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Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question about Franke sinks, taps, hobs or hoods? Looking to learn more about waste disposal, water filtration or one of our many kitchen products? Search by category or keyword to find your answer below. Can't find what you need? Contact us and we'll be happy to help.

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Sinks

Franke uses nothing but the best when it comes to top quality stainless steel. Their sinks vary anywhere from 16 gauge, which is commercial gauge, to 20 gauge sinks. Franke has a line of Professional Series sinks at 16 gauge giving you the highest quality stainless steel used in commercial kitchens.

Remove the sink from the packaging. Place the sink face down on a flat disposable surface. Use the provided diamond hole saw to drill the faucet hole in the desired location (already pre-scored on the bottom of the sink). Never attempt to drill the top side of the sinks. Minimal force is required to drill the hole. When the hole saw is through the sink, remove and discard the center of the hole. Please note the diamond hole saw is sharp and will cut into the surface below the sink. Always use a piece of scrap below the face of the sink when performing this task. Always use the proper protective equipment including safety glasses and a dust mask.

WARNING: Failure to follow instructions may result in irreparable damage to the sink ledge! 

How To Drill Holes in Your Granite Sink

Stainless steel sinks should be punched prior to purchase. Order the sink requesting the extra hole. Drilling holes may dent a stainless steel sink and cause a brown discoloration around the hole due to heat caused by friction.

Bowl configuration really is a personal preference. If you tend to use a lot of large platters, roasters or pots, a combination bowl or single sink might be a good choice. An equal sized double bowl is a good wash and rinse model.

No, Franke sinks are available in the finest stainless steel, fireclay, and granite. These materials are all non-porous.

Yes. In fact, some stainless steel sinks look bright and shiny at first, but rust or corrode in time. All stainless steel sinks are not equal in quality and material content. Look for the best combination of chromium and nickel for superior corrosion resistance and durability.

Very. The thicker the steel, the less susceptible it is to denting, bowing and noise transmission from pots and pans hitting the metal surface.

The thickness, called "gauge", can be determined by its number. The lower the number, the thicker the steel. Most sinks come in 18 or 20 gauge steel. The 18 gauge is the thicker of the two and more than ample thickness for residential sinks.

Look for a rich, deep, satin-smooth finish rather than a surface gloss. The luster comes from machine and hand-finishing operations, which enable the sink to keep its beauty for years - without cracks, chips, rust or stains. Many feel that the look actually improves with age, taking on a soft patina glow.

The 3 basic measurements for comparing sink sizes are:

  • Depth – distance from the top of the rim to the bottom of the sink next to the drain
  • Taper – inward slope of each side of the sink from rim to bottom
  • Radius – measure of the bowl’s corners & bottoms where the sides and bottom mee

The deeper the bowl, the straighter the slope and the tighter (smaller) the radius, the more capacity there is in the sink.

No. They trap water causing iron deposits and surface discoloration.

The gauge is the thickness of the stainless steel. An easy rule of thumb is, the lower the number of the gauge, the thicker and better the stainless steel. Therefore, 18 gauge is better than 20 gauge.

As with most things, your stainless steel sink WILL scratch with use. However, over time as the sink ages, scratches will become less apparent and in fact blend into the surface.

If water is left standing anywhere on your stainless steel sink, it will evaporate and leave a film (spots) on the surface of the steel. This film can be removed with regular dish soap and water and a soft cloth. For removing heavier residue, you may use a mild solution of vinegar and water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and towel dry.

Sink tip: Regularly rinse and towel dry your sink after use to keep its surface exposed to oxygen. (Oxygen reacts with chromium in the steel to form a strong, highly protective chrome oxide film on the surface of your sink. It is this film that makes stainless resistant to corrosion and gives it a remarkably long life.)

Stainless steel stands up to high hot or cold temperatures, along with sudden temperature changes. That means you can drain hot boiling pasta in your sink, followed with a rinse of ice cold water, without causing any damage to your sink's surface.

