There are certain aspects of a kitchen that make life so much easier, be it the appliances, the storage solutions or the way the space is organized. In general, my kitchen is a joy to use, although I’ll hold my hand and say that there are some smaller, more thoughtful, details that were left out of the initial plan but that would have made all the difference – and installing a pot filler is one of them.
Maybe in the rush to finish the project I missed out on some of the features I dreamed of, or maybe I didn’t spend enough time in my research when they arrived. Designing a kitchen Which fulfills all our needs. One of my main regrets is failing to fit a pot filler above the hob – with too small a fridge around the sink and high maintenance wooden worktops.
Happily, a kitchen refresh is on the horizon and this time, I’m getting that pot filler. I asked the experts about both the mess and disruption of the retrofitting job, as well as the potential problems I might face.
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What is a pot filler?
Before thinking about how to fit a pot filler, for those of you who haven’t noticed yet what has happened over the past year has become the most popular. Kitchen trends Around, let me explain what we are talking about here.
“A pot filler is basically a wall-mounted tap with a folding arm,” explains Ian Wood, plumbing and drainage specialist. Reactive Plumbing and Drainage Ltd.
Helen Parker, creative director deVOLIn detail, highlights their advantages. “Pot fillers, firstly, look great and bring an old Victorian-style gadget into a modern-day kitchen,” says Helen. “However, it also fits into a contemporary or rustic style kitchen. It enables cooks to fill large pans of water for pasta and vegetables directly on the stove, which is such an advantage in our eyes.”
Ian Wood is the owner of Reactive Plumbing and Drainage and specializes in domestic and commercial drainage and plumbing.
Helen was promoted to the position of Creative Director at DeVOL in 2011 after demonstrating an innate ability to predict trends and give deVOL a style direction. He is also responsible for the styling, sourcing and purchasing of all antiques and gifts on display in the DeVOL showroom.
How are pot fillers installed?
I’m not sure how handy the pot filler above our hob would be – plus, in all honesty, I like the way they look, adding a professional touch (even if I’m not up to Nigella’s level in the kitchen). However, I am curious to know what is included in the installation.
“Installation involves running a dedicated cold water feed to the mounting point and then fitting solid fixings inside the wall to properly support the faucet before connecting the valve and assembling the faucet,” explains Ian Wood. “You’ll just need to make sure the pipework is secure and the tap is properly supported as these taps are regularly expanded and folded which puts some stress on the fitting.”
Sounds simple, but, if I am Kitchen renovation Instead of starting completely from scratch, I recognize that things may not be as straightforward as they seem.
Shop for pot fillers
Delnet Brass Folding Two-Handle Swivel Pot Filler
Made from 100% high-quality brass, this pot filler promises a leak-free design thanks to two ceramic cores. Its double-joint swing spout rotates 360 degrees and makes it easy to fill pots in every direction.
Chatsworth Traditional Wall Mounted Pot Filler
Perfect for those after an elegant-looking pot filler, this chrome design features easy-to-operate lever handles, a rotating spout and a space-saving design that folds away easily when not in use.
Fransiton matte black pot filler
If you want a pot filler that fits in with a more contemporary-style kitchen, look no further than this sleek matte black design. Despite its drip-prevention technology, it has a handy anti-fingerprint finish and is also impressively affordable.
Can you retrofit a pot filler?
Retrofitting Usually anything is a bit more complicated than starting with a blank canvas, but when it comes to jobs involving plumbing and electrics, things can start to get both messy and expensive. Is that the case with pot fillers?
“It’s possible to retrofit a pot filler, but it’s not a straightforward process,” Angelo Petrizzi, Kitchen Fitter New home improvement. “Pot fillers require a cold water supply line to run behind the wall and above the hob and, most importantly, at the correct height.
“Retrofitting involves opening a wall, Plastering wallsRepainting, and potentially, retiling if it’s a tiled splashback. For an experienced kitchen fitter or plumber it’s a half-day to a full-day job – not including restoring the wall which can add a fair amount of manual work.”
“It’s certainly doable but it really depends on what’s behind the wall,” adds Ian Wood. “The main job is to run the cold water supply to the location above the hob so if there is already pipework nearby, for example from a sink on the same wall, it can be fairly easy to be honest. If not, you’ll probably need to run a new pipe through the cabinet or behind the plasterboard which means a bit more disruption. In most cases it’s not a huge job and you should expect to build the wall. Later.”
Angelo Petrizzi is a UK based kitchen fitter with 15 years experience. Angelo’s journey into construction began in Rome, where he learned the trade working alongside his father in the family construction business. Growing up around construction sites gave him a deep understanding of traditional techniques, precision craftsmanship, and the importance of doing things right—not fast.
Potential problems when retrofitting a pot filler
It seems that retrieving a pot filler may, in many cases, be less complicated than I thought, although Ian Wood pointed out that there can be pitfalls.
“One of the biggest problems is access to the pipework,” explains Ian. “If the kitchen is already finished and tiled, getting the pipe to the hob wall can mean removing parts of the wall covering.
“Another thing people don’t always think about is leaks,” continues Ian. “Because the tap sits on the hob, any drips can land directly on the burner, which is why good quality fittings and isolation valves are really important. That’s why designing them when Kitchen planning It is the easiest way rather than adding it later as the pipework can be installed before the walls are closed. Retrofitting can still be done – it just requires a bit more thought and careful installation.”
Angelo Petrizzi also pointed out that getting the arm’s length right on the pot filler was often an area where people went wrong. You need to make sure that it will reach comfortably from the wall to your hob without you having to maneuver the pot too much, otherwise you’re defeating the whole object of the fitting in the first place.
FAQs
Is pot filler a good idea?
You might be wondering why bother installing a pot filler when your kitchen faucet works just fine (plus, Fitting a kitchen tap is usually simple), but fitting this extra water outlet has many advantages.
“We think keeping extra water by your stove is a very sensible plan – it’s practical and less dangerous than carrying huge pots of water around a room,” points out Helen Parker. “If you have a stove-top kettle, it’s also incredibly useful, giving you an extra source of water in your kitchen where you need it.
“It’s a bit of luxury that’s not too expensive,” Helen continues. “As with all luxuries, it’s good to consider whether it’s going to be useful to you, and we get big ones. Range cookerLarge families and cooking enthusiasts are likely to include these faucets in their kitchen redesigns. Consumers who enjoy ‘big style cooking’ and entertaining generally find that this extra tap will be of great help to them.”
Installing a pot filler is just one I want to update the kitchen. Also on the list are fitting an induction hob, adding more storage (which works harder) and investing in a boiling water tap. Spring is the perfect time to freshen up your home, although it’s also a time of year when businesses book up quickly so it pays to be organised.
