Kitchens
CHANGING A TAP CAN MAKE A KITCHEN MORE ECO-FRIENDLY AND ENERGY SAVING With spending so much more time at home in recent months, consumers are evaluating their homes and things they would like to change. Many are interested in ways to make their kitchens more ecofriendly, more efficient and more cost effective to run. This doesn’t necessarily mean ripping out the kitchen and starting again but looking at smaller changes such as swapping out the kitchen tap for a filter or instant boiling water model. Both are quick and easy to install and can be retro-fitted into existing tap holes, giving homeowners a range of benefits. Retro-fits also give the installer a great opportunity for some extra work as well as the potential to widen their customer base with homeowners who may wish to do larger projects in the future.
Franke’s Minerva Electronic 4-in-1 tap
Filter and feel good Filter taps have been around for a while but there is a much wider range of styles and finishes to suit everyone’s home – from traditional to contemporary. Filtration technology has also improved and premium tap models, such as Franke’s Vital and Filterflow ranges, will guarantee a fresher, purer tasting healthy water. A filter will remove impurities, odour, rust sediments and in some cases microplastics, while leaving in all the healthy minerals. They will also make a household far more eco-friendly since there is no need to buy water in plastic bottles that can end up in oceans, landfill or be incinerated. This also makes them a great money saver too when you consider that a bottle of branded water can cost anything between
80p- £1.40 a go. A household of regular bottle drinkers can save hundreds of pounds every year. Installing a filter tap is quick and easy to do. In the majority of models, there’s a filter cartridge sited in the cabinet under the sink. Franke’s premium Vital Capsule differs with a unique design where everything sits above the worksurface making installation even easier using the standard hot and cold mains, while also saving valuable cupboard space. The all-in-one design makes it easy for the consumer to operate day to day and to change the tiny filter cartridge. A discreet LED tells the user when it’s ready to change, twist the capsule open and pop in a new one in less than 30 seconds.
Boiling water in an instant For those with a kettle, it has probably never been more in use given the home-working, schooling, cooking and generally spending more time at home. Kettles are often overfilled, boiled and re-boiled time and again, wasting energy and money. Many people are also in the habit of tipping boiled water away and starting afresh each time which wastes water and can tick up on the smart meter. Installing an instant boiling water tap will help with all of these issues because you only ever use the exact amount of water needed for the task in hand, whether that’s making a cuppa, getting a pan on the boil quickly or sterilising items in an instant. They greatly enhance speed and convenience and they are much quieter to operate. While they cost more to buy, an instant boiling tap is an investment that will pay off over time for its daily user benefits, reduced water wastage and more considered energy consumption.
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Installing an instant boiling water tap is also a straightforward task. Franke offers a range of options in 3in1, 4in1, mechanical or electronic functionality across its Omni and Minerva ranges and they can be up and running quickly. The Minerva range features the innovative M-Box system that simplifies installation with no single parts, just one compact box containing Franke Pro M filter, inlet combination, mixing valve set, gasket set and control box. The box has the flexibility to be fitted horizontally or vertically depending on the space available in the cupboard and only requires two drill holes. The tap hoses are different sizes and colour coded, fitting into matching holes in the box for a fool-proof job with few tools needed. t: 0161 436 6280 www.franke.co.uk
