Glossary of Terms

AERATOR – A device normally placed at the end of the spout on a faucet and designed to introduce a mixture of air to the water stream.  Its intended function is to produce a nearly splashless straight or “clean” stream.

BAR FAUCET – A smaller overall size faucet intended to be used with smaller bar or prep sinks.  Waterstone Bar Faucets do not have the ability to be used with a side spray.

CERAMIC DISC CARTRIDGE – A high quality replaceable valve that typically uses two ported ceramic discs to open, close, and/or mix the flow of water in a faucet body.  These valves are characterized by their long and reliable service life.

CHECK VALVE – This is a small device that will allow water to flow in one direction, but not in the opposite direction.

CLEAR COATING – A clear protective coating that is sprayed on the outside of a fixtures finish and used to seal and protect the fixture.

CONNECTION HOSE – The hose that connects the faucet to the hot or cold water sources.

DISTRESSED FINISH – This refers to an accelerated aging process which Waterstone Faucets puts newly manufactured parts through to create the outward appearance of a product that has survived years of aging and use.  This aging process is done in a controlled manner by mechanically marring, nicking and scratching the external surfaces.  All internal functional areas remain new, ready for years of continual service.  All of our distressed finishes are sealed with an outside clear coat to protect the look of the finish.

FILTRATION FAUCET – A drinking water faucet specifically designed to be used with water filtration systems.  Typically a smaller faucet that is intended for low pressure water delivery.

GANTRY® FAUCET – “Gantry” is a trademarked name for the Waterstone Faucets culinary kitchen or pre-rinse faucet.  This faucet’s trademarked name was derived from the working Gantry crane’s range of motion and distinctive look.

HOT TANK – A small water heating tank designed to be used with a vented filtration faucet and able to deliver hot water temperatures within a limited capacity.

LIVING FINISH – A finish that will change over time as it is exposed to oxidation and usage.  This is a natural finish that is not protected with any type of external or clear coating.  Not considered a durable finish and is easily scratched or marred.

MULTI-STAGE FILTRATION SYSTEM – Our filtration system has three separate filter sections all encapsulated in one easily replaceable sealed cartridge.  Each step or “stage” of the filtration process is designed to remove a different level of water contaminate.  The first two “stages” are considered pre-filters and the third “stage” is a Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) filter designed to be the final trap for most of what is experienced in municipal water systems.

PATINA – The external layer of oxidation that naturally occurs on the surface of the base metal.  Metals react differently due to time frames and chemicals designed to accelerate this natural process which creates a variety of colors and hues that result in a living finish.

POTFILLER – A faucet that is specifically designed to be mounted above (wall-mounted) or beside (deck-mounted) the kitchen stove top in order to deliver water directly to a cook pot or pan on the cooking surface.  This faucet is usually a single handle cold water only fixture.

POWDER COATING – This is a type of decorative finish that is electro-statically painted on to the surface of the parts and subsequently baked on and “cured” in a commercial oven.

PREP FAUCET – A full size faucet that has a shorter reach spout to accommodate smaller prep and bar sinks.  All Waterstone Prep Faucets have the distinction of being able to be used with a side spray.

PRE-RINSE FAUCET – This faucet is borne from commercial kitchen use.  It has found its way into residential culinary kitchens and incorporates an attached hanging spray (in addition to the normal faucet spout) that is used for “pre-rinsing” cookware, dishware, and utensils in the cleaning process.

PRV – The Waterstone Faucets Pressure Regulating Valve is an inline valve that mechanically reduces a higher pressure of water coming from the house source down to a maximum of 60 psi or lower.  This valve is used to protect the Waterstone Faucets Hot Tank from excessive household water pressure damage.

PVD – This is a highly durable external finish coating placed on top of chrome or satin chrome substrate finish.  PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition.  A durable material like zirconium is vaporized in a vacuum chamber and electrically charged to be attracted to the surface of a part.  During this process a combination of gases are released into the chamber and the result is a colorizing of the newly formed outer finish layer.

SAFETY VALVE/LEAK DETECTOR – This automatic on/off device is designed with a sensor that can detect the presence of water in the base of the kitchen sink or vanity cabinet floor.  When connected to a Waterstone Faucets Insta-Hot or Filtration Faucet when the unit detects moisture, the valve is automatically closed shutting down the flow of water to the faucet to prevent any further leaking or possible damage.  Additionally, the unit sounds an audible alarm (like a smoke alarm) to further advise of a water leakage issue.  The valve doubles as a manual shut-off valve to facilitate the change of a filter cartridge for the Waterstone Faucets filtration system.

VENTED FAUCET – Sometimes called a “three line” faucet, this type of faucet is designed to work with inline devices like Waterstone Faucets Hot Tanks that cannot handle full inline pressure.  The on and off valve is placed in front of the device and the water is routed through the device in the vented “loop” and returned back up through the end of the spout.  This assures the inline device is always open to ambient or atmospheric pressure (i.e. “vented”).