Kitchen Faucet - need advice from experts!

[Lefta Dissenter]

Hi all,

As much as I enjoy cooking (and even cleaning) in my kitchen, I have had to give up a lot of time there, because I have chronic back problems. My middle and upper back don't survive long when I'm working at the counter or at the sink. As I've tried to deal with this, I've realized that my faucet is one major problem for me. It's a nice faucet, but both the handle and the water stream are too far away from where I stand, forcing me to constantly lean forward slightly if I'm working under running water (rinsing dishes, etc.). Also, because I'm left-handed, I tend to reach across underneath the water stream (behind it, if I'm paying attention) to adjust temp or turn the water off.

What I have right now is


The center of the base of the faucet (therefore, the handle, too) is 22 1/2 inches from the front of the counter. The water stream is 13 3/4 inches from the front of the counter.

IDEAL would be something with a water stream that is much closer to the front of the counter, and even idealer :shrug: than that would be to be able to turn the water on/off at the faucet head. That way I could stand up straight when I'm working at the sink, and I wouldn't torture my back as much.

I figure there must be "accessible" faucets out in the real world, but before I go hunting online, I thought that you experts might have input!

(Don't listen to Teddy, who asks that you keep your suggestions to yourself. He's just worried about the prospect of more frequent baths!)


Thank you so much for any advice on where to shop, brand names to look for or to avoid, or specific model suggestions. :hi:

[supernova]

1. Is your faucet also a pull-out sprayer?

Using the spayer in your hand would alleviate some, but not all the bending over.

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. it's a pull-out

but actually that's another issue I have with the faucet. The sprayer doesn't 'lock' on, you have to keep the button pressed with your hand, and the faucet head doesn't stay pulled out unless I jam something in its socket to keep it from retracting. Typically, though, it would be nice to be able to work with two hands under running water (rinsing dishes, veggies, Teddy, etc.) Jeez, I sound like a whiner. :(

[supernova]

3. Oh geez, that sounds

like a faulty spayer. My sister's, the switch is from side to side. You punch in one side button and it's a regular stream. You punch the button on the opposite side and it's a sprayer. Regardless, the faucet stays in that mode until you change it.

Other suggestions,
Is your counter the right height for you?

Consider having the faucet installed to the side, rather than to the back.

Consider a trough sink like this:



They are installed horizontally.

[Lefta Dissenter]

4. the side installation

is something I hadn't thought of until I just did a quick search after my OP. Is it impossible or too risky to my granite countertop to drill a new hole for a new faucet? Has anyone had experience with this?

(and no, the wonderful faucet is designed to spray just when you're pressing the button. DUMB.)

[supernova]

5. You'd have to check

with a granite person and a plumber to see if it's doable.

I'm not a carpenter, just someone who thinks outside the box a lot. ;-)

[grasswire]

6. I'm wondering about counter height, too

Maybe Stinky will have some input.

Hey, why don't you go to one of those home stores where they have all the model kitchens and try out some different setups? They oughta have the scoop on counter heights, etc.

[Stinky The Clown]

14. Lowering counter height can be done, but not easily.

Our standard cabinets dress out at 36" high. Lower than that and you get into "accessible" counters, which tend to be (often far) more costly.

Good advice to shop around.


But ..... looking at that kitchen and all that granite, I'm guessing that avoiding a set of new cabinets is pretty high on the To Do list! Someone suggested a side mounter faucet. That's a good idea.

You might also consider an articulated faucet. While the arm reach to turn it on is the same, the spout can be much closer to you, yet far enough away for other family members. I am only aware of these being available as commercial units, except for this one by Kohler at $1500!!!



This one is by T&S Brass. It is about $500. This shows a wall mount faucet, but you can also get it as deck mount (what you'll need).

[Lefta Dissenter]

15. bingo!

