Our Complete Buyers Guide for Faucets, Fixtures, Showers, Toilets and More!
A remodeling project may have you making all types of decisions for your home. From a new faucet to adding a completely new shower system, you may have plenty of big decisions to make. With the right tips and help, these decisions become much easier. Our complete buyer’s guide starts with the decision to get the right faucets for your kitchen and bathrooms.
Deciding on the Right Kitchen and Bathroom Faucets
When it comes to choosing the best kitchen faucet or best bath faucet, it’s important to consider all the different choices. Many faucets come with many different features making this a tough choice. Our buyer’s guide will help introduce you to some of the most popular styles, give you a few recommendations and provides some tips to help you decide.
Of course, if you want to stick with the trends, you will want to check out our pages on the top Bathroom Faucet Trends and top Kitchen Faucet Trends before you start shopping.
This faucet can be easily operated with just one hand. It usually comes with a lever which you can turn to one side to get cold or hot water. This is a good option if you want a faucet which can be easily installed and does not take too much countertop space. Models of this faucet have handles that you can either attach to the faucet itself, or install on its side.
Touch faucet
You can turn this faucet on with one light touch using your arm or hand. If you prefer a faucet capable of giving you a more sanitary environment, the touch faucet is a good choice. You won’t have to worry about touching the handle with your dirty hands. Instead, just bump the faucet and it will turn on.
This type usually has a more traditional look. It is equipped with separate handles ideal for cold and hot water. One advantage of this faucet is that the temperature control that it offers is more precise than the single handle type, but you have to brace yourself for its quite difficult installation process.
Hands-free or touchless faucet
This utilizes infrared and light sensors for its operation. It also automatically turns on upon placing your hands beneath its spout. You’ve probably encountered this type of faucet in a restaurant or other public bathroom.
This faucet features independent cold and hot water handles and a spout. Most models of this type can accommodate installations with between six and sixteen inches pre-drilled sink holes.
Other types of faucet that work well for kitchens and bathrooms are centerset, mini-widespread, single-hole, wall-mounted, and pot-filler faucets.
Another type of faucet perfect for the modern kitchen is the pull-down kitchen faucet. This faucet provides you with an effective way to ensure you get the most out of your faucet without the need for a side sprayer. The sprayer pulls right out of the faucet providing additional functionality.
Top Kitchen and Bath Faucet Features
When shopping for the best faucet for your kitchen or bathroom, it is crucial to examine the specific features installed in each of your options. One feature that your faucet must have is the pullout or extra tall spout. This feature is beneficial because it improves the level of convenience when using the product and allows users to easily wash dishes in the kitchen.
It is also advisable to look for a faucet with features that are useful in limiting the consumption of water while also removing any impurities present in it. Additional features that can make the faucets more functional including instant hot-water dispenser, scald guards or anti-scald protection, convenient spout reach and height, water filters, diverter, valves and universal valve assembly should also be available.
Considering the Price
Of course, one of the most important considerations is your budget. If you only have $200 to spend on your faucet, you cannot consider faucets at a higher price. There are plenty of great faucets out there perfect for just about any budget. However, you should know, you often get what you pay for.
Our Top Kitchen Faucet Recommendations by Price
- KOHLER K-6227-C11-VS Kitchen Faucet
- Blanco 441332 Culina Semi-Pro Kitchen Faucet
- Blanco 440557 Meridian Semi Professional Single Handle Kitchen Faucet
- Delta 9159-AR-DST Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet
- Moen 7594SRRS Arbor One-Handle High Arc Pulldown Kitchen Faucet
- Pfister G133-10SS Single Handle Kitchen Faucet
Our Top Bathroom Faucet Recommendations by Price
- KOHLER K-110-3-CP Antique Bath Faucet
- GROHE 32 425 EN0 Tenso Single Post Mount Lavatory Faucet
- Hansgrohe 31073821 Metris C Widespread Faucet
- Moen 6903BN One Handle Bathroom Faucet
- Moen T6620BN-9000 Brantford Bathroom Faucet
- Delta 3575-MPU-DST Laland Widespread Lavatory Faucet
Choosing the Right Shower System
Whether you simply want to replace your basic showerhead with something more luxurious or you want to install a top-of-the-line shower system, you need to know what you are getting into. There are several different choices on the market and plenty to fit your specific needs. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right shower system or the best showerhead for your needs.
Start with your Desires
Since shower systems and showerheads can range from very basic to incredibly elaborate, you need to figure out what you are looking for before you start shopping. Many showerheads are very easy to install and you can simply buy it and replace it. However, a full shower system takes more effort and may require a professional.
Consider your desires before making the final decision. Do you want a rain-style showerhead with a hand sprayer sand plenty of jets spraying you from the wall or do you just want a showerhead with more water pressure? There are many options to consider before you begin looking for the right shower system for your needs.
What can you Afford?
A big part of choosing the right shower system or showerhead for your needs is your budget. Showerheads start as low as about $10 and can go up to more than a few hundred dollars. If you are after complete luxury, you will be looking for a shower system, which will range from about $250 up to over $1,000.
Do you Want Massage Jets?
One of the most luxurious and relaxing features of any shower system are the massage jets. Some of the shower systems you will find come with multiple jets to give you a full body experience. The jets will not only spray your body, but also massage you as you take your shower. This is the ultimate in luxury and only the best shower systems provide massage jets.
