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Common Questions

PLEASE NOTE: The following question pertains to ALL BATHROOM AND KITCHEN PRODUCTS:

Is this particular product cUPC, NSF 61 Certified, ADA, and AB1953 Compliant and LISTED?

  • IAPMO Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) Certification Mark: The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Shield is applied to products that are certified by IAPMO as complying with BOTH the product’s performance standard AND the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). Applies to all plumbing products, appliances, pipe, fixtures, valves and related products.
  • ADA  Compliance – standards and guidelines issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • AB1953 - This bill defines the term “lead free” as an average lead content of 0.25% or less, changing the current standard. This bill will be passed into law on January 1st, 2010 and all new installations after that date will be subject to the new law. What this means is that businesses in California and Vermont will not be able sell or stock items that have not been certified to the requirements of this law.

*The following information is available at   www.IAPMO.ORG , click on products certification icon, and type in Manufacturer’s name.

Kraus Glass Sinks

How durable are Glass Vessel Sinks?

  • Most vessel sinks are made out of tempered glass and is virtually unbreakable. It will not crack and or break with normal use. Tempered glass is glass that has been processed by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength compared with normal glass. Tempered glass is made by processes which create balanced internal stresses which give the glass strength. It will usually shatter into small fragments instead of sharp shards when broken, making it less likely to cause severe injury and deep lacerations.

What does 12mm, 15mm, 17mm, and 19mm mean?

  • 12mm, 15mm, 17mm, and 19mm indicates the thickness of the glass itself.  Please note that durability of the sinks does not correlate to the thickness of the glass.  They are all equally durable.

Can Glass Vessel Sinks be recessed inside the countertop?

  • It is possible to drop the glass sink inside the counter top. It can be dropped it in, either a little bit, half way, or completely under mount it inside the countertop.

What necessary components are required for a Glass Vessel Sink installation?

  • A mounting ring as well as the pop-up drain, with or without the overflow will be required during the installation.  Should you already own a P-trap and choose to replace it with the new one, you will have to purchase one separately.  Please note that mounting rings are required for round and square sinks installation only.  They are not required for the installation of the rectangular sinks.

What may cause the color variation of the same model sink?

  • Most multi color tone sinks are hand crafted, therefore shade and color may vary

Is it possible to purchase pop-up drains mounting rings and glass sinks from different manufacturers?

  • Yes, drains and rings from reputable manufacturers will be compatible with most glass vessel sinks

What is the standard size hole required for a Glass Sinks Installation?

  • The standard size hole in the countertop should be 1 3/4” inches

What should the distance be between the center hole of the faucet and the center hole of a vessel sink that is 16-17 inches in diameter?

  • We recommend for the distance to be 10 3/4″ inches

What should the distance be between the center hole of the faucet and the center hole of a vessel sink that is 14 inches in diameter?

  • We recommend for the distance to be 9” inches

What tools are required for the installation and do I require to hire a plumber?

  • Installation should all be done by hand. No tools are necessary or required.
  • We recommend for all installations to be done by a certified professional.

Care and Maintenance of Glass Sinks

  • We suggest cleaning your sink after each use with a soapy sponge, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. You may dry it with a towel or a dry cloth. This will eliminate water spots and streaks, while the sink is in use.  Do not be alarmed in case you begin to notice stains on your glass sink. They are most often caused by various minerals contained in your water supply. These mineral deposits settle in the surface of the glass and may cause to stain the surface of your sink. In order to eliminate stain spots, use a non-abrasive or mild-abrasive cleaner as mentioned earlier. Remember not to apply force while cleaning your glass sink. Do not scrub the glass, as you may scratch the surface of the sink. When finished, rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry with a towel or a soft cloth.

 

Kraus Ceramic Sinks

What is the difference between an undermount, above the counter, wall mount, and pedestal Vessel Sinks?

  • A standard Undermount Sink will simply be recessed into the countertop and will require to be complimented by an Undermount Faucet.
  • Ceramic Vessel Sink will require a standard above the counter installation and will require to be complimented by a Vessel Faucet.
  • Ceramic Sinks are also available for above the counter installation, yet the base of the sink has a hole for an undermount faucet.
  • Pedestal Ceramic Sinks will require a floor mount installation. They are complimented by an undermount faucet
  • Wall-mount Ceramic Sinks, are complimented by an undermount faucet as well

Is there a difference between Ceramic and Porcelain Sinks?

