Oh Kohler, how I love thee.
We purchased this faucet to replace a more traditional single-handle pullout faucet that broke. I was a bit doubtful about how simple this one looked, but it's performed amazingly. The toggle between the spray and normal modes is solid and moves from side to side - something I love. (Ever had to fight with those little silly buttons on top of a faucet?)
Clean-up is easy - just swipe with a wet cloth with a bit of detergent on it.
The faucet is tall enough to let us get even the biggest pots and pans out of the sink - and to fill the spaghetti pot while it's balancing on the sink ledge. It has almost a full 180-degree swivel and never feels wobbly. KOHLER K-10433-VS Forte Single Control Pullout Kitchen Sink Faucet with Color-Matched Sprayhead and Lever Handle, Vibrant Stainless
As a couple who I consulted with at the store said, "Is that your old faucet (Delta faucet in my hand from probably 20 years ago)?"
My response, "Yes" .....just to make sure I got the right one.
The guy my age responded, "Well, anything is going to be better than that." I laughed, very true.
Positives:
Very stylish
I like the single handle, left/right up for on, very easy and the same as my old Delta.
Its high enough to get more space and have dirty dishes in single tub sink, and still be able to fill up a spaghetti pot with hot water.
People mentioned, splashing. Mine doesn't splash, but I would say it sits a bit forward (not centered over the garbage disposal/ drain hole), and that may be why its splashing since it's hitting the sink basin, versus going straight into the sink/drain hole.
If you have a smaller sink, it may sit too far forward for you, but I didn't find it a problem.
Very easy to install. What does that mean? For a three hole sink, you put plumbers putty around the base, and set the base down, without faucet, down and align it with the holes. Second, you just slide/thread the hoses and faucet down the center hole. It comes with braided stainless flexible lines (the best lines you can buy, because they are flexible so you don't need to measure and cut solid copper piping to fit, they are not plastic, so not susceptible to cracking or breaking over time--and flexible, so you don't have to measure length, just hook it up to hot and cold lines -- and the lines are labeled hot/cold). You then thread the nut on the bottom of the faucet, tighten with two screw that go through the nut (easier to see than explain). Hook-up the lines, thats it.
For those wondering about the pull out sprayhead, there is no mechanical mechanism to break. Basically, there is just a doughnut metal weight that goes around the hose under the sink, so the weight pulls the spray-head back into the nozzle by virtue of the gravity of the weighted doughut. Very simple, very smooth, nothing to break. Once I saw that, I felt much better. Simple is the best.
Putting it in is about a 20 minute to 30 minute job. If I had to do it again, I could probably install it in 10 minutes or less.
CONS:
I hope this thing doesn't leak. when you turn it off, it drips 5-6 drops, but then doesn't drip any more. I'm hoping that it is just residual water in the head. I do remember some commercials, saying no drip-but those might have been bathroom faucets. Anyway, after turning it off, you get a few drips--just a heads-up.
Nothing else wrong, yet. Just bought it today and installed it and it looks fabulous. Really changes the whole kitchen (that and we had a ver ugly old faucet with chipping chrome.)
One good point the couple at the store had was that unless you're very clean and wipe down a chrome faucet, the chrome will always be water=spotted and dirty. True, very true, so thats why I went stainless steel, which is surprisingly much more expensive than the chrome.
Very happy with the purchase. Didn't give it five stars because of the drip and the price. This is a very expensive faucet for such a simple design, but it fit best in our decor/ kitchen so thats what I went with, very simple and elegant.
NOTE: If you are removing an old faucet, get the proper tools. There is a special wrench for taking out the old nut under the sink. That nut will probably be rusted on solid. I put PB blaster (or WD40) and let it sit over night. I also pulled out my trusty pipe to use as an extension for the little handle on the special wrench so I could get some leverage. Finally, I had a propane torch to heat up the nut when the previous trick didn't really work. The nut finally broke free. Its a 14mm or 9/16 deep socket to get the nut off. Once you get that nut off, its cake.
Hope this was helpful.
I am an experienced general contractor and put 100% Kohler Forte plumbing fixtures, Kohler tub, sink, shower, etc in my own home. This is the only Kohler product I am not happy with. When new it seemed to work great. With age (1year) the Pull Out faucet won't go all the way back in and the plastic seems to be holding it out leaving a 1/16 gap. I have checked and there is no build up or other obstruction other than the original poor design. Not going all the way back in means it may not seat pointed down causing water to stream in any direction the pull out happens to pointed. It is not family proof! I will be replacing it with something else, maybe not Kohler this time.
This was a replacement for another pull out faucet. We put in new granite countertops so the color had to harmonize. We like the color and the height. The pull out hose is smooth and returns to its place positively. Typical of the Kohler quality.
The best feature and the one that sets this faucet apart from all the others is the solid push button for switching from spray to stream. It won't come apart in a few months like all the units with the rubber cover over the button. This is a real benefit if you plan on keeping your faucet functional for more than a few months. (notice how many with the rubber button are messed up in the showrooms!)
Another nice feature is the ability to use it like a drinking fountain by rotating the head 45 deg. and aiming it toward your mouth. Saves lots of glass washing :-) - Pullout - Single-handle Faucets - Kitchen Sink Faucets - Pull Out Spray'
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