Just wave above or below a hands-free kitchen sensor faucet to turn the water on or off!
Forgive me for being such a kitchen geek, but I did a lot of holiday cooking last week which left my elegant 10-year old faucet and sprayer in a pretty sticky state. I cleaned them immediately, of course, but the hard use left me wishing I a super cool kitchen sensor faucet with a pull down spout. Those were introduced last year by Kohler and by Moen. These faucets also can be operated manually – like any other. But this latest type of “sink jewelry” has impressive and unique features that point toward kitchens of the future. And unlike Dornbracht’s electronic sink video which looked so futuristic in 2011, there is no need to push any buttons or touch anything to turn the water off or on. With a kitchen sensor faucet, just work on your wave.
These faucets have LED sensors. One model lets you pass your hand over the top to turn the water on and off. Another activates or deactivates water near the base of the faucet, or under the neck. Of course, like any conventional faucet, it is necessary to handle it in order to use the pull-down head and access the either the stream or spray settings.
This video from Consumer Reports shows how a no-touch kitchen faucet works.
Kohler’s Sensate requires a power outlet under the sink. It also has a circuit board that remembers the last temperature setting. Additionally, the 26-inch long pull-down nylon sprayer hose locks into place with a magnet, which prevents faucet-head droop over time.
Right now, Sensate seems to have a slight edge on features due to the “innovative sweep,” a flat spray (similar to a garden hose setting) that directs water in a concentrated way.
Moen’s “motionsense” faucet is also a pull-down style with a dual-function spray and stream attached to a 58-inch long nylon sprayer hose. The Moens are powered by 6 AA batteries or an adapter. This Lowe’s video of Moen’s Delaney faucet shows all the basics of their “motionsense” styles. One important note: while the faucet functions at full water pressure when the sensor is activated, owners report a 25% reduction in water pressure when the faucet is operated manually.
Moen offers a kitchen sensor faucet in four of their lines –Arbor, Delaney, Haysfield and Brantford. Each has slightly different finishes and aesthetic details. Otherwise, the basics are the same. Fabulous, no?
(Source: Kohler, Consumer Reports, Moen, Lowe’s of Canada)
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Have you actually tried these? I really considered one, but decided it probably wouldn’t work in the long run; something is sure to go wrong with the sensor. But I haven’t had any friends who have them, so don’t know first hand….
I don’t own one and they are relatively new — only a little more than a year old. But many people on GW have the touch faucets and adore them — which is similar. This is more advanced. I’m fascinated by technology for the kitchen.
Also, these two companies are huge and reliable and I believe Kohler has a lifetime guarantee on their faucets. I would love one of these and could likely make money by removing my current faucet and sprayer and selling it on ebay. If I didn’t have so much other stuff to sell, that’s what I would do.
Personally, I’d go with the Kohler. I watched the installation video on their site and it looks very reliable — plugs into an outlet, which I prefer to batteries. The faucet works manually as well, the flow can be adjusted and I believe even one of the sensors can be turned off. But I love, love the idea it turns itself on and off. Also, the new flat sprayer looks like a utensil — for me that’s a big feature and includes the pull down.
But, like anything newish it’s taking a chance. I’m an early adopter so I’m usually the first of my friends to have stuff. We just got an Apple TV which I adore. None of my friends even know what that is (except for my young friends).
You are going to LOVE the touch less faucet. I have a Moen and when cooking it is great as you just wave your hand over it. One thing I want to caution you on is it takes some getting used to. I don’t know how many times I got my sleeves wet because it would come on. The one I bought a couple of years ago has a sensor below on my faucet as well as the top. I have mine attached with Velcro.
I also warn people it is touch less when they go to wash their hands so they don’t get sleeves wet.