How to Repair Your Kitchen Sink Sprayer

Depending on its condition, you’re sink sprayer can pretty much be one of two things:  a big help, or a kitchen ornament.

Since the latter doesn’t do you any good, there are a few things you can do to figure out what’s wrong should it suddenly malfunction or stop working altogether. With a couple of tools and a little DIY aptitude, you might just be able to fix it yourself.

How it works.

The first step in repairing your sprayer is to understand how it works. When you press the trigger, water flowing into your faucet is redirected to the sprayer by a diverter valve. Water travels through the hose and is forced out through the cap at the end of the sprayer, also called the aerator. This cap is what produces the “spray effect” as opposed to the steady stream that comes from your faucet.

Identify the problem. 

Does the sprayer shoot water in haphazard directions? Is the flow of water or the pressure reduced?  These problems are most likely a result of mineral deposits collecting inside the aerator cap. 

Does the water pulsate like a machine gun? Does water flow from the faucet even when the sprayer is in use? Is the water pressure dramatically reduced? These symptoms indicate a problem with the diverter valve, such as excess mineral deposits or general wear and tear.

How to fix it. 

To clean mineral deposits from the aerator, unscrew it from the sprayer and scrub it with soap and water. Soaking in vinegar works better for heavy mineral concentrations.  Next, re-connect the aerator and test it out. If the problem isn’t resolved, you’ll want to check the diverter valve as well.

Cleaning the diverter valve is fairly simple: begin by turning off the water supply to the faucet. Next, unscrew the sink spout, then the faucet itself. Using pliers, reach in and remove the diverter valve. Clean it using the same method above. If it seems to be worn out, you can buy a replacement valve at a local hardware store.

Seems simple enough, right?  Still, we have many customers who simply prefer to leave plumbing to the professionals at Your 1 Plumber.  So for kitchen sink sprayer repairs or any home plumbing need at all, give us a call for prompt scheduling and dependable results we know you expect.