After 6 Months of Use, This Simple Kitchen Upgrade Is Worth Every Penny

For the past six months, the Moen Arbor MotionSense touchless faucet has been a key part of my daily kitchen routine. As someone who loves to cook (and inevitably makes a mess), having a faucet that responds with just a wave of my hand has made everyday tasks so much easier. 

Beyond convenience, the Moen Arbor’s sleek design adds a modern touch to my kitchen. But how does it stack up in terms of installation, reliability, and overall value? In this review, I’ll share my experience with the faucet, diving into its performance, design, and whether it’s worth the investment for your home.

Moen Arbor MotionSense Wave Touchless Faucet: At a Glance

Our rating: 5/5

Moen Arbor MotionSense Wave One-Handle Kitchen Faucet

See It

Buy the Moen Arbor MotionSense touchless kitchen faucet: 

• Amazon for $434
• Wayfair for $513
• Build with Ferguson for $410
• The Home Depot for $479.29
• Lowe’s for $519

Testing the Moen Arbor MotionSense 

Simple to install, with great instructions

As a total plumbing novice—having never installed a faucet before—I was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward the process was, especially with some extra help from the Faucet Installation Kit by Character. After spending over an hour wrestling my old faucet out of the way, I had the Moen Arbor MotionSense up and running in under 45 minutes. 

The Character kit was a lifesaver. Its sturdy, long-handled wrench made reaching the nut under the sink much easier than I anticipated, and it felt reliable and well-made in my hand. The kit also included a reel of plumber’s tape, which came in handy since the tape provided with the faucet was insufficient (as is often the case). The plumber’s putty was perfect for sealing the gap around the faucet, and the drip tray kept inevitable water dribbles from making a mess. Thoughtful extras like a microfiber cloth, wet wipes, and even a chic pair of safety glasses made the whole process less daunting. For extra guidance, a QR code linked to detailed instructions and direct access to a real plumber for questions—a reassuring touch for first-timers like me.

Moen also deserves credit for its clear and thorough installation manual, which outlines different scenarios based on sink setups. The long plastic tightener tool Moen provides was helpful for securing the faucet to the countertop, but the added tools and resources from the Character kit truly elevated the experience, saving time and reducing frustration. Together, these made installing the faucet much smoother than I expected.

The Touchless Technology

The motion sensor on Moen’s Arbor MotionSense faucet is fixed on the left side of the faucet body. Waving anything to the left of the faucet (a hand or an object) will trigger the faucet. I found it generally very responsive and simple to use; a slight wave in front of the sensor is enough to activate or shut off the water flow. 

The one downside of the sensor location, however, is that anything you may store at the back of the sink area on the countertop will interfere with the motion detection. As a result, if you store the dish soap and sponge in that area, you’ll inadvertently trigger the sensor when you reach for an item back there. A simple solution, of course, is to only store items to the right of the faucet and leave the left side clear. Since installing the faucet, I’ve adjusted to this setup and have no complaints.

Built to a High Standard

If you’ve ever owned a Moen product you already know they typically produce top quality kitchen and bathroom hardware. The Arbor MotionSense is no exception. The model I tested has the spot resist stainless finish and, as the image below shows, it lives up to its name. After more than six months of use (and deliberately not wiping the faucet down to see how truly spot resistant it was) there are still barely any noticeable water marks on the faucet. This is particularly noteworthy when you consider the fact that my home in Florida has incredibly hard water that will easily leave a white chalky stain behind. This might be one of the most impressive aspects of the Arbor MotionSense. If you like keeping a clean and tidy home, you’ll love how easy it is to keep this touchless faucet looking brand new.

Another smart design choice by Moen was not relying on the faucet handle to be in the “on” position to be able to operate the touchless feature. Most touch and touchless faucets require this, but I appreciated the neater look of the handle in the closed position the majority of the time, simply using the touchless sensor to operate the faucet. The only time you need to touch the handle is to adjust the water temperature, which rotates with a smooth and satisfying motion. You can really feel the great build quality when doing this. 

Range of Power Source Options

I was relieved to discover that this faucet does not require a dedicated AC power source under the sink to operate (because I don’t have one). Six AA batteries pop into the battery box, and there are several options for mounting it to a surface under the sink. I used the velcro strips and they worked perfectly. The instructions state that batteries will only need to be replaced about every 12 months, so this seemed like a very minor inconvenience. Plus, if you’re really averse to the battery pack, you can purchase the AC adapter and plug the faucet into a permanent power source. It’s a little disappointing that this option is a separate purchase, though.

Why I Think the Moen Arbor MotionSense is Worth Every Penny

At the time of writing, Moen’s Arbor MotionSense faucet retails at $433.99. Considering that other reputable faucet brands like Kohler, Delta, and American Standard have touchless models ranging between $500 and $1,000, the one I tested seems to be quite the bargain. 

Bear in mind that if the sensor is just more than you need, you can certainly pick up a cheaper standard kitchen faucet without the added technology around the $100 mark. In the end, it comes down to the budget you want to stick to, the features you want to enjoy, and the quality of the finishes you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a durable option with some tech upgrades, I think the Arbor MotionSense is a great choice that doesn’t come with as steep a price tag as other touchless faucets do.

Buy the Moen Arbor MotionSense touchless kitchen faucet at: 

• Amazon for $434
• Build with Ferguson for $410
• The Home Depot for $479.29
• Lowe’s for $519
• Wayfair for $513

Product Comparisons

So, is the Moen Arbor MotionSense right for you?

If you’re updating your kitchen and would like to incorporate some technology, a touchless faucet is a good place to start. The Moen Arbor MotionSense not only brings this to the table, but does so with a robust construction and, perhaps most importantly, at a very competitive price point compared to other smart options available. 

Unless you’re looking to go a step further with your smart home and want something like the Delta Trinsic VoiceIQ, this Moen model offers the most practical applications that I think homeowners will actually make use of in their everyday lives. 

Meet the Tester

Paul Rankin is a seasoned product reviewer with a background in writing and hands-on testing of home improvement tools and fixtures. He brings practical insights and a focus on usability to help readers make informed choices.