Our Top Shower System Recommendations by Price
- Hudson Reed Luxury Thermostatic Massage Tower
- Luxury 10 Water Power LED Shower Head Rainfall Thermostatic 6 Massage Jets Spray Body Shower Set Faucet
- La Toscana 78PW70100002HD Thermostatic Shower System
- Fontana Luxury Bathroom Shower Set
- Blue Ocean 52” Aluminum SPA392M-L Shower Panel Tower
Our Top Showerhead Recommendations by Price
- Hansgrohe S240 Raindance Downpour AIR Showerhead
- Moen S6320 Rainshower
- LightInTheBox Rainfall LED Shower Head
- LED Color Changing Showerhead
Along with the right showerhead or shower system, you may want to add a little bit of fun to your shower. With the right waterproof electronic devices and the top LED shower lights, you can make your showering experience more enjoyable.
Deciding on the Right Bidet and Toilet
Another very important decision to make when remodeling the bathroom is the toilet and bidet. You will be sitting on the toilet quite often and you want to make sure you get one you really enjoy. A bidet may seem like a luxury and may seem expensive, but they can actually pay for themselves by saving you on toilet paper. They also provide a better cleaning experience.
The toilet decision will include considering your budget, the right size for your bathroom and choosing an eco-friendly toilet. You will want to compare a few different choices before you pick the one right for your specific needs.
When choosing a bidet, you have a few more things to consider. You can have a separate bidet installed or you can choose a bidet toilet seat. Some of the bidet options will come with a warm air dryer and they will also provide electronic controls. The standard bidet will simply provide knobs much like a faucet, but may be the right choice for you.
Our Top Toilet Recommendations by Price
- American Standard 2862.056.020 Fairfield Elongated One-Piece Toilet with Seat
- American Standard 2889.216.020 H2Option Siphonic Dual Flush Round Front Toilet
- American Standard 221DA.104.020 Colony 12-Inch Toilet Combo</a>
Our Top Bidet Recommendations by Price
- KOHLER K-4886-0 Memoirs Bidet
- Coco Bidet Elongated 9500R Toilet Seat
- Feel Fresh HI-4001WT Elongated Electric Bidet with Warm Air Dryer
- TOTO BT500B #01 Piedmont Bidet
Adding a Water Filtration System
Along with the faucets, showers, toilets and bidets, you may want to consider adding a home water filtration system when remodeling. This type of system may be the key to ensuring you have great tasting drinking water at home. There are several different choices to consider.
The Pitcher Water Filtration System
If you don’t want to spend much cash, the pitcher water filtration system, such as the PUR One Pitcher provides an affordable solution. This type of filtration system needs to be filled up when it’s empty and you will have to change the filter about every three months. However, it goes right into your fridge and provides great tasting water for the entire family.
Advanced Water Filtration System
Another good choice is an advanced water filtration system. This type of system will provides excellent tasting water straight from your faucet. It will simply attach to your faucet or it may come with a conversation kit to help you mount it under your sink. One of the top systems is the New Way Enviro 10 Stage Water Filtration System, which will filter about 1,500 gallons of water before the filter needs to be changed.
Full Home Water Filtration System
If you don’t want to worry about attaching anything to a faucet and you want all the water used in your home filtered, you can choose a full home water filtration system. This type of system will use reverse osmosis to filter out anything that doesn’t belong. The advanced technology will provide crisp and fresh water perfect for your family to enjoy.
Not only will the water come out of every faucet in the home, but it will also be used in your washing machine and for showering. This is the best way to get rid of chlorine and other horrible chemicals in your water. One of the top home water filtration systems is the iSpring 75GPD 5 Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System.
Undersink Water Filtration System
An undersink water filtration system is designed to provide a separate faucet for drinking water. This type of system will take care of the unpleasant and harmful chemicals found in your tap water. One of the top choices is the Culligan Undersink Drinking Water Filtration System. This system handles up to 3,000 gallons of water before you have to change the filter.
Getting one of the top water filtration systems for your home makes a huge difference. From a simple pitcher system to a full home water filtration system, there are plenty of great choices on the market.
Getting a Top-of-the-Line Garbage Disposal
Maybe it’s not a part of your remodel, but you need a new garbage disposal. Choosing the right one isn’t always easy and you may be faced with the decision between a garbage disposal and a trash compactor. Both are great and you may end up with just one or the other, or you may end up with both.
Choosing the right garbage disposal means you have to look at what you need and what you can afford. They are certainly not all the same, as some will last longer and others will provide more power.
Our Top Garbage Disposal Recommendations by Price
- Waste King L-3300 3/4 HP Garbage Disposer
- InSinkErator Compact 3/4 HP Household Garbage Disposer
- Whirlaway 291 1/2 Horsepower Garbage Disposer
- Waste King A1SPC Knight 1.0 Horsepower Garbage Disposal
- Waste King L-2600 1/2 HP Garbage Disposal
Now you have all the information you need to make an informed decision for your kitchen and bathroom faucets, shower systems, toilets, bidets, water filtration systems and garbage disposal. Use our reviews to choose the right products and don’t forget to check the lowest prices possible through our review pages.
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