I was reading an online magazine article last week that left me with an urge to reach through my computer monitor and shake the “Senior Editor” while yelling “what’s the matter with your head?” at the top of my lungs. Obviously an overreaction. I’m alright now.
The article was partitioned into a dozen small examples of “mistakes”, each authored by a professional home improvement type, with the idea that impartial sharing of errors can help you and I avoid doing the same. Ok, I can go there; and genuinely appreciate folks taking the time to share information. The truth of the matter is that, while I don’t generally have a problem with jumping in with both feet, I do have an aversion to acquiring first hand experience with potential home improvement pitfalls like . . . electrocution. It seems reasonable and I pay attention when reading things that include the phrase “a very bad idea”.
The article snippet in question dealt with “resist[ing] impulse buys” resulting in the installation of a height challenged kitchen faucet. The editor purchased the faucet because she liked the look of it and because it was on sale. Both valid purchasing points to my way of thinking. Unfortunately, it didn’t allow for the unfettered filling of pasta pots and after two months the faucet was replaced with a new one. That’s where she lost me. I’m cheap- faucets, or at least faucets worth owning, are not.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t large pot filling something that happens only occasionally? Canning season is the first deviation that comes to mind and we do employ the stock pots periodically to cook down a chicken or make an oversized batch of beans. But neither situation presents itself often and all of our pot filling seems to stay within the one gallon range.
If that kitchen faucet will do 95% of what’s required of it, then maybe a little creative thinking is in order. There is another faucet in the house that will more than adequately fill the need and its’ only problem is that it’s located in the bathroom. Anything the spigot on the tub can’t handle hasn’t got any business being in the house to begin with. If filling time isn’t an issue, but carting full pots around is, rubber band down the valve on the kitchen sinker spray and go pick out a movie while the pot fills. It can be a little time consuming, but it works.
Still not good enough? Folks that deal with large pots daily, and don’t have a tub close to hand, are called “chefs” and work out of restaurant kitchens. A little research into commercial faucet offerings revealed something called a “pot filler” that can be deck or wall mounted. If installed next to the range, our intrepid pasta chef can fill that 10 gallon behemoth on the spot and in record time!
So, staying in the spirit in which the original article was written, and openly admitting that I am not a “senior editor”, nor have I played on on television; I offer up the following- failing to remove the rubber band from the sink sprayer should be restricted to April 1st. Soaking the next person (most likely your spouse) to use the kitchen sink will likely earn you a pitcher full of ice water over the shower curtain rod next time you settle in for a nice hot shower. Consider yourself warned.
I have a “pot filler.” It’s called a pitcher and I just keep filling it from the sink and carrying it to the big pot on the stove. Works for me. :)
You reminded me of the time my son rubber banded the sink sprayer as a prank. The funny part was that he forgot and was the one who got sprayed!
I use large pots all the time and haven’t found anything I couldn’t fill with a bathtub or laundry tub faucet or sink sprayer! I’ll haul out the garden hose if I have to but that’s never been necessary. But in the case of the “height challenged” fixture, I guess it’s a case of putting all of your favorite “toys” in your dream kitchen just because you can. Good for them if they can do it . I guess we should remember that the people who call such minor stuff a “bad idea” in a magazine probably also make a good bit of money “fixing” such perceived shortcomings!
Just my two cents worth. Peace.