Franke believes in having a sink for every style home. For this reason they incorporate color and texture into their line of sinks. Aside from stainless steel, Franke produces sinks made of Granite and Fireclay.

  • Do Routine Cleaning
  • Use soap, warm water and sponge. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry.
  • To Remove Stubborn Stains BonAmi, BarKeeper's Friend or similar products are helpful in removing tough stains. Always rub in the direction of the grain, rinse thoroughly, and wipe dry.
  • To Maintain Luster
    Use a small amount of mineral oil on a soft cloth. Apply evenly to the entire surface of sink and buff to a shiny finish.

A topmount or drop in sink has a lip that folds over the countertop and is therefore resting on top of the countertop cutout. Fasteners securely mount an undermount sink underneath the countertop so that a polished edge of granite, marble, etc. is exposed above the sink. An undermount sink cutout requires more polishing and installation labor than a topmount sink cutout and is therefore a more expensive option.

The undercoating on your sink absorbs sound, protects against condensation and helps maintain sink water temperature.

Yes. Any sink that has a 3 1/2“ waste (90mm) is capable of having a waste disposal unit connected. For Franke Fireclay sinks an Extended Flange is available for Continuous Feed models. 

This depends on the countertop and we would recommend that you seek professional advice. A template and fixing clips are provided in the box. Some circumstances may allow for fitting a bowl directly to the countertop. Alternatively a plywood template can be made to the size of the sink, which will effectively 'sandwich' the sink flange, when addressed to the underside of the material. We would recommend the use of a sealant between the flange of the sink and the countertop to avoid any water ingress. In all cases you are advised to consult your supplier.

For more information on Franke warranty click here

To enable us to process a guarantee claim, please ensure you provide us with the following information to avoid any unnecessary delay:

  • Full Contact Name, Address and Telephone Number
  • Proof of Purchase (please attach to email)
  • Photographs showing full product and detail shots showing problem

Please complete the relevant form with this information here

Normally at your local retailer or showroom, however if you have difficulty, swatches exist for colour matching. For this service contact our Consumer Care team at, click here.

No. Stainless Steel will always scratch (whether it be of Franke's manufacture or competitor) and because of the directional polishing marks on many Franke models the scratching will show up quite dramatically initially. However, with use and cleaning using a proprietary cleaner such as Franke Stainless Steel Cleaner the stainless steel will eventually build up a patina over the years and the scratching marks will not be as evident. For more information on cleaning Stainless Steel sinks please click here

Franke Stainless Steel Cleaner is recommended for regular maintenance of stainless steel sinks. This cleaner is easy to apply; just spread a small amount on a damp cloth, and distribute it throughout the sink with minor circular motions. Leave to work for a few moments and rinse with clean water. Afterwards, polish with a dry cloth - a Microfiber Cloth is ideal. 

How To Clean Your Franke Stainless Steel Sink

Your sink is made from high quality 18/10 chrome nickel steel. That means it’s metallurgically incapable of rusting or corroding in normal household conditions. If rust and corrosion problems do occur, tiny iron particles deposited on the surface will be the culprit. These either come from the water supply or are left behind by wire scouring pads or utensils. It’s essential to clean off these filings and dry the sink thoroughly afterwards. If you let them stick around, they’ll cause rust.  

If you want to remove any rust stains from your products, we recommend using a cleaning agent containing oxalic acid (e.g. Bar Keepers Friend®). Always use mild, non-abrasive cleaning agents such as Franke Stainless Steel Sink Cleaner to remove stubborn stains from your stainless steel and make sure you thoroughly rinse away any cleaning liquids once finished. Oh, one more thing, when cleaning your stainless steel, NEVER USE STEEL WOOL PADS. We, and our stainless steel, thank you in advance.

We would point out that unless the particles are completely removed they will return. It is therefore very important that after cleaning the sink, it is dried thoroughly - a Microfiber Cloth is ideal. This process needs to continue until the problem disappears. The problem is sometimes particularly obstinate to remove and it may take several attempts to restore the sink to its pristine condition.

