Is the water ooming out of our kithen faucet not as well as it should? First things to check are the built-in water filter (not included on the early models), a clogged strainer (at the tip of the faucet except for the one-piece models with the lift-out sprayer), or a kinked water supply line. Also, if the water pressure is fine in the shower and the lavoratory, then you likely have a clogged faucet. The following details how to unclog the single-lever kitchen faucet with integrated sprayer.
Removing and cleaning the strainer had no effect, so I disconnected the hot and cold water supply lines, one at a time, and found that there was no restriction in the water lines. This meant the problem was within the mixing faucet itself.
I tried to use air pressure from a portable compressor to 'back blow' the hot and cold water sides of the faucet, to no avail, as I could not force any air through either side.
Deciding to see if I could find the problem, I removed the faucet from the sink and proceeded to disassemble the beast, only to find the passage between the valve, and the wand had some kind of a valve in it. Removing the hose going to the wand, I found a spring loaded back-flow preventer, and a flow restrictor/strainer. Carefully removing the plastic flow restrictor/strainer for examination revealed almost all of the passages were blocked with what appears to be a white calcium like substance.
After removal of these white particles, and re-assembly of the faucet restored full flow of both the hot and cold water. I guess I could have simply removed the restrictor/strainer and reassembled the faucet, however this could well lead to excessive use of a limited water supply when dry camping.
Before re-installation of the faucet, I flushed both the hot and cold water lines to insure none of the offending particles remained in the lines to replug the faucet restrictor/strainer. I have noticed this same white substance from time to time when I back-flush the heater tank. I guess, in the future, I will back-flush the heater tank more often to lessen the chance of the faucet plugging again.
- Submitted by Bill Capers
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