As with any fixture, not everyone is going to like the look of the 4353-DST by Delta. Style is largely a matter of personal preference, and homeowners also have to take the rest of their kitchen décor into account. But it is possible to speak objectively about this faucet’s good and bad points when it comes to function.
Features
This pull-out faucet is part of Delta’s Linden Collection. It is a one-handled medium-sized faucet with a simple straightforward style.
According to Delta, the minimalist style of this faucet is inspired by the linden tree. For some, the style may be so minimalist as to be completely uninspiring. In my opinion, the Venetian Bronze finish (4353-RB-DST) best suits this particular faucet, rather than the stainless steel finish (4353-SS-DST). Again, this is just a matter of personal taste.
My favorite thing about this model is its in-between size: it’s 8 inches tall, 10 inches long and 5 ¾ inches from aerator to deck level. The height of the handle is 11.4 inches. Some home chefs may prefer a much higher arc, especially if they often have enormous pots and pans to wash and fill. For most of us, it’s not really needed. The spout can swivel 120 degrees, making it easy to move the faucet out of your way when necessary.
Another good feature of this faucet is its spray hose – at 59 inches long, that’s more than just medium-sized. This is a decent length and will allow you to use the spray wand to fill pots on your countertop. The wand pulls out easily, unlike many models with under-the-sink counterweights.
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More Details
This Delta faucet has another great feature – multiflow. You can choose whether you want it to deliver 1.5 or 2.0 gallons per minute, both in spray and in stream modes.
Most of us are interested in water conservation, which is why it’s great to have a lower flow rate option. But when you’re filling a large pot, conservation isn’t an issue, and the slow rate of flow can be annoying and frustrating. It’s great to have a faucet that lets you choose.
Pressure and flow rate are not exactly the same thing, but they are related. This faucet has a flow rate of 1.5 GPM if the pressure is 60 PSI. There are times when you will prefer to have a lower flow rate, such as when you want to prevent the water from splashing while you are using the faucet. The diamond-coated valve works smoothly to help you maintain precise control.
Pull-Out Spray Wand
I have to say that I’m not impressed with the spray wand itself, even though it has good and bad points.
There’s nothing wrong with how it works. It’s even easy to switch back and forth between stream and spray. And when you set one of these options, it automatically keeps that setting until you change it back. In my case, I prefer the ones that switch back to stream automatically as soon as you let go of the button, but many people disagree with me.
The worst thing about this sprayer is that it’s made of plastic. Some people may like the fact that it’s light-weight, but I would prefer it to be made of metal, since the rest of the faucet is metal. Again, to each his own. If your hand tends to get tired using a heavier spray wand, you may prefer this one.
Touch20
Touch20, Delta’s touch-sensitive technology, is something that you’ll either love or hate. I personally love it. I think it’s great to be able to turn on the water just by tapping the handle or spout with my forearm or wrist, particularly if my hands are dirty or wet. Some people enjoy the novelty of it for a little while but decide that it’s not worth the trouble after a while.
To be fair, there are some drawbacks to the touch technology. It uses electricity, so you must keep it supplied with six AA batteries. How often you have to change the batteries varies according to what brand of batteries you use, how much you use the faucet and even the temperature of your kitchen.
I really can’t blame people for balking at the idea of having yet another gadget that uses batteries. This model, the 4353T (that T in the model number is important) has a really big drawback: if your batteries die, you can’t use the faucet at all. Fortunately an LED indicator near the faucet’s base lets you know when your batteries are getting dangerously low so that this doesn’t happen to you.
It is possible to bypass the touch feature. If you take the electronic module out of the valve solenoid, or just bypass it completely during installation, you can deactivate this feature. If those last 2 sentences didn’t make any sense to you, you might be better off not bothering with this particular sub-model.
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Installation
Installing this faucet is pretty easy, whether you choose the standard 4353 or the Touch model. The Touch one involves an extra step or two, but it still isn’t difficult and after all, installation is something you only have to do once.
But you may notice that some parts of the faucet are on the flimsy side. The feeding hose has a plastic connector that you plug in rather than twist on, and the clip holding it in place is also plastic. You don’t get the feeling of something that’s really built to last. The hot and cold undersink hoses are also made of vinyl rather than braided steel. It’s true that vinyl is used a lot in plumbing now, so these parts may be durable enough. But I can’t help getting the impression that this model is low-end, even though the price suggests otherwise.
Overall
The Delta 4353-DST is an okay-looking faucet, with a mixture of pros and cons when it comes to features and function. The spray wand works well, but it’s plastic. The multiflow option is a definite plus. The Touch20 technology functions well in the 4353T-DST but needs to be provided with working batteries at all times. The diamond sealed valve is top-notch, but the same can’t be said for the undersink components.
A decent enough faucet, but nothing outstanding.