How to fix the spray hose on your kitchen sink

There are certain things around our homes that we pay little attention to until they stop working, including the kitchen sink sprayer. The sprayer comes in handy when rinsing dirty dishes and for getting water into a container that is taller than the faucet and base of the sink.

What do you do when the trigger is pressed but no water comes out? What about leaks and clogs?

Since a kitchen spray hose is not used as often as other water fixtures in the house, it has a tendency to clog up. It may also dry out or begin to leak. To prevent this breakdown in the future, be sure to use the hose on a regular basis.

Before you repair or replace the hose, make sure it’s not just clogged. If a clog appears:

• Prepare a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts hot water in a glass.
• Pull the sprayer up and let the head dangle in the mixture for about an hour.
• After soaking, use an old toothbrush to scrub away buildup on the head.
• Test the spray.
• If the hose works satisfactorily, replace the head in the sink and wipe the area down.
• If your sprayer has sprung a leak, turn the sprayer on and look for leaks on the sprayer head, hose or connections.

If the leak is at the plastic coupling that connects the head to the hose:

• Attempt to tighten by holding the sprayer head and twisting the coupling clockwise.
• If that doesn't solve the problem, remove the sprayer head by holding the sprayer, twisting the coupling counterclockwise and pulling down on the hose.
• Turn on the water to see if the leak exists on the hose. If so, the hose and sprayer head will need to be replaced.
• If there is no leak, firmly press the washers inside the coupling. If they move, they may not have been properly attached.
• Reseat the coupling over the hose and reattach the sprayer head.

Turn on the water and check for the leak. If the sprayer is still leaking:

• Remove the sprayer head from the coupling again and gently pry out the washers at the top of the coupling with a screwdriver.
• Replace the old washers, installing the thin washer before the thick one and press them both firmly into place.
• Screw the sprayer head back onto the coupler. Turn the water back on, press the trigger and check again. If it still leaks you must replace the sprayer and hose.

If a leak under the sink is a culprit of a faulty sprayer:

• Tighten the connection at the faucet with a wrench, turn on the water and check for the leak.
• If it is still leaking, unscrew the hose from the faucet, dry the internal and external threads of both the hose and faucet.
• Wrap thread tape around the external threads and hand screw the hose to the faucet, finish by tightening it with a wrench.
• Turn on the water and test for leaks. If the connection is still leaking replace the sprayer and hose.

If you find your sprayer needs to be completely replaced:

• Purchase a new hose and sprayer is the right size. Turn off the hot and cold water at the shut-off valves under the sink.
• Place the shroud for the sprayer in the hole in the sink and tighten the nut.
• Feed the sprayer hose down through the shroud and rest the sprayer in the shroud.
• Connect the end of the hose to the diverter connection on the water supply line.
• Check for leaks and tighten accordingly.

If at any time in the process you feel uncomfortable or unsure about your ability to perform this procedure, contact your Los Angeles plumber for help.

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