What to look for when buying a sink
The time of the dreaded kitchen renovation has finally arrived and you need to choose a kitchen sink. Everybody knows what a sink is. The principle hardly changed at all – the water enters through a tap and leaves through a plug – and you use the space mainly for washing up and rinsing while cooking. So far so good. What actually did change a lot in recent years is choice of materials and additional functionality. This article will help you better understand some of the terms used when you come across kitchen sinks and that in turn will help you make an informed decision on what to buy.
BOWL
Bowl or basin is the main area of the sink where most action in the kitchen will take place. A simple concept but you would be amazed how much you get when you select the right one for your kitchen. In general, there are three types of sinks: Those with one, two, or one and a half bowls. Before making your choice, think hard how much and often you will be using your sink (are you a dishwasher or a sink person?). What purpose will your sink be mainly used? And last but not least, how much space you have in your kitchen.
DRAINBOARD
The drainboard is another consideration. It may not sound important but its purpose is to drain/dry dishes or cleaned food – a vital thing for every cook. Again, are you the type of person who is going to use it? If so, you can go for a full size, half-size (also called a short drainboard), or one with no drainboard. It’s also worth mentioning that drainboards might sometimes look better if only for aesthetics – fulfilling more a decorative than the functional role.
KITCHEN SINK CADDY
A caddy should not be a deciding factor when deciding a sink because there is lots to choose from later as accessories.
SINK SIPHON / TRAP
A sink siphon is the part of the drain underneath the bowl through which water enters the sewer and traps objects should they by any chance get through the strainer. Always pay attention to the diameter of the drain hole at the bottom of the bowl. 2 and 3.5 inches are the most common ones.
There is also something called a space saving siphon where pipes are shaped to fit closely to kitchen cabinet sides thus allowing to save space conveniently storing cleaning products or waste bins. Not all kitchen sinks have those.
STRAINER
In order to keep food scraps and waste in the sink – and not in the sewer – a STRAINER is used. This is the replaceable part of a siphon where is sits and collects any residuals from washing.
OVERFLOW
The additional drain hole on the wall of a sink bowl is called an OVERFLOW. It prevents the bowl from overflowing and flooding the kitchen benchtop. When buying a siphon, pay attention to the shape of the overflow opening – whether it is round or rectangular.
PLUG
A plug is a part of a siphon located in the drain outlet. It lets water out from the bowl. Sometimes plugs are automatic, controlled by a knob mounted on top of a sink. Open by turning the knob right, close by turning left. The so called click-clack is another type of a plug. It needs to be pushed directly on the drain. You can easily unplug them using a spoon or fork and keep your hands dry. A button operated plug is another popular option where you just press a switch on top of the sink. All those options are convenient because sometimes you don’t want to soak your hands in water.
Examples of plugs
