We have nothing negative to say about the Price Pfister faucet we installed during our kitchen remodel in 2007—especially since we scored it on eBay for just $71. But sometimes a change is welcome, and we were excited to try Delta’s new Pilar Pull-Down Faucet with Touch2O Technology.
Delta kindly let us test the Pilar, and we were immediately drawn to the sleek brushed nickel finish and the touch-activated feature. With paint, dust, and other DIY messes constantly underfoot here, the ability to turn the water on and off by touching any metal part of the faucet—or even the handle—with bare skin sounded ideal. It’s convenient when your hands are messy, as long as the contact isn’t covered in soap, paint, or dirt.
We decided to retire the old faucet (we donated it to Habitat for Humanity ReStore) and install the Pilar ourselves. We’ve swapped out several bathroom faucets before, but this was our first kitchen faucet install. I cleared the under-sink area, gathered my tools, shut off the water, and got to work.
I initially ran into a small snag trying to remove a particular piece. The fix was simple: I found the installation PDF on the manufacturer’s website, realized I’d misunderstood how parts 8B and 8C connected, and unscrewed 8C from 8B. Once that was cleared up, the old faucet came out in minutes.
After removing the fixtures and a quick scrub, we were left with four clean holes in the countertop. We originally had a soap pump in one hole with the Price Pfister faucet, but it leaked and jammed, so we replaced it with a separate soap/lotion caddy that’s leak-free and easily covers unused holes.
Installation of the Pilar was surprisingly straightforward, especially with the included instructions. First I sealed and tightened the gooseneck spout from underneath the granite while Sherry steadied it above. Then we installed the handle valve, which required a long specialty tool (included) to tighten a nut over an extended bolt. The nut seats into the top of a long plastic tube that slides over the bolt—simple once you see how it fits.
The extension hose was next: we fed it through the faucet using a white guide nub so the tube slid smoothly and left enough length out to attach the nozzle later. The nozzle doubles as a pull-down sprayer and a standard spout, switching between a solid stream and a multi-stream spray with a toggle on the back of the head—very handy for washing and rinsing.
Then came the electronics. The Pilar’s touch function is powered by a solenoid and wiring that arrived well-protected. The solenoid snaps into a plastic tube extending from the valve and is secured with a metal clamp. The spray hose clips into the bottom of the solenoid and is secured with a plastic clamp. After that I connected a few wires—one clip goes to the bottom of the spout and corresponding wires connect the spout and solenoid—following the directions closely.
The unit is powered by a battery pack that holds four C-cell batteries, and Delta even includes the batteries. The pack has adhesive on the back so you can stick it to the cabinet wall, but we chose to leave it loose for easy replacement.
Plumbing the water lines was straightforward. The hot water connected with the black plastic tube from the valve, and the cold side joined to our water filter. Because the Pilar’s tubing matched the filter’s blue tubing, I cut it to length and inserted it directly into the filter.
After turning the water back on and testing for leaks with a paper towel under the pipes, we were ready to try the touch function. First we made sure the handle was in the on position—Touch2O requires the handle to be open so the faucet can actually run when tapped. Once set, a tap on any metal part of the faucet—spout, neck, or underside—turns water on or off instantly. A blue indicator light at the base confirms the touch activation.
We left the soap pump out and simply covered the second pre-drilled hole with a bottle of soap. That keeps options open if we decide to install additional fixtures later—having extra holes gives flexibility without needing to modify the countertop. There are also hole covers available if extra protection is desired.
The Pilar feels solid compared with our old faucet. The weight and build quality are noticeable when swinging the spout between sink basins. The touch feature is smart enough to distinguish between tapping to activate and grabbing to move the spout, so it won’t accidentally turn on while you reposition it.
The brushed nickel finish also hides fingerprints well; the manual suggests touching the underside to further minimize marks, but we haven’t noticed any visible prints from normal use. Batteries are only engaged when the faucet is touched on or off, which conserves power.
Overall, swapping the kitchen faucet was painless and rewarding. If your new faucet doesn’t include wiring or batteries, install will likely be even simpler. This one took a bit longer because of the electronics, but it’s totally doable in under an hour if you’re prepared. We love the convenience of touch activation and the integrated pull-down sprayer—small features that make everyday tasks a little easier.
If you’ve used touch-activated faucets or other smart home gadgets—motion-sensor lights, heated towel bars, scheduled coffee makers—drop a note about what tech has made your life simpler. We’d love to hear about your experiences and any features you’d want in a futuristic faucet.