Photography: Brigid Arnott
You’re probably seen them everywhere. Hanging on the splash-back behind ovens, the coveted pot filler taps are a certain feature that instantly make a kitchen feel luxurious.
They’re installed on the wall above or behind a cooktop, allowing you to fill your large pots with water right at the stove, exactly where you plan to cook, eliminating the need to carry a heavy, water-filled pot from the sink to stove.
It’s completely practical. It looks stunning. And, there is something undeniable about the luxury it adds to a kitchen.
But is a pot filler actually worth installing?
NEED TO KNOW
- What exactly is a pot filler tap?
- Why are pot fillers suddenly everywhere?
- The biggest benefit of installing a pot filler
- What does a pot filler actually cost?
- The argument against pot fillers
Adding one to your kitchen requires additional plumbing that allows a water source above your stove.
And, some may make the case of what happens to the heavy pot after you’ve finished cooking with it, because inevitably, you still need to carry it to the sink.
Luli Farrell, Co-Founder and Creative Director at ABI Interiors makes a good case for it though, saying that, “once the meal is finished, the remaining water has often reduced significantly through boiling, or the pot contains food rather than simply litres of water.”
Before adding one to your renovation wishlist, here’s what you need to know.
What exactly is a pot filler tap?
A pot-filler is a wall-mounted tap that is installed above or close to a cooktop. Most designs feature a long, articulated arm that folds against the wall neatly when it isn’t being used. It extends over the cooktop to reach whichever pot needs filling.
Traditionally, pot fillers have been found in commercial kitchens, for practicality purposes. But like most things that may start commercially, they have found their way into residential homes, becoming a luxury addition instead of simply a practical one.
It’s a simple purpose: saving someone from carrying a heavy pot of water awkwardly from the sink to the stove.
And, for anyone who is regularly cooking, especially pastas, soups and stocks – or large family meals in bulk – the convenience is extremely appealing.
But increasingly, the pot filler is serving another purpose. Available in finishes ranging from brushed nickel and chrome to aged brass and matte black, it has also become a small but striking kitchen design feature.
“Homeowners are investing more in kitchens that not only perform well but also feel highly considered, and pot fillers have become part of that conversation.”
-Luli Farrell, Co-Founder and Creative Director, ABI Interiors
Why are pot fillers suddenly everywhere?
Spend enough time looking at beautiful kitchens and you will start noticing them.
Part of their appeal has become undeniably about their aesthetic. The beautifully designed tap can act like a stunning piece of jewellery for the kitchen.
Then there is the allure of the feature that makes one start imagining life with one. The convenience, the look, the bragging rights. After all, true luxury in the home isn’t always about having more space or spending more money. Often, it’s about removing tiny inconveniences from everyday life.
Much like underfloor heating, integrated appliances or a boiling-water tap, a pot filler solves a problem that you may not have once considered solving.
That might just be why people want them so bad.
The biggest benefit of installing a pot filler
The obvious is always convenience.
Large pots filled with water can be surprisingly heavy, and carrying them across a kitchen can be awkward. Particularly in large spaces where the sink and cooktop are positioned some distance apart.
It can also provide useful in busy kitchens, allowing one person to access water at the stove while someone else is using the sink.
“Families, keen home cooks, entertainers, and anyone who often uses large pots are likely to appreciate the convenience most,” says Luli.
“They’re also beneficial from an accessibility perspective. Reducing the need to lift and carry heavy pots of water can make cooking more comfortable for older homeowners or anyone with reduced strength or mobility,” Luli says.
What does a pot filler actually cost?
The average price for the pit filler hardware can range between $200-$2,000.
Installing a pot filler typically costs between $660 and $2,700+ in total, depending on whether you are retrofitting an existing kitchen or building new. This breaks down to $150 to $1,000+ for the faucet itself, and $500 to $1,700 for plumbing labour to run fresh water lines to the stove.
Instead of simply budgeting for the tap itself, homeowners need to think about the entire installation. The biggest cost difference comes down to when you install it.
| If you’re building or renovating | If you’re retrofitting later |
| Plumbing can be run before walls are sheeted and splashbacks installed, making labour simpler and less expensive. | Walls often need to be opened to run new pipework, with the splashback removed and replaced afterwards. |
| Easier to position the plumbing exactly where it’s needed. | Existing cabinetry, electrical wiring and rangehoods can limit placement. |
| Waterproofing and wall penetrations can be planned from the outset. | Stone, porcelain or tiled splashbacks may need to be cut or replaced if damaged during installation. |
| Usually the most cost-effective time to install one. | Can become a surprisingly expensive upgrade because of the surrounding repair work rather than the tap itself. |
Is it the ultimate kitchen luxury?
