There are certain aspects of a kitchen that just make life run so much smoother, be that appliances, storage solutions or simply the way the space is arranged. In general, my kitchen is a pleasure to use, yet I'll hold my hands up and say that there are some smaller, more thoughtful, details that got left out of the initial plan but which would have made all the difference – and installing a pot filler is one of them.
Perhaps some of the features I'd dreamt off got skipped in the rush to get the project finished, or maybe I just didn't spend enough time doing my research when it came to designing a kitchen that met all our needs. Failing to fit a pot filler above the hob is one of my main regrets – along with the too-small fridge and high-maintenance timber worktops around the sink.
Happily, a kitchen refresh is on the horizon and this time, I'm getting that pot filler. I asked the experts what the job of retrofitting one would entail, both in terms of mess and disruption, as well as the potential issues I'm likely to face.
Article continues belowWhat is a pot filler?
Before getting into how to fit a pot filler, for those of you who haven't yet noticed what has, in the past year or so become one of the hottest kitchen trends around, let me explain what we're talking about here.
"A pot filler is basically a wall-mounted tap with a folding arm," explains Ian Wood, plumbing and drainage specialist at Reactive Plumbing & Drainage Ltd.
Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL, elaborates, highlighting their benefits. "The pot filler, firstly, looks great and brings an old Victorian-style gadget into modern-day kitchens," says Helen. "However, it also fits into a contemporary or rustic styled kitchen. It enables the cook to fill up large pans of water for pasta and vegetables directly on the stove, which, in our eyes, is such an advantage."
Ian Wood is owner of Reactive Plumbing & Drainage and an expert in domestic and commercial drainage and plumbing.
Helen was promoted to the position of Creative Director at DeVOL in 2011 after showing an innate ability to forecast trends and give deVOL a style direction. She is also responsible for styling, sourcing and buying all the antiques and gifts on display at the DeVOL showroom.
How are pot fillers installed?
I need no convincing how handy a pot filler above our hob would be – plus, in all honesty, I just like the way they look, adding a professional touch (even if I am not quite up to Nigella's level in the kitchen). However, I am keen to find out what installation entails.
"Installation involves running a dedicated cold water feed to the mounting point then fitting a solid fixing inside the wall so that the tap has proper support before connecting the valve and assembling the tap," explains Ian Wood. "You will just need to make sure the pipework is secure and the tap is properly supported because these taps get extended and folded regularly which puts a bit of strain on the fitting."
Sounds simple, but, given that I am renovating a kitchen rather than starting totally from scratch, I am aware things might not be as straightforward as they appear.
Shop pot fillers
Made from 100% high-quality brass, this pot filler promises a leak-free design thanks to two ceramic cores. Its double-joint swing spout rotates 360 degrees making filling pots in all directions easy.
Perfect for those after an elegant-looking pot filler, this chrome design features easy-to-operate lever handles, swivelling spout and a space-saving design that is easy to fold out of the way when not in use.
If you want a pot filler to fit in with a more contemporary-style of kitchen then look no further than this sleek matte black design. It has a handy anti-fingerprint finish and is impressively affordable too, despite its drip-prevention technology.
Can you retrofit a pot filler?
Retrofitting anything is generally always a little more complicated than when starting out with a blank canvass, but when it comes to jobs that involve plumbing and electrics, things can start to get both messy and expensive. Is that the case with pot fillers?
"Retrofitting a pot filler is doable, but it's not a straightforward process," picks up Angelo Patrizi, kitchen fitter at Nuova Home Improvements. "A pot filler requires a cold water supply line to be run behind the wall and above the hob and, most importantly, at the right height.
"Retrofitting involves opening up the wall, plastering walls, repainting, and, potentially, retiling if it's a tiled splashback. It's a half-day to full-day job for an experienced kitchen fitter or plumber – not including restoring the wall which can add a fair amount of manual work."
"Its definitely doable but it really depends on what's behind the wall," adds Ian Wood. "The main job is running a cold water supply to the position above the hob so if there's already pipework nearby, for example from a sink on the same wall, it can be fairly straightforward to be honest. If not, you will probably need to run a new pipe through cabinets or behind plasterboard which means a bit more disruption. In most cases it is not a huge job but you should expect some wall access and possibly a bit of making good afterwards."
Angelo Patrizi is a UK-based kitchen fitter with 15 years of experience. Angelo’s journey into construction began in Rome, where he learned the trade working alongside his father in the family building business. Growing up around construction sites gave him a deep understanding of traditional techniques, precision workmanship, and the importance of doing things properly – not quickly.
Potential issues when retrofitting a pot filler
It seems that retrofitting a pot filler can, in many cases, be less complicated than I had thought, although Ian Wood was careful to point out that there are obstacles that can arise.
"One of the biggest issues is access to pipework," explains Ian. "If the kitchen is already finished and tiled, getting a pipe to the hob wall can mean removing sections of wall covering.
"Another thing people don’t always think about is leaks," continues Ian. "Because the tap sits over the hob, any drips can land directly on the burners which is why good quality fittings and isolation valves are really important. This is why designing it in when planning a kitchen is by far the easiest route rather than adding it in later because the pipework can be installed before the walls are closed up. Retrofitting can still be done – it just needs a bit more thought and careful installation."
Angelo Patrizi also pointed out that getting the length of the arm on the pot filler just right was often an area where people go wrong. You need to ensure that it will comfortably reach your hob from the wall without you needing to manoeuvre the pot around too much, otherwise you are defeating the whole object of fitting one in the first place.
FAQs
Is a pot filler a good idea?
You may well be wondering why bother installing a pot filler all when your kitchen tap does the job just fine (plus, fitting a kitchen tap is generally simpler), but there are lots of benefits to fitting this additional water outlet.
"We think it is a very sensible plan to have additional water near your stove – it's practical and less hazardous than carrying huge pots of water across a room," points out Helen Parker. "If you have a stove-top kettle, it is also incredibly useful, giving you an additional water source in your kitchen right where you need it.
"It is a little luxury that is not too expensive," continues Helen. "As with all luxuries, it is good to consider if this will be of use to you and we find people with large range cookers, big families and a love of cooking are the most likely to include this tap in their kitchen redesign. Customers who have a love of 'big style cooking' and entertaining usually feel that this additional tap will be enormously helpful to them."
Installing a pot filler is just one of the kitchen updates I want to do. Also on the list is fitting an induction hob, adding more storage (that works harder) and investing in a boiling water tap. Spring is the perfect time to give your home a refresh, although also the time of year when trades tend to get booked up fast so it pays to get organised.
