Two of the most commonly found faucets in the kitchen are pull-down and pull-out designs. It can sometimes be difficult to differentiate between the two if you are unfamiliar with the terminology, though. Here we take a look at the pros and cons of each style so you can determine what option might be better for your kitchen.
What makes them similar?
Both styles have an adjustable spray hose that allows the nozzle head to be removed from the spout. This features is great to use for cleaning multiple areas in and around the sink. The nozzle head then discretely retracts into the spout when not in use.
The nozzle head typically has multiple spray features like stream, spray, jet, mist, blade, and/or pause. These features can be used for quick rinses, filling up pots, and to power through tough messes.
The Pull-Down Faucet
Pull-down faucets typically have a much higher spout than other kitchen faucets. Because of this, it's wise to keep your clearance level in mind. This type of faucet might not be ideal if you have cabinets or other structures above the sink.
Ergonomics can come in to play since you only need one fluid downwards motion to utilize the nozzle head. This makes it less likely to get kinks in the hose because you're not maneuvering in all sorts of directions. The adjustable spray hose is usually shorter for pull-down faucets then for pull-out faucets, making it even more unlikely to get tangled up.
They're a great statement feature for large sinks and can be easily used to fill any vessel size. Pull-down faucets also come with a larger variety of spray feature options than pull-out faucets, making it more ideal for the home cook.
It's definitely the more modern version between the two options and is often considered the "golden" child of the kitchen.
The Pull-Out Faucet
Pull-out faucets typically have shorter spouts to house their longer, handle shaped nozzle head. The adjustable also much longer so the nozzle head can be moved in all sorts of directions. Their spouts are usually shorter with the handle built on top rather than to the side of the fixture. This makes it easy to work with if you're limited on space and need better flexibility.
The pull-out faucet was definitely created with space saving in mind and isn't commonly found in many new home constructions. It's still an appealing underdog to consider, though, since higher-arc designs aren't always ideal for every home.
Because the pull-out faucet is an older style, manufacturers need to be creative with their designs. They are also typically limited to the amount of spray features available. This makes the pull-out faucet a less expensive option compared to the pull-down faucet.
Summary
While the pull-down faucet is considered the golden child of the kitchen industry, it's still wise to consider your options in case you're limited on space or if you're looking for creative designs. Do you need a longer hose reach or are you looking for something more ergonomic? How high is your clearance level? What kind of spray features would you need or want to utilize? Make sure to consider all of your options to find exactly what you're looking for. Your faucet is the center of the kitchen so it needs to function how you need it to.
We'd love to hear from you! Would you prefer a pull-down or pull-out faucet and why?