Discoloration and most marks on stainless steel are caused by water-borne deposits clinging to its surface. One of the best ways to keep your stainless steel sink in pristine condition is to clean it with a product such as Franke Stainless Steel Cleaner, which can be purchased here. For more information on cleaning Stainless Steel sinks click here

How To Clean Your Franke Stainless Steel Sink

The 3 basic measurements for comparing sink sizes are:

  • Depth – distance from the top of the rim to the bottom of the sink next to the waste
  • Taper – inward slope of each side of the sink from rim to bottom
  • Radius – measure of the bowl’s corners & bottoms where the sides and bottom meet

The deeper the bowl, the straighter the slope and the tighter (smaller) the radius, the more capacity there is in the sink.

Advanced materials technology makes granite a very tough and resilient self colour silica resin.

By following our simple care and maintenance guidelines, your sink will bring lasting colour to your kitchen throughout a lifetime of normal usage.

How To Clean Your Franke Granite Sink

Discover how to best clean your Franke granite sink and maintain it as new for a lifetime thanks to the new Franke Kitchen Care products.

Everyday tips

For everyday cleaning of your fireclay sink, using a soft cloth or sponge with some mild liquid soap or any vinegar-based cleaner is ideal.

Stubborn stains

In rare cases, metal objects like forks and knives may leave stains on ceramic surfaces if left for long periods of time. To get rid of this type of stain you can use the same sort of cleaners made for glass and ceramic cooktops. These can usually be found at your local appliance or hardware store.

What to avoid

  • Scouring liquid or scouring powder
  • Highly concentrated drain cleaners
  • Cleaners for faucet fittings and steel

Faucets

Contact our service agents - click here for more information.

Refer to the installation instructions enclosed with your faucet. You can download a PDF of the instructions here. Use only a soft cloth and mild detergent. For more information on cleaning your faucet click here

Clean using hot soapy water.

Avoid using scourers or abrasive materials.

Never apply abrasive detergents, disinfectants or products containing alcohol, hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid. 

You can view a video of how to clean your Franke facuet on our YouTube channel.

Tap spouts are most commonly removed by:

1.Undo the grub screw at the back of the tap
2.Unscrew the collar at the joint with the body
3.Located lug in bayonet

Flow rate can be affected particularly on the hot side of traditional vented plumbing systems. We do not recommend ceramic disc taps where there is less than 4 metre head of water. For combi boiler installations check with the manufacturer. For more information on flow rates click here.

Operationally ceramic discs can last for the life of the tap. However, mechanisms can be affected by water borne particles or hard water. To obtain replacement valve mechanisms contact our service agents.

Check the specification sheet for your particular tap. Generally they are 15mm.

Franke warrants that mechanical components (body, handle and spout) in all faucets purchased after January 1, 2003, will be free of manufacturing defects for the expected lifetime of the faucet.  Click here to view full Franke Warranty

To enable us to process a guarantee claim, please ensure you provide us with the following information to avoid any unnecessary delay:

  • Full Contact Name, Address and Telephone Number
  • Proof of Purchase (please attach to email)
  • Photographs showing full product and detail shots showing problem

Please complete the relevant form with this information here

Simply click the WHERE TO BUY link shown on each page of our website. Before visiting however, please contact the retailer to check availability of the product.

Contact our service agents

PVD means Physical Vapour Deposition. This is an industrial process that provides a very resilient and robust finish to the faucet, giving it a coating-like appearance.

Franke faucets are designed to complement Franke sinks, and not necessarily match exactly. Satin Nickel taps will complement brushed finish appliances such as an oven and hob in your kitchen. Franke stainless steel taps such as the Eos, Steel and Kubus will be a very close match to a stainless steel sink.

The makeup of water (including the levels of chlorine) varies from area to area and this will mean that the water may taste or smell slightly different from the water that you were used too. Another reason may be due to our having to alter the treatment process slightly depending on the weather, demand and time of year. These factors all affect the levels of chlorine that we must add to the water which in turn will slightly affect the taste and smell.

