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Your kitchen is supposed to be the most functional room in the entire household, as a place where you prepare food on a daily basis. It’s also where you brew your coffee, which is why, it’s probably the place that you spend the most time in, before going to work.
However, keeping kitchen plumbing and appliances functional is definitely not a simple thing. Knowing how to select the right appliance, how to properly budget these acquisitions, as well as how to properly tend to appliances and infrastructure of your kitchen is not a simple task because everything seems to somehow turn into a kitchen remodeling project!
With that in mind and without further ado, here’s the ultimate guide to kitchen plumbing and appliances that you should take into consideration.
1. A Buying Guide
The first thing you need to do is make a list of all the appliances that you need (kitchen basics) and see how they fit your budget. From here, you have two options, in a scenario where you’re in a surplus. You can either pick a more expensive appliance or two or, you can consider doing something different. For instance, you could buy a more powerful rang hood or get yourself a wine cooler.
Other than this, you can also go for a freestanding oven instead of its more traditional alternative. All in all, this is where the functionality of your kitchen is getting determined.
2. The Infrastructure
When speaking about the infrastructure, there are three things to take into consideration. The first one is the availability of space that you have available. The second one is the layout, which will probably be determined by your plumbing. The sink needs to be hooked to the plumbing system, which is why its position is predetermined.
The quality of your plumbing infrastructure will determine the difficulty of plumbing maintenance in the future. According to numerous guides, the fridge and the oven should never go next to one another. Seeing as how the range hood goes above the oven, it seems as if the layout itself is more or less settled.
3. Energy-Efficiency
The next thing you need to consider is the energy-efficiency of your kitchen. The oven, the fridge, the dishwasher and even the small appliances like the coffee maker can be quite power-hungry.
This is why going for a greener option might make a world of difference. It will help you turn your household into a greener environment and it will reduce the cost of your utility bill. It is a clear and undeniable win-win scenario.
You can also go with a far more reliable plumbing system and look for a low-flow faucet above your sink. This way you get the best of both worlds.
4. The Maintenance
The choice of appliances also determines the maintenance of the area, which is something you should keep in mind from the very start. Every small appliance will gather dust and, although small, it probably won’t be so simple to move. After use, each of them will require a cleaning process and once you go for enough of these appliances, this might add up. In the end, you can finish with a surprisingly large amount of work at hand.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, you need to find a way to look at your kitchen as part of your household. As a homeowner, you have to endure responsibilities, not merely enjoy the privileges. How expensive is your kitchen? What kind of costs does it produce on a monthly basis? How hard it is to keep it clean and hygienic? These are just some of the questions that you will have to find an answer to.
Ayla Anderson is an avid reader and an enthusiastic blogger who writes articles on home improvement, business, Family and beauty. She is also an MBA student who spends much of her time giving advice to newly small businesses on how to grow their businesses. You can follow her on Twitter.