[brooklynn]

Trying to see if I have a blockage in my kitchen sink (no hot water). I've read several responses about flushing my water heater and seeing a lot of talk of cartridges and aerators... and checking those as well.
Is the aerator the meshy part of the faucet, where the water comes out? Kind of like a filter?
And I have NO idea what/where the cartridge is.
Anyone mind explaining it to me?
TIA!
P.S. I have a single handle kitchen faucet... faucet doubles as a pull-out prayer. Kohler, I think?

[speedball1]

You are correct. The aerator is the device that screws on the end of the spout. The cartridge is located inside the valve body and directly under the handle and retaining nut. You will have to trurn the water off to get to it. Once you get the faucet apart turn the water back on for a minute to flush the pipes out.
Good luck, Tom

[brooklynn]

Called my handyman (aka Dad)... figured out that the hot water line under the sink came in from one source and T'd off into two lines. One for the sink, one for the dishwasher. The dishwasher wasn't getting any hot water either, so we knew it wasn't getting into the outlet at all and where to look for the blockage.
Upon further inspection, we find that the hot water line runs along the house's concrete foundation up against the exterior of the house. The cold water line runs parallel, but *inside* the house where it has heat and insulation. The hot water line, we assumed, was frozen up. Pulled out the hair dryer and heated random spots along the 12-ish foot line while leaving the hot water on the kitchen sink in the 'on' position. Low and behold, after about 15-20 minutes, we have hot water again! It was a simple frozen pipe! Figures. If the milk we have delivered each week freezes overnight (something it's never done before this last delivery when the storm came), why wouldn't water freeze, right? So, I'm just going to leave the hot water dribbling a little until it warms up a little to avoid this again.

[speedball1]

That's exactly the reason we moved to Florida from Wisconsin over 50 years ago. Regards and stey warm. Tom

[letmetellu]

If at all possible it would be a good idea to insulate the hot water pipe where it is exposed to the cold weather, this might stop any future freezing. Freezing pipes are not just the nuisance of not having water for a while but it can burst pipes and create lots of damage from the water leaking, and most insurance companies do not cover any type of water damage from plumbing leaks.