Ask a plumber: Advice on stainless steel kitchen sinks
Q: I have always liked the look and practicality of stainless steel kitchen sinks. Now that I am moving into my own home I want to change out the old sink and install a new stainless steel sink. Since I have chosen my sink material, please give me some tips on what to look for in a quality stainless steel sink?
Joy, New Jersey
A: Stainless steel sinks do offer a lot of advantages and because of the lighter weight material, installation can be a little easier.
look for high quality heavier-gauge models. Stay away from thinly pressed sinks that feel light and tinny. Basically, don’t buy according to low price; buy according to high quality.
Now for a couple of extra nice features to look for that not every stainless steel sink may have:
▪ Sound absorption technology. These sinks are engineered to reduce the noise from garbage disposers and dishwasher draining to help quiet your kitchen.
▪ Scratch-resistant coating. These specially coated stainless steel sinks offer a scratch-resistant layer of protection to preserve their new look. Keeping that new look is easy. Usually a damp sponge can wipe away any evidence of an older looking sink.
Master contractor and plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of the book “Ed Del Grande’s House Call” and the host of TV and Internet shows. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eadelg@cs.com.
This story was originally published December 24, 2014 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Ask a plumber: Advice on stainless steel kitchen sinks."