May there be someone who can help. My kitchen sink faucet has lost pressure and shares water distribution with my dishwasher. Water pressure to the dishwasher is fine, but the faucet is really low. The pressure comes and goes, lately it's just very low. The faucet is combined with the sprayer and pulls out like a hose. I believe it is a Delta Faucet. Pressure to the rest of the house is fine. It's just that faucet. Thanks to who ever can help!

Sounds like your faucet has a clogged cartridge (or ball). Shut the water off using the valves under the sink, and take apart the faucet (NOTE: if you need help taking the faucet apart, post back here, and please give more details - preferably the faucet model number, a picture of the faucet, or at least a highly detailed description of how the faucet looks and works). Remove the cartridge, and check the inlet ports for debris and/or mineral buildup. If the cartridge is in bad shape, it may need to be replaced; be sure to take it with you when going to the store, because there are at least 14 skillion kinds of cartridges out there, and you'll probably need the original to find a perfect match.

While you have the faucet taken apart anyway, it's a good opportunity to flush the supply lines to the sink in case any debris is still in the pipes. To do this, hold a cup or pan upside-down over the base of the faucet, and turn both valves under the sink on full blast. Water should come shooting out of the base of the faucet going straight up, so be sure to use your upside-down cup/pan to keep the water from shooting all over the room. This procedure will flush any additional crud out of the supply pipes. Let the water run for 30 seconds to a minute, then shut the valves off. Reassemble the faucet, and test it.

Better now?
Moishe

Since you have a spray hose connected to the faucet it is possible that the valve that turns your faucet off and makes the water come out of the spray could be corroded. When and if you take your faucet apart as Palm suggested that would be a good time to replace this valve. If it is a Delta faucet you must lift the spout off the faucet to get to the valve, it should be right in front when you take off the spout.

the valve that turns your faucet off and makes the water come out of the spray

For the record, it's called a diverter. The Delta replacement that Home Depot sells made by Danco costs about two-and-a-half bucks; the genuine Delta flavor costs closer to five. Personally, the Danco variety works beutifully for me, so I see no reason to spend twice as much just to get a "genuine" part.

What puzzles me is that the sink has a separate sprayer in the first place. I've only seen rigid-spouted sinks with separate sprayers; usually, the kind that the whole spout comes off attached to a flexible hose will not have a sprayer, since the spout itself can do a beautiful job as a sprayer.

In fact, as far as I can tell, the phrase "The faucet is combined with the sprayer and pulls out like a hose" seems to imply that there is NO separate sprayer; rather, it's all one big piece (the spout).


it should be right in front when you take off the spout.

Or right in the back. ;) Believe me, I've been called in to repair quite a few faucets over the last couple of months and have run into more than one that happened to be installed backward. No big deal in the functionality of the faucet - just that the diverter valve (and the company logo, if any) were facing the backsplash of the countertop.

Although, like I said before, I'm not sure Mondo's really saying he has a separate sprayer, and if not then there will be no diverter.

Cheers,
Moishe

To Palm (For the record, it's called a diverter) I had no idea that I was writing my answer to an expert in the field so I used a phrase that I thought anyone could understand and by the way in the plumbing industry there are many different type of diverters that do many different jobs

Don't fret - I figured you probably know the right term. ;) That's why I said "for the record": it was directed at Mondo or anyone else reading this thread, so that (if necessary) he/she/they can also know the correct term for next time. ;)

Cheers,
Moishe

Now, Now children, don't fight! Play nice!
Mondo, Moshie and letmetellu gave you excellent answers but failed to mentioned the aerator. If the aerator screens are clogged than there would a pressure loss. Pull the aerator and check the screens. If the screens are Ok I would remove the handle, check the inlet ports on the cartridge or seats and springs in the ball and flush out the supplies. To get more specific I will have to have the model number of your faucet. Good luck, Tom

Now, Now children, don't fight!! Play nice!


Who's fighting? Didn't you see the smilies? ;););)

(And yes, the following smilies are for THIS post: ;););))

Hey folks! I thought you should know, I did take all your advice and troubleshooted all the options given. And came up with nothing! However, the problem was with the actual hose. Some how the inner lining got twisted and folded into itself so the obvious happened. I found a way to pull the inner lining out and cut off about an inch of the part that was bad. Then I put it all back together. And now I have pressure, actually better then before, and a few minor injuries I might add. Thanks for coming to the rescue, you all are great. It's all smiles

No problem. ;)

And thanks for getting back to us with the end of the story. We really appreciate it.

Moishe