Kitchen sink sprayer has lost its oomph

Q: The sprayer attachment on my kitchen sink just doesn’t have the power that it used to. I tried scrubbing the front of the sprayer with a vinegar-water mixture and an old toothbrush, but it didn’t help. Should I replace the entire sprayer attachment? — Sprayless in Seattle

A: Don’t give up on the cleaning idea just yet. Mineral buildup can occur behind the sprayer’s aerator, so disassemble the sprayer head by unscrewing the cap at the front. (Be sure to put the sink stopper in the drain in case any of the small parts fall out.) Visually inspect the aerator, cap and the interior of the sprayer for mineral buildup. Soak the smaller parts in a half-vinegar, half-water solution to loosen the buildup. Use your old toothbrush to scrub the sprayer and parts. Rinse all parts, reassemble the sprayer head, and test.

If the cleaning doesn’t resolve the problem, check the sprayer hose for cracks or leaks. You may need a helper to operate the sprayer while you look at the hose under the sink. Hoses can crack at attachment points, so pay special attention to these. If you can’t see any damage there, turn off the water at the shutoff valve, unscrew the hose from its sprayer nipple underneath the main faucet, and pull the whole sprayer assembly up and out. Then, unscrew the entire sprayer head from the hose (via the handle mount at the bottom of the head). You may see some damage here, from a corroded washer top to a cracked mount. You could just replace the washer, but it may be better, long-term, to take the entire assembly to the hardware store and purchase a replacement assembly.

If no damage is evident, the faucet’s diverter valve may be faulty — usually from worn or cracked O-rings or washers. The diverter valve is located in the faucet body (in pull-up-style faucets, beneath the center handle). You’ll need to turn off the water flow, remove the faucet handle and, using needlenose pliers, carefully pull the small diverter valve from the faucet body. Clean in the vinegar-water solution and replace any damaged washers or O-rings. Reseat the diverter valve, reassemble the faucet and test the sprayer.

HOME TIP: Using duct tape or other sealants to wrap a damaged, leaky sprayer hose is a temporary solution at best. Replacing the hose is a quick and fairly easy repair and will prevent water damage inside the sink cabinet.