to make decisions about a range of options by your kitchen designer. A pot filler faucet is one of those design options a growing number of people are asked to consider.
What is a Pot Filler?
A pot filler is a faucet located on the backsplash over your range or cooktop. Pot Filler Faucets have an articulated arm that enables the tap swing out over the burners so you can fill large stock pots where they will be heated.
Proponents say the biggest positive is reducing strain on your arms, back, and hands from lugging heavy, water-filled pots from the sink to the stove. Others who have splurged on a pot filler feel that they are more of a hassle than they are worth.
Some Notable Disadvantages of a Pot Filler
When it comes to this type of specialty kitchen design accessory, the negatives can sometimes outweigh the positives.
Even with the advantage of eliminating the burden of moving heavy pots from the sink to the stove, there are several issues to consider whether the additional cost of the pot filler faucet would be worth it.
A Potentially Leaky Faucet Over My Dual Fuel Range? I Don't Think So.
With additional plumbing and an extra tap comes more chances that something will drop, drip or disconnect. A leaking pipe over a stove can quickly turn into a big problem, especially if you are not home at the time it begins.
Water collecting in your oven, within the walls, or on your floor is not the kind of kitchen design you were going for with your remodel. No one wants to come home to find a water leak that has damaged the electronics within their costly Wolf range.
Another Greasy Over The Range Fixture To Clean. Joy.
Another concern homeowners find is with the additional cleaning challenges. Any fixture near the stove is sure to collect grease and making sure the arm, the tap, and the pipe joints are clean is not always easy. Of course, merely reaching the entire arm may be hard if it is placed near the center of the stove.
Finally, you should consider how often you need to fill a pot with a large amount of water. If that only happens at your annual 4th of July party where you serve your famous steamed lobster, then maybe the pot filler faucet doesn't need to be a tool in your kitchen design arsenal.
And while it may save you the hassle of moving a filled pot from the sink to the stove, remember, you do have to move it back to the sink to dump the water out after those lobsters are ready to join the corn on the cob and the cold beer.
Is it Really Worth The Cost for Something That's Used So Infrequently?
Paying upwards of $1,200 extra for a properly installed double-jointed pot filler with two shut off valves is a costly option.
If you're a casual cook, who may only use the faucet a few times a year, it may not make sense. However, there are some instances where making the investment in a pot filler does make sense. If you are a serious home chef and you don't have a prep sink, a pot filler can make cooking meals more comfortable and more efficient.
Likewise, if you have a larger kitchen, carrying a pot full of water weighing 20 or 30 pounds (water weighs 8 pounds per gallon) through your kitchen can be difficult, especially for older cooks. And finally, if you make large quantities of soup, stew, or cook pasta for your every Sunday for your family gathering, a pot filler might be a smart investment.
Exploring Alternatives to Pot Fillers for Your Kitchen
However, if none of this applies to your lifestyle in the kitchen, perhaps your money would be better spent on a microwave drawer, small appliance cupboard, or a set of place ware that matches your new kitchen design. Just think of how fabulous it will be to serve the wonderful meals you're sure to make in your new kitchen.
About Toulmin Kitchen & Bath Design - We're West Alabama's award-winning, premier kitchen and bath showroom. We're experts who are known for a design-build process that makes the construction process stress-free. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a design consultation.
