Do You Know the Parts of a Kitchen Faucet?
Take the Quiz to Find Out
The average DIY enthusiast doesn’t shy away from tackling furniture assembly, hanging drapes and possibly even laying new laminate kitchen flooring, but what about installing a faucet? Many may shy away thinking that particular task is a complicated undertaking only a plumber can handle. That was likely true many years ago, but not today. Part of choosing the right faucet for you can now include paying attention to the faucet company’s installation technology and instructions, and their commitment to providing you help when it’s needed. If you’ve chosen the right faucet, from the right company, you too can install a kitchen (or a bathroom) faucet! In fact, it might even be easy.
Get ready to add a brag to your do-it-yourself brag book. The first step for the ultra-prepared is to know the parts of the faucet. Take the kitchen faucet parts quiz below and write down your score. Then, peek at the cheat sheet provided and take it again with an audience to wow onlookers with your giant brain. Enjoy!
Our tip: Pioneer, along with Central Brass and Olympia (proud members of the Pioneer family) have engineered faucets that are easy to install even if you don’t know a cartridge from an o-ring. Each product comes with a no-sweat installation guide and a stellar customer service team who is ready to answer any question you may have.
1. What do compression couplings do?
a. Pressure two people into dating.
b. Connect (aka couple) two pipes to the faucet.
c. Build the water pressure up in the faucet.
2. Where would you find your faucet’s escutcheon?
a. Covering the necessary holes in the sink that faucets require.
b. Between the hot water supply and the compression couplings.
c. In the dictionary between faucet and plumber.
3. What is the faucet part called that is used for targeting bits of food stuck to a dinner plate with a powerful blast of water?
a. The sprayer.
b. The driver.
c. The faucet body.
4. When water comes through the sprayer and the spout simultaneously, you may have a clogged…
a. Duck.
b. Cartridge valve.
c. Diverter.
5. The main purpose of the index buttons is to…
Give you a directory of faucet parts.
Point out which way is up and which is down when installing the faucet.
Show a user which direction to turn the lever to get hot and cold water.
6. The aerator is the kitchen faucet part that mixes air with the water. Without an aerator, what would the water coming out of the faucet do?
a. Recite poetry.
b. Splutter and splash.
c. Travel in the wrong direction.
7. What part of the faucet is also called the handle?
a. The lever.
b. The o ring.
c. The neck.
8. Which of the following is not a type of spout design?
a. Gooseneck.
b. Poseidon’s trident.
c. High arc.
9. The _________ is a technology-packed faucet piece that controls water flow and temperature. The quality of a faucet can often be determined by discovering if it’s made of plastic, ceramic or metal.
a. Cassette.
b. Shutoff valves.
c. Cartridge.
10. Which parts make up the spout assembly?
a. The body, cap/dome and lever/s.
b. The valve, aerator and cap/dome.
c. The index buttons, cap/dome and twinkles.
You’ll find all the answers below. How did you do? With 10 correct answers, consider yourself a faucet genius! You’re ready to install a kitchen faucet or design a better rocket engine (maybe). With 8 or more correct answers, we’re impressed! Demand a high-five from anyone nearby. If your score is 5 or more, you’re smarter than the average person on the street. With a score of 4 or less, read on to get all you need to retake and rock this quiz!
The Essential Guide to Kitchen Faucet Parts
Parts can be separated into what you see above the counter and what is below, hidden by your cabinet doors. Beginning above the counter, the faucet body provides a foundation. Projecting outward from the body is the spout. At the end of the spout, you’ll find the aerator. The aerator looks like a tiny sieve and it blends just the right amount of air into the water stream to allow a person to rinse dishes easily without getting irritated or soaking wet. An o-ring is between the spout and the cartridge. The cartridge is a vitally important bit of technology that controls the flow rate and temperature of the water coming out of the spout. The savviest faucet shoppers look for a faucet that conserves water without sacrificing power, thanks in large part to a brilliantly designed cartridge. Above the cartridge is the dome, sometimes called the cap. It connects the lever or handle to the rest of the faucet. The lever is at the top of the faucet in a one-lever style. A beautifully designed lever and spout contribute the most to the look of the faucet. A minimalist modern faucet will likely have a high-arc spout in gorgeous chrome or matte black. An elegant transitional faucet’s lever or levers will have graceful curves and baubles as details. Another o-ring is between the faucet body and the plate that covers the installation holes in the sink and counter, often called the escutcheon. To the right or left of the faucet is often a sprayer. The sprayer is infinitely handy for powering off stuck-on food and starting a water fight.
Under the counter is a fascinating layout of parts including the washers, which hold the faucet steady, compression couplings which connect the hot and cold water supply pipes to the faucet, mounting nuts and shutoff valves.
Ready to try the quiz again armed with this wealth of knowledge? Go for it!
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Pioneer designs and manufactures kitchen faucets that are easy to install and built to last a lifetime. We believe in our products and so back them with an industry-leading warranty and a customer service team who is here for you whenever you need them.
Answers:
1, b
2, a
3, a
4, c
5, c
6, b
7, a
8, b
9, c
10, a
We’ll Save You Money and Time
There are many ways to the same destination. This saying applies to multi-family housing builds just as much as to anything else in life. The ultimate goal is save as much money as possible while delivering a great finished project – that’s simply showing smart business sense. But, finding a one-off deal or sacrificing quality isn’t the only way to get a healthy ROI. We have a better way.
Pioneer works with professionals every day to develop specification packages and plans that save our valued partners both time and money, sometimes in surprising ways. It’s our goal to ensure your project meets or exceeds its expected outcome. We want to get to know you and your company and show you how we can save you money. Please reach out via our website form or call us at (800) 338-9468.
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