  • Porcelain is a Ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 °C (2,192 °F) and 1,400 °C (2,552 °F). The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain arise mainly from the formation of glass and the mineral mullite within the fired body at these high temperatures.

How durable are Ceramic Vessel Sinks?

  • Ceramic is not only extremely durable, able to resist stains, scratching, and chipping, it is also one of the easiest sink materials to maintain.

What necessary components are required for a Ceramic Vessel Sink installation?

  • Pop-up drain, with or without the overflow will be required during the installation.  P-trap however, is recommended, but not necessary.

What is the standard size hole required for a Ceramic Sink Installation?

  • Unlike Glass Vessel Sinks, Ceramic / Porcelain Sinks’ hole sizes vary depending on the model.  Please refer to Manufacturer’s Model for details.

What should the distance be between the center hole of the faucet and the center hole of a Ceramic Vessel Sink?

Unlike Glass Vessel Sinks, Ceramic / Porcelain sinks have a wider range of shapes and sizes available.  Therefore, the distance between the center hole of the faucet and the center hole of a Ceramic Vessel Sink will vary, depending on the faucet as well as the sink.

Care and Maintenance of Ceramic Sink

  • For routine cleaning, nothing more is required than warm water and a mild detergent. While infrequent maintenance is required to protect and maintain the glossy finish of a ceramic sink, for the most part the use of harsh chemicals is not required.

 

Kraus Stainless Kitchen Sinks

Information required from customer while making a suitable recommendation

  • Kitchen Sinks are available various sizes.  Common sizes to fit standard kitchen cabinets range from 23-36” inches, for both double as well as a single bowl sinks.
  • Whether customer requires and Undermount or an Apron Sink.

Undermount Sink – drops into / below the kitchen countertop. Usually mounts under the countertop with the use of the clips.

Apron Sink other known as Farmhouse Sink – has the front edge exposed from the supporting cabinetry.  Apron / Farmhouse sink require custom installation.  It is recommended to contact cabinetry maker first prior to purchasing an apron sink.

  • Inform the customer to contact their kitchen cabinet maker, since Apron Sinks often require custom installations.
  • Kitchen Faucet the customer looking to purchase. Some sinks already have pre-existing holes for the faucet.  Others, the faucets will be installed into the countertop.

What are Gauges and Grades of Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks

  • There are two important elements that you’ll see (or should see) on specs for stainless kitchen sinks are chromium and nickel. They enhance the quality of the steel, giving it strength and corrosion resistance, an important feature when you’re dealing with sinks.

Gauge represents the thickness of the Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink. Gauge ranges from 16 to 20 in thickness. We recommend 16g sinks, since they are going to be the most durable option, and will most likely outlast your kitchen. Stainless sinks are usually labeled with the amount of chromium and nickel contained in the steel. It’s usually designated by a ratio like “18:8″ or something equivalent. This particular example means there is 18% chromium and 8% nickel in the stainless steel. The higher the percentages of these elements that are present, the better the grade of stainless steel. The grade is specified by its “series” number. Suffice to say for this conversation that stainless sinks are usually in the “300″ series, usually 304 to be specific. This is a good quality steel with 18:8 to 20:10 chromium/nickel content.

Is the Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink Coated for Sound Insulation?

  • Stainless steel sinks can be fitted with sound insulation and coatings to help deaden sound attenuation. It can also act to reduce condensation buildup on the bottom of the sink that could lead to moisture problems in the base cabinet that the sink is installed into. Not all stainless sinks come with this feature but it’s worth consideration for reducing the tinny sound, particularly from thinner gauge sinks.

Does Stainless Steel Corrode or Rust?

  • Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel.  However, it is susceptible to rust staining by other objects found in the kitchen (ex. cast iron pan left in the kitchen sink will stain the sink)

How do I protect my Kitchen Sink?

  • Kitchen Sink Grids with rubber padding will serve as a great protection against scratches and rust spots

Can rust stains be removed?

  • In order to eliminate stains and rust spots, use a non-abrasive or mild-abrasive cleaner.  Remember that while applying force or using any abrasive cleaner, always follow the direction of the grain on the surface. Do not scrub in the opposite direction, or against the grain, as you may scratches the surface of the sink. When finished, rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry with a towel or a soft cloth.

What other components should be purchased or included by a manufacturer along with the Stainless Kitchen Sink?

  • Grids, Drains, Cutting Boards, Dish Dryers

What is the Warranty?

