5 Best Two Handle Kitchen Faucets

Getting the faucet you want for every sink in your kitchen can be tricky. There are so many styles, finishes, and functions to consider. And until you’ve seen one in person, it can be difficult to tell which faucet will look great in your kitchen.

These faucets have been popular for decades, but are still a favorite among homeowners today. Talk about a classic look! They commonly come in a variety of finishes, like chrome and brass. Most faucets that come with on-off handles also come with separate handles for hot and cold water. While two-handled faucets look great in kitchens, they can take on a more modern feel in bathrooms, too.

At Kitchen Reader, we have researched dozens of two-handled faucets over the years, evaluating each based on construction, performance, and ease of use. In our research, we found that some faucets performed better than others, based on how well they handled the water pressure and temperature. Consider our picks for the best two-handled faucets, plus see which faucet styles we prefer and why.

AT A GLANCE

Best Pick

• Installation with 4 Holes
• Supply Lines Sold Separately
• The spout swivels, making it convenient to use.
• Lifetime warranty

staff Pick

• Durable
• Cleaning kitchen messes is a breeze with the powerful side sprayer in a coordinating finish and retractable hose.
• Ease installation

Budget Pick

• The wall-mount design has a high arc and swivels 360 degrees.
• The two-handle design gives you complete control over the water temperature.
• Limited Lifetime Warranty from Peerless

Choose A Style

First and foremost, you must choose a style for your faucet. This is purely an aesthetic choice, and your choice is unaffected by the faucet’s functionality.

A dual-handle faucet installation requires at least two mounting holes. The ideal number is three, but two holes will suffice for one type of faucet. Dual-handle faucets are classified into three types:

Widespread Faucets

This is the most typical type of faucet. They are made of three pieces: one spout and two handles on either side. The distance between the handles varies between 6 and 10 inches. Each of these pieces fits into its mounting hole.

Bridge Faucets

This dual-handle faucet requires only two mounting holes. The two handles are inserted into the mounting holes, and the pipes coming from the handles form a “bridge” on which the spout rests. These faucets look great in bronze or chrome finishes.

Centerset Faucets

These are similar to widespread faucets, but all three pieces are mounted on a base plate. In this case, the distance between the two handles is also smaller.

Staff Pick

How to Install a Two-Handle Faucet

Two-handle faucet designs today make installation easier than ever. A hardworking bathroom faucet does not have to be ordinary, but it must be properly installed.

A rubber gasket is used in some faucet designs to seal the joint between the faucet’s base and the sink. Others require you to apply a bead of plumber’s putty around the base of the faucet.

TIP!

Install the faucet before you install the sink to make it easier to work on — especially if the sink or countertop will sit on a vanity cabinet. Working in the dark, cramped space makes installation difficult, to say the least.

There is a large selection of two-handle faucets on the market. You install them in the same manner, but make sure to follow the instructions that come with the unit. In general, the following is involved:

• Unpack the faucet and ensure that it is the model you want, fits the sinkholes, and comes with all the installation parts.
• Install the gasket or use the plumber’s putty according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• In many faucet designs, a rubber gasket is often used between the base of the valves and spout assembly and the countertop. Others require you to apply a bead of plumber’s putty to the unit’s underside.
• Place the spout of the faucet on the sink or countertop.
• If the spout already has riser tubes, align them with the sink hole and lower the spout body into place.
• Insert the faucet valve assemblies (hot and cold) into the countertop holes.
• Thread the riser tubes through the holes in the countertop if these valves already have them installed.
• Tighten the hold-down bolts from the underside of the sink.
• Some models use large washers and nuts to screw on the valve tailpieces, while others use brackets that bolt to the underside of the valve body.
• Connect the flexible hoses from the hot and cold valves to the spout from under the sink.
• Connect the riser tubes from the hot and cold valves to the wall stop valves.
• Check for leaks by turning on the water.
• Remove the aerator screen from the spout and run water through the faucet to clear any debris from the pipes.
• Replace the aerator when the water runs clear.

Necessary Tools

• Adjustable Wrench
• Basin Wrench
• Flashlight
• Plastic pan
• Pliers
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Screwdriver

Necessary Materials

• Two-Handle Faucet to install
• Pipe putty
• Towel or rags
• Faucet supply lines
• All-purpose cleaner

Make Sure The Spout Height Is Sufficient

The spout height is most likely the most important aspect of your faucet. The more space there is between the nozzle head and the rim of the kitchen sink, the more room there is for stacking dishes. If you’re washing a particularly large pot and you’re not tall enough, the pot will inevitably collide with the nozzle or the sink.

