Leaks, dents and scratches show that your faucet is all tapped out. Whether your kitchen or bathroom faucet needs replacing or you're updating your whole sink assembly, you'll need to consider features, style and finish when making your selection.

First, check the number of holes in your sink - you don't want to buy a faucet that requires three holes when your sink has only one. Next, establish a budget. You can get a basic off - brand lavatory faucet/handle unit at a home center for as little as $20 and a kitchen faucet for around $30. But the components are likely to be made primarily of plastic that will wear out in a few years, and you may have difficulty finding replacement parts. A tap that appears metallic may in fact be a plastic shell.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, you can spend several hundred dollars for a high - style, designer - line product with all - brass valving, an all - metal spout and a finish that matches your decor. A super - durable finish will add to the cost, as will features like a built - in filter or in - spout spray wand.

A high price does not guarantee quality. Examine the construction of the faucet components. If assembly is difficult or if the parts are not smoothly machined - if you have to jiggle them to get them to fit together - look elsewhere.

Form
Match up the number of mounting holes in the fixture you're buying with the number of holes in your sink. Also measure the spacing between holes. Kitchen hot and cold inlets are generally spaced 8 in. apart in the U.S., while bathroom inlets are 4 in. apart, but check yours to make sure.

An adaptive escutcheon (baseplate) can cover empty valve holes if you're moving from dual handles to a single - control setup. Or you might want an escutcheon with a fourth hole that accommodates a spray wand or a soap/lotion dispenser. A no - escutcheon setup leaves one less obstacle to trap water and crumbs on the countertop or interrupt the visual lines of your decor. Dual - control faucets cost slightly more than singles because you're paying for two handles rather than one. You can choose among cross - shaped and lever handles in traditional and contemporary styles. Many blade - shaped handles are now designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. A handle that complies with requirements in the Americans with Disabilities Act will be large enough to operate with a closed fist.

One advantage of dual controls is that they keep the cold and hot water completely separate. However, a single control is more convenient and easier to operate with just one hand.

In the looks department, you'll want the size of your new faucet to be proportional to the size of your sink. A three - bowl sink with a small faucet perched above can end up looking like a fat man in a tiny hat. Conversely, a hi - arc faucet that dwarfs the sink would look equally awkward.

Your range of options when choosing a finish is broader than ever. Traditional stainless steel, chrome and brass have gotten facelifts with brushed and satin finishes in addition to the standard polished shine. Handles and spout may come in white, pearl, black or decorator colors, with or without a super - durable PVD coating (see below).

Function
For everyday functionality, think big. In the kitchen, a hi - arc spout leaves plenty of room to fill tall pots or vases. Moen's Cathedral line, for instance, features a spout that arcs a full 11 in. above the sink. A separate pull - out spray wand does the job, too, and assists in washing produce or rinsing out the sink.

A spray - in spout combines faucet and wand in one fixture for even greater convenience. Moen's extensa (the small "e" is correct) is an 8 - 1/4 - in. - tall faucet/ wand combo that pulls out to 24 in. Moen's OneTouch spray - in spout meets requirements for use by the physically challenged and has a pull - out wand that reaches 22 in.

If you have an extra - large two - or three - bowl sink, make sure your new faucet is designed to reach all the bowls. The extensa spout swings 145 degrees, while Delta's Select, a luxury - market product line, swivels a full 360 degrees. You may have to ask your dealer or call the manufacturer's customer service line; this information usually doesn't appear on packaging.

Filter
If you want your water filtered, you can now purify it several different ways.

One of the newest is American Standard's Clear Tap Water Filtering Faucet, certified by NSF (National Science Foundation) International. The filter is housed separate from the spout, mounted beneath the sink. The company claims that this allows for installation flexibility, longer filter life and a higher water flow rate than in - spout filters. Without a bulky internal filtering mechanism, the faucet is sleeker than its competition.

Moen's PureTouch filtering faucet has replaceable MicroTech Series Filters (designed by Culligan) in the faucet body. Price Pfister's Pfilter Pfaucet is an in - spout filter faucet that provides 95% chlorine - free fresh water (according to UL tests) from the tap with a Teledyne Water Pik filter built into the spout.

Durability
Look for durable construction on both the inside and outside of the faucet. The valve is the most important moving part, so buy one that's going to last. Professional plumbers recommend either a ceramic disc valve or a cartridge valve, both of which have far fewer tiny parts than old - style valves.

The ceramic parts of a ceramic disc valve are very durable, but the rubber O - rings and sealing parts can fail over time and need repair. However, manufacturers are working to improve these components. Price Pfister's Pforever Seal, for instance, is a ceramic disc valve guaranteed against leaks and drips for life.

One - piece washerless cartridge valves from Moen and Elkay eliminate washers and seats, a common cause of drips. Moen's cartridges are guaranteed for life for the original owner. However, if one breaks down, even an unhandy homeowner can install the replacement. You just pull out the retaining clip, remove the old cartridge and snap the new one into place.

New technology borrowed from the aerospace industry now makes outside finishes more scratch - resistant than untreated brass or chrome. PVD (physical vapor deposition) coatings are bonded directly to the outer surfaces of fixtures through molecular adhesion. Parts are bombarded with charged atoms that bond layers of metal to the faucet body. The result is a deep - luster finish that is as durable and easy to maintain as chrome but comes in different colors. Moen's LifeShine, Price Pfister's Pforever Pfinish, Delta's Brilliance and Kohler's Vibrant finish are all PVD coatings guaranteed not to scratch, dull or tarnish during the life of the faucet.

Sources

- NSF International, Ann Arbor, MI, www.nsf.org
- Peerless/Delta, Indianapolis, IN, (800) 438 - 6673, www.peerless-faucet.com
- Price Pfister, Pacoima, CA, (800) 732 - 8238, www.pricepfister.com

- American Standard, Piscataway, NJ, (800) 524 - 9797, www.americanstandard.com
- Elkay, Oak Brook, IL, (630) 574 - 8484, www.elkay.com
- Grohe, Bloomingdale, IL, (630) 582 - 7711, www.groheamerica.com

- Kohler (includes Sterling Plumbing), Kohler, WI, (800) 456 - 4537, www.kohlerco.com

- Moen, North Olmstead, OH, (800) 289 - 6636, www.moen.com