Brass Pot Fillers: Are They Worth It, and How to Install One

A pot filler is a faucet that lives above or beside the stove, so you can fill heavy pots right where you cook. In unlacquered brass it is also one of the most beautiful details in a kitchen, especially under a brass range hood.

Is a pot filler worth it?

A pot filler is worth it if you:

• Cook pasta, stock or soup often and are tired of carrying full pots from the sink.
• Have a large range or a long walk between sink and stove.
• Are already opening the wall behind the range during a renovation (it is much cheaper to add then).
• Want a focal point above the stove. Even switched off, a brass pot filler draws the eye.

It is probably not worth it if your sink is right next to the cooktop, or if running a water line to the range wall would mean major demolition.

Wall-mount vs deck-mount

• Wall-mounted pot fillers are the most common. They fold flat against the backsplash when not in use and swing out over the burners. Examples: the Brass Pot Filler Faucet, the Sartinia and the antique traditional pot filler.
• Deck-mounted (standing) pot fillers rise from the countertop beside the range. They suit islands and kitchens where the wall behind the range is a window or has no space. See the unlacquered brass standing pot filler.

How high should a pot filler be?

The spout has to clear your tallest stockpot. A common approach is to mount the water outlet so the spout sits roughly 20 to 24 inches above the cooktop, but measure your own tallest pot and add a few inches. If you have a range hood, also check that the pot filler can fold away below it.

Where to place it

• Centered over the range is the classic, symmetrical look.
• Over the back burners is the most practical, since that is where large pots usually sit.
• Check that the extended arm reaches the burners you use most.

What your plumber needs to know

• Cold water only. Pot fillers run on a single cold line; you heat the water on the stove.
• A line to the range wall. The plumber runs a supply line inside the wall to the outlet height you choose. Many local codes also expect an accessible shut-off.
• Two controls on the faucet. Most pot fillers have a valve at the wall and another at the end of the spout, so you can turn water on and off right at the pot.
• Flow rate. Pot fillers fill fast; our wall-mounted Brass Pot Filler is rated at 4.6 GPM at 60 PSI.

Living with unlacquered brass above the stove

Heat, steam and splashes speed up the patina, so a pot filler usually darkens faster than a sink faucet. That is part of the charm. Wipe off grease with warm, soapy water and dry it. If you want it bright again, use a brass polish once the metal is cool.

Pair it with

• A matching unlacquered brass kitchen faucet at the sink. Read our kitchen faucet buying guide.
• A brass range hood above, for the full old-world cooking wall.

Frequently asked questions

Does a pot filler need hot water?

No. Pot fillers are designed for cold water only.

Can a pot filler leak when it is folded?

With two shut-off valves, water stays in the arm only when both are open. Close the wall valve after use and it cannot drip.

Is a pot filler hard to clean?

No harder than a faucet. Grease is the main thing to wipe off, and solid brass handles cleaning far better than plated finishes.

Browse every unlacquered brass kitchen faucet and pot filler, all solid lead-free brass with free FedEx shipping in the U.S. and Canada.