  • Warranty varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.  Kraus however offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

 

Kraus Bathroom Faucets

General Information Required for Customer Service Representatives to know while making a suitable recommendation

Faucet Types:

  • Vessel Sink Faucets for above the counter installation
  • Under mount installation
  • Wall mount installation
  • 2 or 3 hole installation / 4 and 8 inch spread between faucet handles is most common
  • Double or Single Handle

Since there are many types of Bathroom Faucets available for customers to choose from, first and most important is to identify the type of a Bathroom Faucet your client is looking for. The most common way to approach your customer is to find out the type of the sink your customer already has installed or shopping for.
Please note that above the counter installation sink will require either a wall mount or a tall vessel faucet.  Under mount sinks however, will work with a wall mount faucet, 2-3 hole,

What faucet would I require for a vessel sink that is mounted on top of my counter top?

  • You would require a tall faucet anywhere from 12-13 inches height.
  • Spout reach is important while making a recommendation. Spout reach is the distance from the center of the faucet body to the aerator.  Make certain that the spout reach will be sufficient to work with the existing vessel sink  

My under mount faucet has an opening in the back of it. What is the opening for?

  • The opening in the back of the faucet is used during the pull-up drain installation (metal rod gets inserted into the opening to operate the opening and closing the pull-up drain) Considering that most faucets and drains are sold separately, always refer to the model of the sink as well as the faucet while making the recommendation

What is the standard size hole required for a Single Hole Bathroom Faucet Installation?

  • Standard recommended hole size is 1 3/8” inch

Am I required to hire a certified plumber or can I install it myself?

  • While many faucets may easily be installed by your client, always recommend to refer to a certified plumber for all installations

What type of a cartridge does the faucet have?

  • Always recommend faucets with Ceramic Cartridges

Where do I get replacement parts?

  • All replacements parts are carried and must be provided by the manufacturer

Waterfall Faucets:  Can the Glass disc be replaced or do I have to purchase a new faucet?

  • Glass Discs can easily be replaced and tools may be required, depending on the manufacturer.  Kraus Waterfall Faucets DO NOT require any tools for the glass disc replacement.

Where do I get waterlines for the Waterfall Faucet?

  • Waterlines are sold separately.  Kraus however offers complimentary waterlines with most faucet models.

What special tools are required while replacing the cartridge in the Waterfall Faucet?

  • 1” inch Reversible Socket Wrench (provided by manufacturer)

Please note: Always recommend contacting the manufacturer for all parts, and repairs

 

Kraus Kitchen Faucets

General Information Required for Customer Service Representatives to know while making a suitable recommendation

Faucet Types:

  • Single or Double Handle Kitchen Faucets
  • Pullout Sprayer Kitchen Faucets
  • Single / Double Sprayer Mode
  • 1, 2 or 3 hole installation
  • Bar Faucets

 

Since there are many types of Kitchen Faucets available for customers to choose from, first and most important is to identify the type of a Kitchen Faucet your client is looking for. The most common way to approach your customer is to find out the type of the sink your customer already has installed or shopping for.
Please Note: Some Kitchen Sinks are manufactured with pre-existing fixture ports.  Make certain to recommend the appropriate Faucet model, depending on the Kitchen Sink your client has selected or has already installed.

What material is used in the construction of Kitchen Faucets?

  • Most Kitchen Faucets are made from Solid Brass, and then plated with Chrome, Satin Nickel, ORB or other finishes.  However, select manufacturers such as Kraus, offer kitchen faucets which are made from Solid Stainless Steel.  It is important not to confuse Satin Nickel Finish, which is plated brass, with Solid Stainless Steel Construction.  Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel.

What is the standard size hole required for a Single Hole Bathroom Faucet Installation?

  • Standard recommended hole size is 1 3/8” inch for a single hole faucet

Am I required to hire a certified plumber or can I install it myself?

  • While many faucets may easily be installed by your client, always recommend to refer to a certified plumber for all installations

What type of a cartridge does the faucet have?

  • Always recommend faucets with Ceramic Cartridges

Where do I get replacement parts?

  • All replacements parts are carried and must be provided by the manufacturer

Will I require a decorative plate during the installation?

  • Decorative plates are not necessary.  However, decorative plates are usually provided by the manufacturer for models where decorative plates are required.

Can a portable dishwasher be connected to a Kitchen Faucet

  • Some Kitchen Faucets may be connected with a portable dishwasher that are not a pullout or pull down design.  They should never be connected due to potential pressure fluctuations during dishwasher operation, which may result in rupturing of the hoses.

What is the water pressure in this faucet?

  • 60 PSI at 2.2 GPM ( gallons per minute)