Delta Essa Touch Kitchen Faucet Review: Worth It? (October 2026)
This Delta Essa review recommends the faucet for kitchens that want touch activation, a manual lever and a pull-down sprayer. It fits 1-hole sinks or 3-hole sinks with 8 in centers when you use the included deck plate.
On this page (7 sections)
- What does this Delta Essa review recommend?
- Should you choose the Essa, Lenta or Moen Arbor?
- What should you measure before buying the Delta Essa?
- How should you plan installation and power?
- What are common mistakes with touch kitchen faucets?
- How do you care for the Essa sprayer and finish?
- Is the Delta Essa worth choosing for your kitchen?
The Delta Essa review comes down to a practical choice: pick the Essa if you want to start or stop water with a wrist or forearm touch while keeping a manual lever and pull-down sprayer. It fits a single-hole sink or a 3-hole sink with 8 in centers when you use the included deck plate.
This touch faucet suits busy prep areas where hands may be messy, but it still requires contact with the faucet. If you want water to start when your hand passes a sensor, the Moen Arbor is the alternative here; the Lenta is the closer match if you want Delta touch control with a more contained spray pattern.
What does this Delta Essa review recommend?
The Delta Essa is the best fit for households that will use touch activation and want a familiar lever as a backup. Its combination of spout or handle touch control, a pull-down sprayer and a color-changing temperature indicator covers the main daily tasks without switching to a touchless sensor.
Delta Essa Touch Pulldown (Brushed Nickel): Best for busy family kitchens
- Touch On and Off
- Pull-down sprayer
- TempSense LED
- Fits 1 or 3-hole 8 in installations with included deck plate
A Delta touch faucet with a pull-down sprayer, manual lever and temperature indicator. Choose it when you want to start or stop flow by touching the spout or handle.
Pros
- Touch control on spout or handle
- Manual lever remains available
- TempSense LED changes color with water temperature
- Fits 1 or 3-hole 8 in center installations
Cons
- Touch activation requires a power setup suited to the installation
- Its electronic parts warranty is 5 years
Use the lever to set flow and temperature, then tap the faucet with your wrist or forearm to start or stop water. The TempSense LED changes color with water temperature, giving you a visible cue before you put your hands under the stream.
Delta also describes DIAMOND Seal Technology as reducing leak points and lasting twice as long as the industry standard. That is a manufacturer claim, so treat it as a design feature rather than a promise of a specific service life.
Who should consider this Delta Essa touch faucet?
Choose the Essa if you frequently handle food, rinse dishes or clean up with wet hands and want a quick touch control. The manual lever also suits people who prefer to set temperature and flow in the usual way instead of relying on an automatic sensor for every action.
Skip it if you want completely hands-free activation, need a different sink configuration, or don't want to plan around an electronic faucet's power requirements. For a broader explanation of the touch system, see our guide to Delta Touch2O kitchen faucets.
Should you choose the Essa, Lenta or Moen Arbor?
The Essa is the simplest choice when your priorities are touch control and a pull-down sprayer. The Lenta suits cooks who want Delta touch activation plus ShieldSpray and SpotShield Stainless, while the Moen Arbor fits people who would rather activate water with a motion sensor.
The Lenta has the same basic touch-and-lever approach as the Essa, but the finish differs: the Essa is Arctic Stainless, while the Lenta is SpotShield Stainless. Choose based on the features and finish you want in your kitchen, rather than assuming the models are interchangeable.
The Arbor is the right direction if you want to wave or move a hand near the sensor instead of touching the faucet. It has a lower stated flow rate than the Delta models, so compare activation style, flow and sink fit together.
Our guide to touch vs touchless kitchen faucets explains the day-to-day difference. Touch control needs contact but can feel deliberate; touchless activation avoids contact but depends on the sensor responding as expected.
What should you measure before buying the Delta Essa?
The Essa fits a single hole or a 3-hole setup with 8 in centers, using the included deck plate for the wider configuration. Measure the sink or countertop holes and their spacing before ordering, then check the installation instructions for connection and clearance needs.
