Kitchen Sinks – Buying Guide for Kitchen & Bath Fixtures & Faucets

Are you not a fan of faucet hole cover that serves no purpose? After all, it can stick out like a sore thumb without having any practical function whatsoever. Well, you're not alone. Many homeowners prefer to make use of this extra hole on the sink deck with something that will bring some utility to their household. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to these pesky faucet hole covers. From soap dispensers to instant hot water faucets, we've got you covered - or should we say uncovered? In this blog post, we'll explore various options for covering up unused sink holes so that your kitchen looks sleek and stylish. So grab a cup of coffee or tea (or any beverage of your choice) and read on! What is a Faucet Hole Cover? A faucet hole cover is a useful accessory for anyone in the process of replacing their kitchen sink faucet. It's designed to conceal any unneeded or extra holes that may have been left exposed due to having fewer holes than the previous faucet. Usually made from metal, it is an easy and quick way to finish off your kitchen sink area. One reason some people prefer not to have these covers installed is that they detract from the overall aesthetic appeal of their kitchen space. By eliminating unnecessary elements like this on their counter deck, homeowners can create a more minimalistic and streamlined look in their cooking and dining areas. Furthermore, leaving an open hole provides an opportunity for other useful features such as soap dispensers or filtration systems, which add both functionality and style to the kitchen environment while utilizing available space effectively. Replacing the traditional faucet hole cover with a useful alternative can give your kitchen a fresh, modern look since you won’t need to purchase these items as standalone accessories. In this article, we'll discuss some popular options that serve practical purposes as well: Soap Dispensers Disposal Sinktop Switch Filtration Faucets Instant Hot Water Faucet Lotion Dispensers Deck Plates Soap Dispenser A soap dispenser is a practical and stylish addition to your kitchen sink, providing an easy and convenient way to dispense liquid dish soap. A typical soap dispenser has two main parts: the reservoir and the pump mechanism. The reservoir can be made of plastic, metal, or glass. It is designed to hold liquid soap and dispense it on command. The pump mechanism typically consists of a plunger in a tube that is connected to a handle for manual pumping action. It works by pushing down on the plunger, causing liquid soap to come out of the reservoir with each push. Traditional Soap Dispenser Soap Dispenser Specs with Container Modern Soap Dispenser Soap Dispensers eliminate the need for unsightly plastic bottles cluttering your countertop, while also helping to reduce plastic waste. Many homeowners choose a soap dispenser that matches their kitchen faucet's style and finish in order to maintain a seamless look throughout the space. Opting for a soap dispenser is by far the most popular choice for someone looking to replace a faucet hole cover as dish soaps is something that everyone needs in their kitchen and the only real alternative is having a loose bottle on your counter area. Disposal Sinktop Switch A disposal switch is a convenient alternative to a wall switch for turning on the garbage disposal. It works by sending a pulse of air through PVC tubing to a control box that activates the disposal. This eliminates the need for electrical wiring and provides an added layer of safety, making it an ideal option for families with children or pets. The SinkTop Air Switch easily mounts to the sink or countertop.typically comes in various finishes to match your kitchen decor seamlessly. Modern Disposal Switch Button Sinktop Switch Internals Standard Sinktop Switch Button For someone looking to replace a sink hole cover, the disposal is a great alternative as it can kill two birds with one stone. In addition to eliminating a useless hole cover, it can give your kitchen sink area a much minimal look by eliminating the need to have an electric switch nearby. With high reliability and easy installation, these switches are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners seek practical alternatives to traditional wall switches. Filtration Faucet A filtration faucet is a miniature kitchen faucet that integrates water filtration technology directly into the faucet. A replaceable filter cartridge is installed underneath the sink, which removes impurities and sediment from your drinking water before it flows out of the faucet spout. This makes it an ideal alternative for homeowners who want to enjoy clean, filtered water without sacrificing counter space to a separate filtration unit or pitcher. Traditional Cold Water Faucet Filtration Faucet with Filter Modern Filtration Faucet In addition to eliminating the need for sink hole cover, there are two additional benefits to installing a filter faucet on a kitchen sink deck It eliminates the need to attach an additional filter to your existing faucet It saves space in your fridge by eliminating the need for a separate Filtration pitcher. Adding a filtration cartridge on the spout of your faucet is not ideal as it is a major eye sore and makes your clean kitchen sink area look clunky and busy. Buying a filtration pitcher not only takes up space in your refrigerator but it is most often a subpar alternative to the undersink filter cartridges that come equipped with a filtered faucet. The one major downside to a filtration faucet is that it’s an expensive alternative to a faucet hole cover. Not only you have to purchase a faucet that typically costs more than you main faucet, you also have to buy the filtration system which could cost anywhere from $200- $500 depending on the quality. Instant Hot Water Faucet Similar to a Filtration faucet, an instant hot water faucet is a small companion faucet to a kitchen faucet. It is a convenient and time-saving option for those who use hot water frequently in the kitchen. It's a point-of-use electric water heater that connects under your sink, with a dedicated faucet tap. This tap dispenses near-boiling water (about 94°C or 201°F), making it perfect for tea, coffee, and other hot beverages. Instant Hot Water Faucet Hot Water Tank and Faucet Internals Hot & Cold Beverage Faucet Installing an instant hot water tap by the sink requires a small tank to store the hot water dispersed through the connecting tap installed at the sink. The dispenser prepares the water in advance so that it is held at temperature inside its tank before serving. Although an instant-hot faucet is more expensive compared to other options mentioned earlier like soap dispenser and disposal switch, it’s worth considering if you’re willing to invest in your kitchen's functionality and convenience. It's important to note that an instant hot water tank can be used in conjunction with a filtration system and use one faucet as the outlet. This type of faucet is simply referred as the "Beverage Faucet". Deck Plate A deck plate is a metal plate made specifically to cover holes left open by replacing your existing kitchen faucet. Kitchen faucet manufacturers understand that most people are opting for single hole pull out faucets nowadays and are often replacing traditional 3 hole faucets. As a result, the deck plate is the definitive product used to replace existing 3 hole kitchen faucets. Many single hole faucets come equipped with a 10” deck plate to cover the remaining holes. This is especially true with the entry level single hole faucet collections. Higher end Faucet series will typically not come equipped with a deck plate but their manufacturers will have the deck plates available for sale separately Deck Plate on a Sink Deck Plate Specs Deck Plate on Counter top These optional accessories typically come in all finishes available for the manufacturer in question. It’s important to note that many existing traditional faucets are made of 4 holes due to the additional sidespray. Unfortunately, the deck plate won’t be able to cover this additional hole. As a result many homeowners opt for a faucet hole cover or another alternative, most commonly a soap dispenser. Secondary Soap Dispenser / Lotion Dispenser This option is an additional alternative if you already have a soap dispenser installed. Most homeowners will use their soap dispensers for dish soap as this is the most commonly used soap in the kitchen sink area. However, if you already have that covered, you may want to opt for a secondary soap dispenser and add hand soap or hand lotion. Dish soaps can be harsh on the hands and it’s recommended that you wash your hands after washing dishes as hand soap is much milder. What better way to get into that habit by having a convenient way available to you at all times to make sure you do the right thing. Using lotion to moisturize your hands and prevent cracks is another smart decision. However you will have to choose one of the two options as it doesn’t make sense to have more than two soap/lotion dispensers on your kitchen sink deck.