Pot Filler Taps
You may not have heard of a pot filler tap before, especially if this is your first kitchen build or renovation. Though they are increasing in popularity, they are not a staple in Australian kitchen designs just yet.
What is a pot filler tap?
Pot filler taps are a swing-out, long arm faucet that is installed over a stovetop. Perfect for commercial kitchen or in a residential setting where you use a stove top kettle or for the home chefs amongst us for filling those large pasta pots that are just too large to fit into the kitchen sink.
These taps come with two different mounting options, bench mounted, or wall mounted.
Should pot filler be hot or cold?
Most pot filler taps will come with a ‘cold’ indicator on the tap handles, however they can be plumbed to use either hot or cold water. So which is best?
You are best to think about your usage here.
If you are using the tap in a commercial setting, hot water would be best. This is simply to reduce the heating time on the stove.
If you are using in a residential setting, think about if you normally fill your pots and kettles with hot or cold water, if you seem to have a preference, you are probably best to install this tap with whichever you normally use. If you don’t seem to have a preference, simply for money saving purposes, you are probably best to have cold water plumbed up to this tap.
Why do pot fillers have two handles?
Although pot filler taps have a single water source, they still have two handles.
So why is that?
Since pot filler taps are installed over the stove top, I am sure you can imagine the damage they could cause if the tap was left dripping over a stove, not just to your stove and cabinetry but also any electricity nearby.
Happily, this is something that the tap manufacturers have thought of and why these taps have two handles.
If you think of each of the tap handles like and on and off ‘valve’, you can imagine that when you turn the tap on, you need to open both ‘valves’ to allow water to come through and out the end of the spout.
So when you turn the tap off, you close both of the ‘valves’ stopping the water first from coming through the first ‘valve’ and then, the second. This means that if one of these ‘valves’ was damaged and allowed water to still seep through (which is what happens when a tap starts to drip), then having the other ‘valve’ off or closed, stop the water & it can still not escape out of the spout of the tap.
Things to consider when purchasing a pot filler tap.
Though pot filler taps become increasing more popular, they are quite limited in their availability at the moment, however, more and more brands are including them in their range. Nicolazzi Tapware’s Tradizionale range includes both a bench and a wall mounted pot filler tap so you can then match your kitchen tap and bathroom taps by choosing those of the same range.
Another point to consider is where your stovetop is installed. If you’re stovetop is in an island bench or near to a sink, perhaps a Kitchen Spray Tap would work better for you as you can use the spray to fill and clean our any pots without having to fit them underneath the tap over your kitchen sink.
What style are pot filler taps?
The style of these taps can vary, although they are extremely popular in French Provincial, Country and Hamptons style kitchens.
They are a popular design choice when the stovetop is in a separate alcove which is fairly common in commercial kitchens, but also large ornate French provincial kitchens as well.
The grandiose nature and look of these taps lead to them generally being included in designs of large, feature rich kitchens which these styles lean toward.
If you’re interested in more information on our styles, please visit our Australian Architectural Style Guide for an easy to navigate guide to architecture and design in Australian residential homes.
How do a clean a pot filler tap?
As with all tapware, the finish of the tap with generally determine how it can be cleaned.
More durable finishes can withstand harsher chemicals, however it is generally recommended to avoid using chemicals on metal finishes of tapware.
If durability of the finish is a concern for you, we would suggest sticking to the standard Chrome finish. This will be the finish that will hold up the longest over time and will be the easiest to keep clean.
If you are aiming for a particular style with the finish of your tap, black finishes are perfect for French provincial kitchens, whereas brushed gold or nickel will fit perfectly in a modern country or shaker kitchen perfectly.
Alternatively, you may simply wish to match the finish of your tap to the finish of your kitchen handles to ensure a seamless design.
To ensure you not damage the finish of your tap despite what it is, a good rule is that all metal finishes on tapware should only be cleaned with a soft cloth and soapy water.
A product such as Mr. Sheen can be used to polish the tap and add an extra layer of protection once it is cleaned.
