Many modern kitchen faucets are equipped with sprayers that can be pulled down from the spout on a flexible hose. This feature makes the faucet more functional. However, with heavy use, just like any other water line it can occasionally leak or start to malfunction. And a broken faucet sprayer is not just an eyesore but the messy leaks can also damage your worktops. Fortunately, fixing a kitchen faucet sprayer is relatively easy and doesn’t require any special plumbing skills. All you’ll need is a minimum amount of tools and the replacement parts.
Most Common Kitchen Faucet Sprayer Repair Solutions
First, you need to find the leak and understand where the problem lies. Depending on where the leak is, it will require either just a minor repair or a replacement of the leaking parts. You might need to replace the spray head, the hose or both.
Faulty Gasket
If you find that the leak is coming from the sprayer itself, you might need to replace the gasket that is located within the nozzle.
Before removing the gasket, turn off the water supply and leave the faucet on until there’s no more water coming through. Then, twist the nozzle spray apart and take out the gasket. Take it to a hardware shop and find a matching replacement gasket. After purchasing the new gasket, fit it back into the nozzle. Check that it’s properly seated in the cavity and reassemble the spray head.
Turn on the water supply and test the faucet sprayer. If you don’t see any more leaks, you’ve fixed the problem. However, if the spray head is still leaking, you might need to replace the entire sprayer.
Faulty Sprayer
If the problem is not in the faulty gasket but in an old malfunctioning spray head, the simplest solution can be just replacing the entire unit. You can find the replacement part at home centers, hardware stores or online.
Start by turning off the water supply to the faucet and drain any water that is left in the lines. Then, to remove the spray head, pull it out of its seat and unscrew it from the hose. You might need to use a wrench for this if the nut is too tight.
Get a new spray head and mount it in place of the old one. Turn the water back on and test the sprayer for leaks.
Faulty Hose
If you find leakage under the sink, the problem can be in the connection between the hose and spout or the hose and sprayer. It can also be somewhere in the hose itself.
If it’s leaking underneath sink where the hose is attached to the faucet, try tightening the seal. You might need small pliers or a basin wrench for this. Another solution for leaking connection can be applying some plumber’s tape. For this, you don’t need to replace the entire hose. But you do need to disconnect the hose, cover its threads with plumber’s tape and reconnect it.
Another issue can be with a clogged faucet sprayer hose. In this case, you’ll need to remove the hose by unscrewing first its connection to the spray head and then its connection to the water pipe. After this, clean both ends of the hose and reconnect it to the water pipe and the spray head.
To find the leak in the hose itself, have the water running through it, bring it under the light and inspect it carefully inch by inch. Look for tiny cracks or any mechanical damage. You can make a temporary repair by wrapping some vinyl electrical tape around the damaged area of the hose. However, a leaking hose will eventually need a replacement.
Other Tips
Before heading to a hardware store to purchase a replacement part for your leaking pull-down kitchen faucet sprayer, check your faucet’s warranty. Many popular brands, such as Delta, Moen and Kohler, provide a limited lifetime warranty. This means that to fix your leaking kitchen sink sprayer you might be able to get a free replacement part.
Also, make sure to buy the correct replacement part. Stick to the same brand since the fitting of one spray head or hose can differ from another brand’s. If you don’t find the necessary parts in a hardware store, you can also check the manufacturer’s site online or use Amazon.