Well, the Kohler looks great, but out of my league. The T&S, while still expensive, just might be in reach :rofl:

If anything, I could use a higher counter, rather than lower. I often work at the snack bar (behind the sink in the photo), because I don't have to look down as much to work. In my work life, I work much of the day at my computer, and have found that standing at a raised table (about 42" high for the keyboard) enables me to avoid the hunkering that strains my back the most.

I think I'm going to go to the plumbing supply showroom tomorrow to see what they have, and then hit up my nephew or former brother-in-law to see if they can get me builder's pricing. That's a test of the "former" relationship, dontchathink?

Man, I wish I could afford that Kohler one, though, that looks great...

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone! I knew I could count on you. :grouphug:

[Warpy]

7. Counter height is my issue more than the water faucet is

I have one similar to yours and I prop the pots on the sink divider to fill the suckers to relieve stress on arms, wrists and back. However, that 36 inch high counter might be wonderful for the average 5'10" tall male, but it's hell for me. While I've considered getting a stool to stand on, I'd probably break my neck on it so I got a butcher block table to do things like chopping and kneading on. It's on casters and can roll anywhere. Having a 30" tall work surface makes all the difference in the world. My upper back still locks up, but it does so more slowly. Before I got the butcher block, I used a kitchen table and when I had neither, I kneaded bread in a shallow bowl set on a chair.

The one place in most houses that screams for more ergonomic design is the kitchen. One size doesn't fit all, especially when that one size was designed by and for men and then pushed off on women.

[supernova]

8. When I redo my kitchen

counter height will be front and center.

I'm 5' 1" and I definitely need a lower counter. The present one is made for people who are 5' 10" and above

[Warpy]

10. The stove will likely still be too tall, but you can control those counters

and maybe if enough of us rebel, the appliance companies will finally catch a frigging clue.

[Tesha]

11. Use a cooktop rather than a range (oven + rangetop burners).

Then you can set the cooker's height wherever you want.

Put the oven(s) somewhere else and set them at a conveniently-
high location.

Tesha

[Warpy]

12. For those of us who don't have trophy kitchens

a drop in range set directly onto the floor instead of having a 6" space with kick plate underneath it might do the job.

[Tesha]

17. Be careful of required "clearances", though.

Some of that air-space beneath the range might be required
to prevent the oven from lighting the flooring on fire.

Tesha

[Warpy]

19. Thought about that, too

I had a drop in range and the bottom had the same fibreglas insulation that the rest of the unit did. It shouldn't be a big problem, especially since heat rises. A 1 or 2 inch rise should be sufficient instead of the 6 inch rise they usually get.

It's just an economical thing those of us with small kitchen budgets can consider when remodeling time comes around and we think of things to do to kill the chronic backache.

[Tesha]

20. All I'm saying is "check the clearances".

And if you're cutting the sheet metal of the stove (and so, modifying
it's design), the onus is on you and not the vendor of the range to
understand the risks of the modified design.

Yes, convected heat rises, but radiant heat travels in all directions.
And remember that if the range includes a pyrolytic self-cleaning
oven, it sometimes runs at 900-1000 degrees, and not the normal
325 or 450.

Tesha

[Warpy]

21. There was no sheet metal to cut on mine

A frame had to be built on the bottom for it to rest on. Since my ex and I were the ones who finally had to install it (long story of inept contractor here), we got to examine it fully and found the insulation on the bottom.

Other models may vary, of course, but this was how ours was built.

[Tesha]

9. oh... I understand...

we re-did our kitchen after planning for more than 5 years...

everything was considered, and counter height and faucet head were tops on the list for me.
And it has paid off... one more thing works great for me, it's a drainboard sunk into the granite where I can work on things without going deep into the bowl of the sink...

anyway... you probably want something like this

[pengillian101]

13. Teddy is a cutie pie!

Looks like you have some good suggestions. Good luck! :-)

[Lefta Dissenter]

16. awww, thanks

It never hurts to include a doggie photo in a request for help! :)

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

18. Would this work?

http://www.deltafaucet.com/smarttechnology/learnmore/touch2o-technology.html