Perhaps!
When Home Beautiful spoke to interior designer Neale Whitaker about the features worth considering during a renovation, he described underfloor heating as a luxury he would encourage anyone to install if the opportunity arose. A pot filler occupies similar territory.
If it isn’t something that is completely essential, then it definitely falls into ‘luxury’. The best luxury features often aren’t necessities. They’re small additions that make everyday rituals easier or more enjoyable.
The difference between underfloor heating and pot fillers is how frequently you’re likely to use them. Someone who is cooking pasta twice a week, makes their own stocks, and regularly feeds larger families may quickly wonder how they ever lived without one.
However, someone whose idea of cooking dinner involved cracking out the air fryer may find themselves with a very beautiful, very expensive tap collecting dust above the stove..
The argument against pot fillers
Here’s when it gets interesting. For all their benefits, pot fillers have one rather glaring design flaw. You’re only solving half the problem.
You can still fill a heavy pot with water directly on the stove. But once you’ve finished cooking, you’ll still need to carry that pot, which is now potentially filled with boiling water, to the sink to drain it.
Then there is also the plumbing issue.
Unlike a kitchen tap which is positioned over a sink, there is generally no drain underneath a pot filler. If the tap leaks, drips, or is accidentally left running, that water has obviously nowhere to go.
A leak concealed within the wall can also potentially cause damage before the problem becomes immediately visible.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t install one. But it does make the quality of the tap, plumbing and installation particularly important.
Luli agrees that a pot filler won’t exactly eliminate every movement associated with cooking, but : “it removes arguably the most awkward one: carrying a full pot of cold water before you’ve even started cooking. Once the meal is finished, the remaining water has often reduced significantly through boiling, or the pot contains food rather than simply litres of water.”
“Like many kitchen features, pot fillers aren’t intended to solve every problem. They’re designed to make one specific part of the cooking process easier, and for people who cook regularly, that improvement can be worthwhile.”
Do people have pot filler regret?
Like many luxury kitchen features, the answer largely depends on how you live. The homeowners most likely to regret installing a pot filler are arguably those who fall in love with the look without considering whether they’ll actually use it.
If you rarely boil large pots of water, have a small kitchen where the sink is already within easy reach of the stove, or are trying to keep renovation costs under control, the money may be better spent elsewhere.
There’s also more to consider than the cost of the tap itself. Depending on the design and stage of your renovation, installing a pot filler may require additional plumbing within the wall, waterproofing considerations and careful planning around the splashback.
Adding one during the early stages of a new kitchen build or major renovation is likely to be considerably easier than retrofitting one later.
Before deciding, ask yourself one very simple question: how often will I actually use it?
A beautiful kitchen should be designed around the people who live in it, not simply around the features currently appearing in other people’s homes.
What should you know before installing a pot filler?
If you’ve decided you want one, planning is essential. The position of the tap needs to work with your cooktop, cabinetry and splashback, while the height and reach of the fixture should allow you to comfortably fill the pots you actually use.
You’ll also need to consider the tapware finish and how it relates to other fixtures throughout the kitchen.
Matching your pot filler to your kitchen tap is the obvious approach, but it isn’t the only one. In the right space, the fixture can become a subtle statement of its own.
Most importantly, involve your plumber and kitchen designer early in the renovation process rather than treating a pot filler as a last-minute addition.
“A pot filler should always be installed by a licensed plumber, and it’s worth investing in a model with durable internal components, such as a high-quality ceramic cartridge, to support long-term performance and minimise the risk of leaks.”
Luli Farrell, Co-Founder and Creative Director, ABI Interiors
Our verdict: luxury or unnecessary extra?
A pot filler tap is not going to transform the way everyone uses their kitchen. But perhaps that isn’t the point. The most successful homes aren’t necessarily filled with every possible feature. They’re filled with thoughtful additions that make sense for the people living there.
For passionate cooks and busy households, being able to fill a large pot directly on the stove could be one of those small conveniences that quickly becomes indispensable.
For everyone else? It may simply be a very beautiful way to add another tap to clean. And considering there’s still no pot filler to carry the boiling water back to the sink, we’d suggest thinking carefully before calling this particular kitchen luxury a must-have.
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