Straight spouts rise to a height of about 5 inches. Swivel these spouts around to cover the entire circumference of your basin. A shorter straight spout is preferable if you have cabinets above the sink.

On the other hand, Gooseneck spouts form an arch with a topmost point of about 8 inches. This allows you to move your utensils around more freely.

Some of these spouts even allow you to pull the nozzle heads down or out. These retractable nozzle heads are ideal for washing vegetables because they allow you to direct water flow to every sink corner.

How To Repair A Two-Handle Faucet?

The majority of two-handle bathroom faucets are cartridge-style faucets. Each hot and cold faucet handle has its cartridge, which is a valve that rotates with the handle to control the flow of water into the faucet spout. If you have an old two-handle faucet, it could be compression rather than a cartridge.

When you remove the faucet handle, you’ll notice that cartridges are usually plastic and held in place by a metal retaining nut, whereas compression faucets have a metal valve with a flat rubber washer on the bottom.

If your two-handle faucet is leaking, feel the water to see if it is leaking from the cold or hot side. Only the leaking side of the cartridge needs to be replaced. However, it is possible that both sides are leaking, so you will need to replace both cartridges.

What You’ll Require?

Tools and equipment                                              

• Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
• The Allen wrench
• Tongue-and-groove pliers or a pipe wrench

Materials

• Replacement cartridge(s)
• Plumber’s grease

Instructions

Remove Faucet Handle:

Examine the faucet handle to see how it is attached. Setscrews can be found on the side or back of some handles. Others have a decorative cap (usually made of plastic) that conceals a screw that holds the handle in place.

In addition, your faucet may have a removable lever that unscrews from the handle base to provide easy access to the handle set screw. Remove the handle screw with a Phillips screwdriver if your faucet has a decorative cap. Remove the set screw from your faucet using an Allen wrench. To remove the handle from the faucet body, pull it straight up.

Take out the Retaining Nut:

Using a pipe wrench or tongue-and-groove pliers, loosen the cartridge retaining nut. Remove the nut from the faucet body by unscrewing it completely. Take note of any brass screws at the top of the cartridge.

Its function is to reinforce the cartridge shaft when the set screw on the faucet body is tightened against it. Because not all replacement cartridges include a new screw, you may need to remove the old screw and reuse it in the new cartridge.

Remove the Previous Cartridge:

Take note of the faucet cartridge’s orientation. You must reinstall the new cartridge in the same manner. Most cartridges have one or two tabs that fit into the faucet’s notches.

To remove the cartridge from the faucet body, pull it straight up. To remove the cartridge, use pliers to grab the shaft at the top of the cartridge.

Purchase a New Cartridge:

Bring your old cartridge to a hardware store or home center to find an exact replacement. New cartridges typically include new cartridge rubber O-rings.

Pick up some plumber’s grease for the O-rings if desired. This makes inserting the cartridge into the faucet body easier, and it’s especially useful if the old cartridge is difficult to remove.

Replace the Cartridge:

If necessary, replace the small brass screw at the top of the cartridge shaft. Apply a small amount of plumber’s grease to the cartridge’s O-rings with your finger.

Insert the new cartridge in the same orientation as the old cartridge, aligning any tabs on the cartridge with the notches on the faucet body. Insert the cartridge completely into the housing.

Finish the installation:

Tighten the retaining nut carefully with the wrench or pliers to secure the cartridge. Avoid over-tightening.

Replace the faucet handle, setscrew or Phillips screw, and decorative cap, if applicable. Open the shutoff valve for the water supply to the tap all the way counterclockwise. Check that the faucet is working properly.

Summary For Best Two Handle Kitchen Faucets

Design	Buying Guides	Retailer
Staff Pick	Delta Faucet Windemere 2-Handle Kitchen Sink Faucet	Check Price
Budget Pick	Peerless Claymore 2-Handle Wall-Mount Kitchen Sink Faucet	Check Price
Best Pick	Peerless Tunbridge 2-Handle Kitchen Sink Faucet	Check Price
	Moen CA87888 High-Arc Kitchen Faucet	Check Price
	Price Pfister Pfirst Series 2-Handle Chrome Bar and Prep Faucet	Check Price

FAQs