About Sinks

Rebecca Noel asked:


I’ve recently stumbled across another really cool new product on the market…glass kitchen sinks… yes…you read that right…for the kitchen! Glass has been used as a material for bathroom sinks for quite a while now but never really as a kitchen sink material…until now.

My first reaction was WOW! Then my second reaction was “Are You Crazy?” Understandably one of the main concerns anyone would have would be about durability. The main questions obviously are how will a glass kitchen sink stand up to changes in water temperature and chemical cleaners, not to mention the shock of physical objects dropped into the sink itself? Who would want a kitchen sink you have to handle with kid gloves?

Some companies offering glass kitchen sinks have addressed these issues and have come up with a material that is a unique form of borosilicate glass. Borosilicate glass is the oldest glass known to show high resistance to sudden temperature changes. In fact, borosilicate is the glass of choice for refrigerator and oven cookware.

It first came into commercial prominence when Corning marketed a type of borosilicate glass known as Pyrex. The glass material these companies have come up with is non-porous and non-absorptive, making it impervious to the common elements as well as to many chemicals and liquids. It is exceptionally resistant to abrasion and surface scratches, and it is fatigue-proof.

These sinks can withstand repeated temperature changes between 0 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit without damage and are highly resistant to chemical corrosives and can be cleaned with any commonly used household or commercial strength product. They also won’t become cloudy or rust over time.

The companies offering glass kitchen sinks claim their glass sinks require no more special treatment than a standard porcelain sink and say they are tough enough to withstand the wear and tear of everyday life while remaining beautiful. Realistically, however, a heavy object such as a cast iron or soapstone pot will crack a glass kitchen sink, just as it would a porcelain sink.

Personally I would still probably consider them for a prep sink or a bar sink. I’m still not entirely convinced about having the main kitchen sink be made out of glass because I do need a sink that will stand up to heavy pots and pans abuse but I think this is a really great idea and this gives a whole new array of options and possibilities in kitchen designs.

It might be perfect for someone who doesn’t cook a lot or for someone like a friend of mine who uses her dishwasher as a filing cabinet…But I still think it’s a really cool product that’s definitely worth checking out.



Troy

Ernest Jarquio asked:


It is not as easy as you might think to go to the home improvement store and buy copper kitchen sinks. You can do it, but you might not like what you get. Copper is a special kind of metal, and you will have different considerations when buying it than you would in buying a stainless steel sink.

The best copper kitchen sinks are made in the US, India, and especially Mexico. If you buy a US-made copper sink, you will probably find mostly smooth copper sinks for sale. While these can be beautiful at first, they do not hold up as well as you might like. They show every scrape and ding that strikes them. Using them as kitchen sinks, you will see that they suffer a lot of damage. Any time you bump a pan or knife across them, it will show.

Mexican-Hammered Copper

Mexican copper kitchen sinks hold up better. When you wash dishes in one of the Mexican-hammered copper sinks, you will not damage the sink as much. Furthermore, any little damage you do will not show up as much.

That is because these sinks are made by hammering a sheet of copper into a sturdy design. These hammered copper sinks are one-of-a-kind because the process cannot be repeated the same way twice. The shops where these sinks are made do not mass produce, but have artisans of varying talents. For that reason, you can expect different qualities in the copper kitchen sinks. Make sure the shop that produce these sinks or the distribution company they supply will stand by their products.

Other countries do not have the reputations that the US, India, and Mexico have. In fact, some countries do not even use pure copper. China and some Middle Eastern countries have been known to use lead mixed with copper.

Things to Check Before You Buy a Copper Kitchen Sink

There are a few things to look for in copper kitchen sinks. When you look at the sink, try to notice if the seams have copper welding. You may have a sink that is small enough that it does not have seams. However, if it does, and the seams are not copper, they will not hold up.

It is also important to know how thick the metal of your sink is. The copper on kitchen sinks is normally a thickness of 18 to 14 gauge. 14 gauge is the thickest, and is the best. Also try to notice if the gauge seems to be the same throughout the sink. You do not want any weak spots. Make sure the sink is the shape it is supposed to be, and see to it that the company will replace it if you find that the shape is not right when it is being installed.

There are different colors of copper to buy. Some are weathered copper, shiny reddish copper like that mainly sold in the US, and brown copper. Patina is the coloring process that goes on as time passes. It gives copper character and is a natural process.

Copper kitchen sinks are worth the effort it takes to choose the best ones. Aside from their beauty, they are resistant to stains, and they even fend off bacteria. It is easy to decide that copper sinks are a good match for many kitchens.



Gina

Braeg Heneffe asked:


Depending upon the design and style of a sink and tap set, the sink area can be the focal point of the kitchen and as we well know, it is often the smaller touches and decorations that really set off an interior design. In fact, having a good sink and tap set in your kitchen is a little bit like having a vase of flowers on the windowsill in your living room. It is a finishing touch.

