Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet: How it Works
-
Flexibility and Use
-
A pull-out kitchen faucet is designed to extend the reach of the faucet nozzle. This allows the user to spray water into deep pots, and around the basin of the sink, providing more flexibility and range of motion. Water can be dispensed inside of awkwardly shaped objects or propelled at an angle into a pan to dislodge grease and baked on food. They can also rinse and clean glassware without placing the stems inside the dish basin. The functionality comes from the design of the faucet pipe.
Faucet Design
-
Inside the faucet, there is a flexible hose or tube that is typically made from braided metal and rubber or plastic. In most cases the braided metal is wrapped or woven around a plastic tube giving it durability and preventing nicks and dings that would eventually cause a leak. Metal braid pipe comes in several varieties. The first is thin metal braid mesh that is wrapped into a cylindrical shape to form the tube. The second is wider metal braid, where strands of metal are linked and woven together like a basket to form a shield around the pipe.
-
Water Pressure
-
Water is pushed through the pipe braid just as it would be pushed through the faucet pipe by the force of its own pressure. The flexible tubing is able withstand large amounts of pressure because of its design, therefore the water pressure does not burst or rupture the tubing. This allows for the flexibility. Prior to the invention of high quality, pressure rated plastic and braided pipe, the pull out faucet was not possible. The pull-out faucet pipe must be able to withstand the force of the water pressure pushing on its outside walls while the faucet is turned off, in order for the system to work properly.
Installation and Function
-
A pull-out faucet is installed like a regular faucet by attaching the incoming water pipe to the faucet to the faucet body. This connection is made with a washer and hex nut. The pull-out faucet tube is connected to the faucet body, and hangs down below the sink when the faucet head is resting in a fixed position. When the faucet head is lifted up and pulled, the flexible tubing extends through the fixture opening and the faucet hand can be controlled independently. An on/off control on the head of the faucet (on some models) opens and closes valves within the head of the faucet on its spout, to stop or begin the flow of water.
-