The faucet has a 60 in pull-down hose, so make sure the cabinet below the sink leaves room for the hose to move and return. Clear stored items from its path, especially tall bottles or bins that could catch the hose.
| Detail | Delta Essa Touch |
|---|---|
| Model | 9113T-AR-DST |
| Installation | Single hole, or 3-hole 8 in center with included deck plate |
| Sprayer | Pull-down |
| Activation | Touch on the spout or handle; manual lever |
| Flow rate | 1.8 gpm |
| Hose length | 60 in |
| Finish name | Arctic Stainless |
| Warranty | Lifetime Limited Warranty; 5-year limited electronic parts warranty |
If you're replacing a faucet, measure the countertop holes before removing the old one and note how much space is available around the handle. Our guide to kitchen faucet deck plates explains when a plate can cover extra holes.
A common mistake is to assume that any 3-hole sink will fit. The spacing matters: the specified wider configuration is for 8 in centers, so check the distance between the outer holes and confirm the deck plate covers the existing openings.
How should you plan installation and power?
Plan the Essa installation around the sink fit, cabinet access and the faucet's electronic components. The product details here don't specify the Essa's power source, so check Delta's instructions for the exact requirements before starting.
Keep the work area under the sink clear enough to reach shutoff valves, supply lines and mounting points. If a plumber is installing the faucet, share the sink measurements and confirm the required power arrangement before the appointment.
The Moen Arbor offers a useful comparison because its power options are specified: it includes 6 AA batteries and supports optional AC power. Don't transfer that setup to the Essa; each model has its own installation requirements.
Our kitchen faucet installation guide covers planning steps such as checking access below the sink. Measure first, and avoid beginning removal until you know the new faucet's hole pattern and connection needs.
What are common mistakes with touch kitchen faucets?
The biggest mistake is treating touch activation as touchless operation. The Essa responds when you make contact with the spout or handle, so it won't start just because your hand passes nearby.
Another mistake is setting the handle and expecting touch control to change temperature. The handle sets the water temperature; touch starts or stops flow at that setting, and the LED gives a color cue.
Don't skip the hose path below the sink. A pull-down wand needs room for the hose to move freely, so move cleaning supplies and storage bins that could interfere with retraction.
Finally, don't choose by finish name alone. Arctic Stainless and SpotShield Stainless are different finish options on the Essa and Lenta, so compare the appearance and care guidance for the exact model you want.
How do you care for the Essa sprayer and finish?
Use the care instructions for the specific finish and avoid assuming that every household cleaner is suitable. Delta says its finishes are tested for corrosion resistance, and its Touch-Clean spray holes are designed to let you wipe away calcium and lime buildup with a finger.
For light mineral buildup, wipe the spray holes gently as directed rather than poking them with a sharp object. If water flow changes, check the faucet instructions for cleaning steps before taking apart the sprayer.
Delta describes the Essa's spray wand as magnetically docked, which is intended to hold it in place when not in use. Return the wand to its dock after rinsing and keep the hose path clear beneath the sink.
For faucet outlet deposits, our guide explains how to clean a kitchen faucet aerator. Follow the faucet's own instructions if the aerator or spray head needs removal.
Is the Delta Essa worth choosing for your kitchen?
Choose the Delta Essa if you want touch activation with a manual lever, a pull-down sprayer and a sink that matches its hole spacing. Choose the Lenta if ShieldSpray and SpotShield Stainless are priorities, or the Moen Arbor if you prefer motion-sensor activation and its stated battery option.
Before you buy, verify the sink holes, deck plate fit, hose clearance and power requirements for the exact model. If sensor operation is your main priority, compare more motion sensor kitchen faucets before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Delta Essa turn on when you touch it?
Yes. Touch the spout or handle with your wrist or forearm to start or stop water, or use the single lever manually.
The water starts at the temperature set by the handle.
The TempSense LED changes color to reflect water temperature.
What sink holes fit the Delta Essa Touch?
The Essa fits a single-hole installation or a 3-hole sink with 8 in centers, using the included deck plate for the wider setup. Measure the holes and spacing before buying, then check Delta's installation instructions for the clearances and connections your sink requires.
Is the Delta Essa touchless?
No. The Essa activates when you touch the spout or handle, so you need to make contact with the faucet.
The Moen Arbor in this comparison uses a motion sensor.
Choose it if you prefer activation without touching the faucet.
What warranty does the Delta Essa have?
Delta backs the faucet with a Lifetime Limited Warranty, while its electronic parts have a 5-year limited warranty. Review Delta's current warranty terms for exclusions and details about coverage for the faucet body and electronic components.