Your sink actually takes up more of your kitchen than you think it does as the pipes prevent you from being able to use the cupboard that they are encased in. Some people choose to have this area open and surround it with bricks for that old fashioned traditional country kitchen feel and others prefer the surrounds of the sink to match the rest of their kitchen cupboards. But the materials for the actual sink itself leave quite a lot of choice to make sure that you can get the perfect sink for your kitchen. A favourite for modern kitchens is stainless steel, which is easy to clean and maintain and as many of our other kitchen appliances are made of stainless steel, a stainless steel sink can fit right in to its surroundings. Other options available include ceramic sinks, which can be found in a range of different colours and even patterns for something a little bit different. Other materials include enamel over steel or cast iron, plastic, soapstone, concrete, terrazzo, totianota, wood, stone, copper and even glass. But stainless steel and ceramic are the most popular choices at the moment.

As well as a large choice in materials, there are also many different shapes and styles of sink. There is the self-rimming (top-mount) sinks that sit in holes that are roughly cut in the counter top and are suspended by their rim. The rim then forms quite a close seal with the top surface of the counter top. The Bottom-mount or under-mount sinks are installed below the countertop surface the advantage of which is that it looks great in a contemporary kitchen, but they tend to cost more. Other examples of sink styles include the Belfast sink, which is a large ceramic sink that look very traditional and are mostly set underneath the work surface; the farmer’s sink- a deep sink that has a finished front. The farmer’s sink is always set onto a counter top leaving the front of the sink exposed. The advantage of the farmer’s sink is that you do not have to reach over very far to access the sink; and the Vessell sink, which can be made from all kinds of different materials and in all kinds of different styles, but are mainly used in bathrooms.

Of course, once you have chosen the sink that is perfect for your kitchen, you have to make sure that the taps you are going to buy are going to suit your choice of sink. Internet Kitchen Appliances has over forty taps, some of which would look grand in any kitchen. Most people tend to opt for the single spout taps rather than the individual taps for hot and cold. Although the single spout taps make it a little bit more difficult to control the temperature of the water, they do look very stylish and save space. Also, they are far easier to get your kettle underneath for a brew, which some people may rank as the most important factor to consider when purchasing new kitchen taps.

The taps on this site are available in a range of different colours, including white, brown, stainless steel, chrome, champagne, pewter, nickel and brass. Prices range from around £90.00 to about £435.00 for a set and there are some extremely stylish options to choose from. The actual controls for the temperature of the water also offer some choice in design as some have two separate controls- one for hot water and one for cold, which enables you to control the temperature in a similar way to if you two separate taps rather than a single spout. There is also the lever design, which you lift up to turn the tap on or control the amount of water that flows through the tap. To control the temperature of the water using this lever design, moving the lever to either side changes the temperature of the water that flows out of the tap.

However, if you think that you can not be trusted to adequately match your sink and taps, then there are also some matching sink and tap sets available, so the work is already done for you. The Blanco MEDIAN XL Sink & Tap Pack is a great deal at £249.00 has an extra large bowl, which is practical, but also stylish. Have a look and see what suits you.



Danielle

James Hunt asked:


No matter if you are renting or buying your home, everyone ends up with a clogged kitchen sink once in a while. Hiring a plumber to take care of a job can be expensive. There are several techniques you can use before you call in an expert.

It is wise to have some kind of drain cleaner on hand and to use it regularly to clean your pipes. This will prevent a completely clogged drain. Whether is a completely clogged drain or just a partial clog, your first remedy should be a plunger. These are easily found in several hardware stores and should be a part of your household tools. A plunger uses suction and pressure to loosen a clog. To make your job easier, coat the outer rim with petroleum jelly.

Start by placing the plunger over the drain, making sure the bowl or sink is filled with some water. Vigorously work the plunger up and down several times. When the clog has been removed, water should rush out of the bowl or toilet.

As talked about, having a drain cleaner on hand can be very useful. This should be your second course of action. Remove any standing water from the basin. Be sure to follow all directions on the cleaner bottle. Let the cleaner sit for several hours or even overnight before rinsing it away. If the drain is still clogged, flush the drain with very hot water and repeat.

If by chance the above methods fail, you can check the U-trap. This is part of the pipe that is shaped like a “U” is located under the sink. There will be a plug that you can unscrew with a wrench. Be sure to have a bucket to catch excess water. Take a piece of wire to scrub the inside of the trap, put new gaskets on to maintain a watertight seal.

If none of these procedures work, call the plumber. You may have a more severe problem that a plumber will be more capable of handling.



Sandra

regy412 asked:


my father told me that his great grandmother told him that when you turn the cold water on in your kitchen sink the tears from onions go away….but when you turn it off it starts your eyes start to sting and burn again…..and it really works i do it everytime i cook….but i have grown curious why …..plz help me find out

Lloyd

Gabriel asked:


It’s below the kitchen sink and it’s plugged into the wall, on the wall there is a switch that turns it on and off, it blends all the small garbage that goes into the sink and throws it away, basically I am trying to find out what’s going on because it was working great until now, and I looked under the sink and there is smoke, and the wire is smelling like burned plastic, so I unplugged it and now it won’t even turn on. Hope the insurance covers it, thank you for your help.

Kathleen