What Are the Different Types of Pull Out Taps?
There are 6 main types of pull out kitchen taps. Click on each one to find out more:
- Professional-style pull out taps
- Weighted pull out taps
- Spring-loaded pull out taps
- Pull out spray taps
- Pull out aerator taps
- Kitchen taps with a separate hand rinse
Professional-Style Pull Out Taps
When you say “pull out kitchen tap” to someone, this is most likely the kind that will pop into their head. Most commonly found in a commercial kitchen (hence the name), they can now be found in thousands of homes up and down the country. This is partly due to a large reduction in price, and partly due to just how useful they are to have in your kitchen. The ability to pick one up for less than £100 has made them a very appealing prospect for residential homes.
Professional-style pull out kitchen taps might be modern in design and function, but they don’t have to be limited to contemporary kitchens; if you have a large Belfast sink, a large pull out kitchen tap can make your life so much easier.
Whilst they may look great, professional pull out kitchen taps are not suitable for every kitchen. Their sheer size means that they can often look out of place atop a smaller kitchen sink, and this doesn’t just affect the aesthetics. If the tap is too large for the sink it can be hard to fit and cause issues with a wobbly tap. We normally recommend that this type of tap is fitted on a granite or ceramic kitchen sink, or a high quality stainless steel sink.
Spring Loaded Pull Out Taps
Spring-loaded pull out taps are the more modern version of the weighted pull out kitchen tap. The DVD to the weighted taps’ VHS if you like. As the name might suggest, at the end of a spring-loaded pull out tap is…. a spring. With a spring tap you’ll notice that the further out you pull the hose, the harder it gets and the more resistance you’ll get from the spring. Unlike a weighted tap, you’ll have to keep hold of the pull out spout whilst you’re using it. As soon as you let go of it, the spring retracts and it nestles back in its housing.
This can be viewed as a good or bad thing. It does mean that it’s easier to put the pull out attachment back in its housing - and it normally sits in there better - but it also means that you have to be holding it at all times when you’re using it. You can’t just put it down for a second because it will spring back. Spring loaded taps are considered more rugged than weighted taps, and because the spring is in its own separate housing, there’s much less chance of anything going wrong with it.
Pull Out Spray Taps
When it comes to what actually comes out of the spout of your tap, there are two types of pull out tap. The first is the spray tap. These often have multiple spray patterns - such as a normal aerated flow and a shower like spray - that can be changed by pressing a button on the pull out attachment. Spray taps are great for cleaning - whether that be dishes or your actual sink - and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from the professional-style pull out taps to more discreet taps like the Clearwater Auriga pull out spray tap which is certainly one of our favourites. We also can’t overlook the stylish Crosswater Cucina Cook pull out spray tap or the Grohe Minta with its eye-catching chrome and black finish. Let's take a look at these beauties below.
Pull Out Aerator Taps
Unlike pull out spray taps, taps with a pull out aerator have just one flow, but this doesn’t make them any less practical. They might not be as good at blasting away stubborn stains, but they are still excellent for rinsing fruit and veg, general cleaning, filling pots and pans, or watering windowsill plants. There is also less to go wrong with a pull out aerator tap, and they are normally cheaper to buy. The aerator provides a ‘soft,’ frothy-type flow that is more water-efficient than a standard flow.
Kitchen Taps with Separate Hand Rinse
Some kitchen taps come with a separate hand rinse that sits next to the tap. This can also be bought separately and retro-fitted in your kitchen. The benefits of a kitchen tap with a separate hand rinse are that you still get a normal, stylish kitchen tap, but then you also get the added convenience of having a pull out spray to help when needed.
Perrin & Rowe have an elegant selection of modern and traditional pull out kitchen taps with hand rinse in a variety of finishes, including nickel and gold. This enables you to match your kitchen tap with the rest of your kitchen décor.
So, there we have it. A brief look at the 6 different types of pull out kitchen taps. They each have their pros and cons, but hopefully now you can choose with confidence the one that’s right for your needs. One last thing to bear in mind when choosing a pull out tap - check that you have the correct water pressure for the tap you’re interested in. All of our pull out kitchen taps will show the minimum required pressure in the product specification box on the product page.
