Kitchen Taps: Monobloc, Pull-Out Spray, and Instant Hot Water Tap Installation Guide

Choosing a kitchen tap starts with the sink, the available space and the water system—not appearance alone. A straightforward monobloc can suit an everyday replacement, while a pull-out model gives extra reach for rinsing. Compare the three in-stock options below, then confirm the dimensions, pressure requirements and connections for the installation before ordering.

Shop kitchen mixer taps

RAK Ceramics Pull Out Kitchen Sink Mixer Tap

A chrome, brass tap with a pull-out spout for added reach, plus ceramic-disc technology and quarter-turn operation. A useful option for washing and rinsing in a larger kitchen sink.

Shop the RAK Ceramics pull-out kitchen tap

KeyPlumb Contract Monobloc Kitchen Sink Mixer Tap

A chrome contract-quality monobloc with easy single-lever operation. The product information identifies the HS17N as WRAS approved for potable-water use, making it the option here with a stated WRAS claim.

Shop the KeyPlumb WRAS monobloc tap

Plan Kitchen Sink Mixer Tap

A contemporary chrome deck-mounted mixer with a stick lever and tubular spout. Its listed dimensions are 348 mm high, 232 mm from base to spout and 238 mm from inlet centre to outlet centre; fixings are included.

Shop the Plan kitchen mixer tap

Which kitchen tap suits the job?

Choose the RAK Ceramics pull-out mixer where extra reach is the priority. Its movable spout can make it easier to direct water around a larger bowl, but the retracting hose and counterweight need unobstructed space below the sink.

The KeyPlumb HS17N is the conventional contract monobloc choice in this selection. Its single lever controls the mixed supply, and its product listing specifically states WRAS approval for potable water.

The Plan mixer offers a tall, contemporary profile. Use its published dimensions to check clearance below a window, shelf or wall unit and to confirm that the spout will discharge into a suitable part of the bowl.

Check compatibility before buying

• Mounting: identify whether the existing installation is deck-mounted and measure the tap hole and mounting surface. Do not assume every monobloc uses the same hole diameter or fixing arrangement.
• Worktop and sink depth: check that the threaded fixing and supplied hardware can accommodate the mounting thickness, and that a reinforcing plate or tap brace is fitted where a thin stainless-steel sink flexes.
• Pressure: confirm the available hot and cold dynamic pressure against the current manufacturer’s technical information. The verified product data used for this guide does not provide a numerical pressure range for these taps; the Plan listing expressly directs buyers to its technical drawing for pressure details.
• Connections: inspect the existing pipework and verify the tap-tail type, thread and required adaptors from the current instructions. No tail or inlet connection sizes are stated in the verified listings used here, so do not order connectors by assumption.
• Balanced supplies: large differences between hot and cold pressure can affect mixer performance. Check the system arrangement and follow the tap manufacturer’s limits.
• Below-sink clearance: allow room for isolation valves, tails, waste fittings and storage. For the RAK pull-out model, keep the hose and any counterweight clear throughout their full movement.

Safe fitting sequence

1. Read the instructions first. Confirm the product specification, required tools, mounting arrangement and any manufacturer-specific flushing or commissioning steps.
2. Isolate and prove. Close the appropriate hot and cold isolation valves, open the old tap and confirm flow has stopped. If valves do not shut off reliably, isolate farther upstream and remedy them before continuing.
3. Protect the area. Clear the cupboard, disconnect electrical appliances in the work zone where appropriate, place a tray below the connections and protect the sink or worktop.
4. Remove and inspect. Disconnect the old tails, release the fixing and clean the mounting area. Check the sink, hole and pipework for corrosion, damage, movement or sharp edges.
5. Fit without twisting. Install seals and fixings in the stated order. Keep flexible tails free from kinks, tension and sharp bends; do not twist them while tightening. Never use a flexible connector to compensate for badly aligned pipework.
6. Connect correctly. Keep hot and cold feeds in their specified positions and use only compatible valves, adaptors and sealing methods. Do not apply sealing tape where the connection seals on a washer or O-ring unless the manufacturer specifically requires it.
7. Flush and commission. Follow the manufacturer’s flushing procedure, restore each supply slowly and operate the tap across its range. Check every joint under static and flowing conditions, then recheck after the cupboard has been dried.

Important cautions

Never drill a sink or worktop until the template, tap body, services below and manufacturer’s instructions have all been checked. Stone, composite, ceramic and glass surfaces can require specialist tooling or fabrication; an error can permanently damage the surface. Avoid overtightening the tap fixing, which can distort a metal sink or damage a brittle worktop.

WRAS status should not be inferred from appearance or tap type. In this selection, only the KeyPlumb listing makes a WRAS approval claim. The RAK Ceramics and Plan listings used for this article do not state WRAS approval, so no such claim is made for them.

This guide covers the three standard mixer products shown above, not boiling-water or instant-hot-water systems. Those appliances have additional electrical, ventilation, pressure and safety requirements and must be installed strictly to their own instructions by appropriately competent people.

Order your kitchen tap from APM

Compare the RAK Ceramics pull-out mixer, KeyPlumb WRAS monobloc and Plan kitchen mixer online. Check the current product page and technical documentation before purchase, particularly where pressure, hole size or connection details determine compatibility.

Need help choosing? Visit APM Plumbing & Electrical, 24 Western Avenue, Acton, W3 7TZ, or call 020 8702 8080.