Incorrectly installed water softeners, fitted to washing machines for example, can cause salty tastes and contaminate the drinking water supply. Do not drink water from water softeners because it contains high levels of salt – you should always use a tap with unsoftened water for cooking and drinking.

There are several possible causes of unusual tastes or odours in water:

TCP tastes can occur when the internal stop tap has been operated to carry out any work, or if the tap is operated after many years of not being used. Washers can start can start to degrade over time and cause TCP taste and odour problems. However this applies more to properties where the internal stop tap is more than a few years old and is seldom or never used.

Since TCP like compounds are formed when the chlorine reacts with plastic or rubber, this sometimes means that the TCP taste is more noticeable when the Chlorine level is highest. Although Chlorine is added to water continually a demand for water can mean that it may sometimes have a higher level of chlorine in it, for example, in the morning or when you get home from work.

For more information please download the PDF.

Most Franke faucets require the industry standard taphole cut out size of  1  3/8" (35 mm) diameter. There are several exceptions to this as follows:

  •  
  • Franke Little Butlers - requires 1 x 1  1/4" (31.75 mm) diameter hole
  • Soap Dispenser - requires 1 x 1  1/8" (20 mm) diameter hole

Accessories

You can easily obtain additional or replacement accessories for your Franke sink, simply click here

All-In is the flexible food preparation system for any kitchen sink (up to 540mm). Transforming your sink into a stylish and playful workstation, All-In is the flexible food preparation system designed to bring more flow to your kitchen and life.

Well-equipped and intuitive, this modular accessory system has all you need to prepare meals with ease; saving you time and space and allowing you to shift seamlessly between different tasks.

For more information on Franke All-In Accessories click here

Please note the following points:

Place the foodstuff to process in the middle of the chopping board, not on the side. The chopping board might tip if pressure is applied to one side only.

Do not use knives made of ceramic material as this may cause damage to the surface.

The chopping board consists of tempered safety glass and is more shock and heat resistant than ordinary glass products.

Do not expose the chopping board to temperatures below 0°C or over 80°C. Do not use the product on hot plates or in ovens, microwaves, freezers or dishwashers.

Cleaning and care:

Normal staining can be removed with soap and water. Tenacious staining of the worktop should be removed with a glass rubber and then treated with a mild detergent.

Do not use cleaning products for glass ceramic hobs as these products should not come into direct contact with foodstuff.

Do not use abrasives (liquids or sponges) or aggressive detergents such as cleaning spray for ovens, bleach or other chemicals.

Franke is not liable for damage caused by improper or unsuitable use and non-compliance to the above cleaning instructions.

The Hygenia Chopping Board is made of Polyethylene, is extremely durable, and is capable of being washed in the dishwasher. It is heat resistant up to a maximum of 100°C, however under certain circumstances very hot utensils may brown the surface. As an oil based product it is not scratch resistant, and the surface will abrade over time.

Wood is a natural product it is therefore subject to absorbing moisture, and if the quantities of moisture are not equal on both sides it can bow especially so when the product is first used.

However, this can be corrected by wetting the board on both sides and leaving it to dry overnight on a flat surface with the convex side uppermost. This is most conveniently done with the board placed over the bowl.This enables the warp to drop out and as the board gets more use it will eventually stop warping. We also recommend occasional oiling of the board with a good quality vegetable oil, to make the surface more water-resistant. Do not put the board near a heat source and do not put it in direct sunlight to dry.

The life of the basket very much depends on the type of use it receives, and we notice that some customers choose to use the basket in the sink for washing-up purposes (for which it was not designed). If the basket is used in this way its life is considerably shortened due to the constant immersion in hot water. This softens the plastic coating which then becomes susceptible to piercing by sharp objects such as knives, forks etc. When water penetrates onto the metal frame it rusts and subsequently the plastic coating cracks and breaks away and if used in this manner it does mean that the life of the basket is considerably shortened.

