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Repair an erratic sink sprayer by replacing the diverter

Poor water flow or uneven, pulsing water spray from a sink sprayer can mean that the diverter needs to be cleaned or replaced.

by Gary Wentz

From The Family Handyman

Inside your faucet, there’s a “diverter” valve, which stops the water flow to the spout and sends it to the sprayer when you press the spray head’s trigger. Here are the symptoms of diverter trouble:

• Very little water, or none at all, comes out of the sprayer when you press the trigger. A bad sprayer head can cause this, but more often the diverter is the culprit. To check this, remove the spray head and turn on the faucet. If the water flow out of the hose is weak, the diverter is to blame.
• The sprayer pulsates like a machine gun.
• Water continues to flow out of the faucet spout when you’re using the sprayer.

Often, a misbehaving diverter needs only light scrubbing with a toothbrush and a good rinse. But since removing a diverter usually requires major faucet disassembly, it’s best to simply replace the diverter rather than risk taking it apart again.

Diverter styles and removal procedures differ widely. Some are small valves like the one shown here. Others are larger cylinders that don’t look like valves at all. Some newer diverters aren’t inside the faucet, but are instead connected to the sprayer hose below. So the first step in diverter repair is finding a diagram of your faucet. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, do an online search. Type in the manufacturer of your faucet followed by “faucet parts diagram.” With a little searching, you’ll find an illustration showing your faucet’s internal parts. You’ll also find several sources for replacement parts online. To find a local supplier, check the Yellow Pages under “Plumbing, Fixtures.” Diverters cost from $7 to $20.

From The Family Handyman - June 2006