For many families, the kitchen sink is the primary supply of drinking water and also serves as a convenient stop for handwashing. When the pressure from the faucet steadily drops, it can become a pain to wash dishes or quickly fill a big pot. Luckily there are a few simple causes of most water pressure issues affecting just the kitchen sink.
Always start by checking other faucets and water fixtures in the house to verify it’s not a widespread problem. This indicates a restricted flow in the central water supply for the whole home. A plumber can help locate the cause of the restriction in flow. Call a neighbor if the entire house is experiencing low pressure. If it’s a neighborhood-wide problem, get in touch with the municipal water supply to report the issue.
A tiny screen screws onto the end of almost every kitchen faucet installed today, and it’s known as the aerator. Pushing the water through the screen breaks up the flow, making it more effective for rinsing off soapy dishes and hands alike. Yet when debris and grit build up in the screen, water pressure steadily drops over time. Simply twist the aerator off the end of the faucet and see if the pressure increases. If that’s the case, order a replacement aerator that matches the faucet model.
The cartridges are located under the taps and help control the flow of each temperature. A single-handle faucet will only have one cartridge. When these parts become worn with time, they may not open as much with each turn and therefore produce a restricted flow out of the faucet. Replacing the cartridges requires a little more work than the aerator, but it’s still within the grasp of homeowners familiar with simple plumbing repairs. Make sure replacement cartridges are available for the particular faucet model before removing them.
Don’t let low pressure from a kitchen faucet slow down the dishwashing process. If these fixes don’t restore the flow, try a new faucet from Kingston Brass.
