How to Troubleshoot a Kitchen Sprayer

Fix sprayers as soon as they stop functioning.

Kitchen sprayers help you wash fruits and vegetables and reach the corners of a sink to clean it completely. Kitchen sprayers can get clogged, however, and can stop spraying water. If water is not spraying out of the sprayer at all but is coming out of the faucet, it is likely that the diverter is broken. If it is just trickling out, it could be clogged with hard water. Stop using the sprayer as soon as you notice that it isn't working. Troubleshoot the issue as soon as possible so you can fix the problem and continue using the sprayer.

Things You'll Need

• Pliers
• Rag
• Quarter
• Replacement diverter
• White vinegar
• Bowl
• Pin

Instructions

Replacing the Diverter

1. Open the cabinet under the sink, and turn off the hot and cold water valves. Turn both valves clockwise to turn them off.

2. Remove the cap from the top of the faucet by turning it counterclockwise with a pair of pliers. Use a rag between the pliers and the cap so you don't damage it. Remove the cap.

3. Unscrew the diverter counterclockwise to remove it. Use a quarter to unscrew the diverter.

4. Screw a new diverter into the faucet by turning it clockwise. Screw the cap back on the faucet. Turn the water back on.

Cleaning Hard Water Deposits

1. Fill a large bowl with one part water and one part white vinegar.

2. Submerge the sprayer in the white vinegar solution. Let it sit for several hours. White vinegar is a mild acid that will dissolve the alkaline hard water deposits.

3. Remove the sprayer head and press a pin into each of the holes in the sprayer to make sure they are clear.

4. Rinse the head in clear water and continue using it.

Tips & Warnings

• Stuff a rag in the drain as you're working so you don't accidentally drop sink components down the drain.

References

• This Old House; How to Repair a Kitchen Sink Sprayer; Richard Trethewey
• The Family Handyman; How to Repair a Kitchen Faucet; July/August 2004
• Kohler: FAQ