If you’ve stepped into a modern Sydney kitchen lately — especially in a newly renovated home, a luxury apartment, or a designer duplex — you’ve probably seen a touchless faucet quietly showing off like the kitchen’s own little piece of futuristic magic. It waves its sensor around, lights up, turns on when you move your hand, and shuts off like a well-trained kitchen assistant.
But the big question Sydney homeowners keep asking before a renovation is:
“Are touchless kitchen faucets actually practical, or are they just a fancy gimmick?”
The short answer? They’re incredibly practical for most Sydney kitchens — and once you get one, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. But let’s break it all down properly so you can decide if one belongs in your renovation.
What Is a Touchless Kitchen Faucet?
A touchless faucet (also called a motion-sensor tap or hands-free faucet) operates without physically touching the handle. Instead, it uses a sensor — infrared, motion or proximity — that turns the water on and off automatically.
Some modern units even include:
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Digital temperature control
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LED indicators
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Pull-out spray heads
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Water flow adjustment
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Voice-activated options
Think of it as the kitchen equivalent of trading your old flip phone for a smartphone. Both can make calls, but only one makes life easier.
Why Touchless Faucets Are Becoming Popular in Sydney
Sydney homeowners love convenience, hygiene and modern design — and touchless faucets check every box. They’re especially popular in homes where the kitchen is the “hero” of the living space.
Popular reasons include:
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Open-plan kitchens needing cleaner, smarter fixtures
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Families wanting better hygiene
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Busy households needing one-handed or no-hands operation
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Stylish design that fits luxury renovations
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Water efficiency (very important with NSW water bills)
Sydney kitchens are getting smarter, sleeker and easier to use — and touchless faucets fit perfectly into that trend.
Practical Benefits of Touchless Kitchen Faucets
Let’s dive into whether they’re genuinely practical or just a fancy tech upgrade you use for two weeks and forget about. Spoiler alert: they’re practical in more ways than most people realise.
1. Hygiene: The Hero Feature
Imagine this:
You’re cutting raw chicken. Your hands look like you’ve just committed a crime scene. Normally, you’d grab the tap handle and contaminate everything.
But with a touchless faucet?
Wave your hand. Water flows. Hands clean. Bacteria contained. Kitchen safe.
This is why families with kids, elderly residents, pets, and busy cooking routines love touchless taps.
They help prevent:
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Cross-contamination
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Bacteria spread
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Sticky fingerprints
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Grease smears
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Food residue on handles
In a kitchen renovation, improved hygiene isn’t just practical — it’s smart and genuinely life-changing.
Practicality Score: Huge win.
2. Water Savings (Very Important in Sydney)
The sensor only turns on when needed and shuts off automatically. This prevents:
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Leaving the tap running
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Wasting water while washing dishes
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Forgetting to turn off the faucet mid-chaos
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Kids accidentally leaving the tap on
Considering Sydney water costs, this adds up to serious savings over time. Many touchless taps can reduce water usage by up to 50% during typical kitchen tasks.
Practicality Score: Big savings = big practicality.
3. Convenience: The Everyday Game Changer
Need to fill a pot while holding it?
Wave your hand. Done.
Hands dirty from cooking?
Wave your hand. Clean.
Got dough, marinade, or oil everywhere?
Wave your hand. No mess on your fixtures.
Touchless taps shine during:
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Meal prepping
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Baking
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Cooking for kids
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Cleaning up big messes
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Managing multiple tasks at once
One of the biggest compliments homeowners give is:
“I didn’t realise how much I needed this until I had it.”
Practicality Score: Extremely high.
4. Great for Busy Sydney Families
If your kitchen sees more chaos than Central Station during peak hour, a touchless faucet will feel like a blessing.
Perfect for families that:
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Cook often
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Have young children
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Have pets that jump onto the sink (you know who you are)
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Regularly host gatherings
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Prepare meals quickly after work
It reduces accidental mess, cleans hands faster, and saves time — especially in the dinner rush.
Practicality Score: Ideal for modern family life.
5. Cleaner, More Minimalist Kitchen Design
Sydney homeowners LOVE clean, minimalist kitchen design — especially in:
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New duplexes
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High-end renovations
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Inner-city apartments
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Luxury homes on the Northern Beaches or Eastern Suburbs
Touchless faucets enhance that look with:
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Sleek lines
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Fewer visible controls
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Stainless steel or matte finishes
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Modern aesthetics
And because no one is constantly touching it, it stays shiny much longer.
Practicality Score: Stylish practicality.
6. Lower Cleaning and Maintenance Effort
No more fingerprints. No more grime around the handle. No baked-on sauces. No sticky residue. A touchless faucet stays cleaner simply because it’s touched less.
Cleaning becomes:
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Faster
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Easier
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Less frequent
Plus, the sensor is sealed and designed to prevent water damage.
Practicality Score: Excellent low-maintenance upgrade.
7. Safety Benefits
Great for:
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Children (harder to leave water running)
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Elderly residents
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People with mobility issues
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Anyone with limited strength in hands or wrists
The faucet handles itself — literally.
Practicality Score: High for accessibility.
8. Durability and Longevity
Because you’re touching the faucet less, there’s less wear and tear on:
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the handle
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the finish
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the internal mechanism
This means your faucet will usually last longer than a standard one.
Practicality Score: Long-term savings.
9. Do Touchless Faucets Work During Power Outages?
Most modern touchless faucets include:
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Battery backup systems
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Manual override
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Dual operation (sensor + handle)
This means you won’t be stuck without water on a stormy Sydney night.
10. Are Touchless Faucets Hard to Install in Sydney Kitchens?
Not at all.
A licensed Sydney plumber can install a touchless faucet like they would a standard one, with the addition of:
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A battery pack
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OR direct power connection (depending on the model)
Most Sydney kitchens accommodate these easily. Renovations make it even simpler since all cabinetry and plumbing can be planned to suit.
Cost: Are Touchless Faucets Worth It?
Touchless faucets typically cost between:
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$250 and $1,200 depending on quality and brand
Installation can cost:
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$150–$350 with a licensed plumber
The ongoing value comes from:
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Reduced water bills
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Less cleaning
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Better hygiene
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A kitchen that feels premium
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Longer faucet lifespan
Most homeowners say the benefits far outweigh the cost.
When Touchless Faucets Are NOT Practical
They may not be necessary if:
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You rarely cook
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You prefer fully manual control
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You’re doing a basic rental upgrade
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You want the simplest, cheapest fixture possible
But even then, some budget-friendly touchless models still offer great practicality.
Final Verdict: Are Touchless Faucets Practical?
YES — for most Sydney kitchens, touchless faucets are extremely practical.
They offer:
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Better hygiene
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Improved water efficiency
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Faster cooking routines
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Cleaner finishes
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Modern design appeal
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Extra convenience
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More value in a kitchen renovation
They’re not just a “nice-to-have.” These taps genuinely improve the way you use your kitchen every single day.
For families, home cooks, entertainers, and anyone planning a modern Sydney kitchen renovation, a touchless faucet is one of the smartest, most practical upgrades you can make.
For professional help with kitchen layout, fixtures, appliances and renovation planning in Sydney, visit www.mb9.com.au to learn more about kitchen renovation, bathroom renovation and laundry renovation services from MB9 Australia Pty Ltd.
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