You may wish to add water to thicker concentrated liquid soaps, in a 1/3 water to 2/3 ratio to reduce the possibility of clogging. Regular cleaning of the soap dispenser is also recommended.

You should avoid anti-bacterial soaps, as these can cause corrosion of your dispenser over time. 

Waste Disposers

One of the advantages that the Franke Turbo Elite Permanent Magnet Motor disposers have over standard Induction Motor WDUs is the starting torque - Franke Turbo Elite WDUs are up to full speed within the first revolution.

Most jams occur at start-up because food waste will be stuffed into the disposer until it is full (this is not the correct way to use the disposer but is more reality).

The Franke Turbo's initial high starting torque gives it the advantage to break through the waste already put into the disposer. Under similar conditions an induction motor disposer can jam as it tries to push the waste around while it builds up speed. When the induction type motor cannot push any more and becomes jammed the "Auto Reverse" feature gives the ability for the unit to run in the opposite direction to break away from the jam condition.

You can view videos of Franke Waste Disposal Units our YouTube/UKFranke channel.

A Franke Waste Disposal unit consumes roughly the same power in one month to lighting a 100 watt light bulb for one hour, therefore operating costs are relatively low. The high torque fast grinding Franke units use very little water.

A Batch Feed model is activated by loading the chamber and rotating the WDU plug. Continous Feed models are operated by an Air Switch (or alternative) and waste is fed through the open neck of the unit. In both cases, a continuous supply of water is necessary whilst the WDU is in use. 

Franke warrants that disposers are free from manufacturing defects in material and workmanship for the period ranging from two (2) years to Limited Lifetime as documented in the annual product catalogs and/or instructions included with the products. For further information see our Warranty page. 

To enable us to process a guarantee claim, please ensure you provide us with the following information to avoid any unnecessary delay:

  • Full Contact Name, Address and Telephone Number
  • Proof of Purchase (please attach to email)
  • Photographs showing full product and detail shots showing problem

Please complete the relevant form with this information here

The procedure is as follows:

  1. With the disposer mounted on the sink and line cord connected to a wall outlet receptacle, turn "ON" the wall mounted switch.
  2. If the disposer is "OFF", depress air switch actuator to turn the disposer "ON".
  3. With the disposer " ON " pull air switch hose from disposer connectionn and discard air switch actuator and hose.
  4. Turn the disposer "OFF" by turning off the switch, usually controlled by a wall mounted switch.
  5. Operation of disposer is now controlled in a typical manner by the wall mounted switch. 

The Franke air activated control switch button operates continuous feed waste disposal units from a point determined by the consumer, eg on the worktop or possibly even within the sink perimeter.

Air switches are safer than electric switches because they keep the electricity away from the users' hands. The air switch control mechanism usually mounts under the sink (or is incorporated into the Waste Disposal Unit itself), where it remains dry. From the activated control switch button, an air tube connects with the switch controller, which in turn operates the unit.

The benefit is that the operational switch avoids the necessity to have a wall mounted toggle switch (which itself is electrical), and is therefore neater and safer to operate .

Disconnect the tube from the air switch button, then blow down the tube which should engage the waste disposal unit. Reconnect the air switch button.

Choosing a Retailer

Franke UK Ltd believes that excellent service before and after the sale is an integral part of the Franke experience. We strongly encourage you to thoroughly research any retailer before making a purchase to ensure that you are getting what you expect, and the service and support that Franke strives to deliver.

To view a list of companies are authorised to sell a selected range of Franke products online click here.

General FAQs

Please contact our office by email ks-info.gb@franke.com or by telephone on 0161 436 6280. 

Go to the Brochure page on this site. Franke Retailers should contact their Distributor to obtain brochures. 

If you would like a brochure pack to be posted to you please complete the Contact Form with your address details.

Contact our service agents more information.

Please contact us directly using our Contact Form.