A faucet diverter is installed inside your Delta kitchen faucet to redirect water to the faucet sprayer from the spout once the sprayer trigger is pressed.
Forcing the sprayer trigger connected to your kitchen faucet may cause the diverter to block the water flow to your faucet spout and direct it to the nozzle. If your sprayer is under low pressure, it could be caused by the diverter. The diverter is fixed somewhere on the faucet's body, and with time, it can be blocked with mineral deposits. Therefore, installing a new kitchen faucet diverter will make your sprayer work.
How to Install a Faucet Diverter
Tools
- Flathead screwdriver
- Pliers, tongue-and-groove
- Hex key set or small Phillips screwdriver
- White vinegar
- Rag
- Butter-knife or nickel
- Thread-seal tape
- Small brush
Step 1: Check the water supply lines to the faucet. Turn off both hot and cold water supply lines.
Step 2: Locate the screw holding your faucet handle in place. You can use either a hex key or Phillips-head screwdriver, depending on your faucet, to loosen the screws to release the handle from the faucet.
Step 3: Hold your faucet spout. Twist it right and left as you raise it until the spout is free, exposing the O-rings and the diverter.
Step 4: Using a needle-nose, hold the diverter and pull it from the faucet.
Step 5: Pull your faucet apart and remove the O-rings from the faucet body. Since O-rings are very cheap, replacing them when replacing the old diverter will help stop leaks from the old O-rings.
Step 6: Take your original O-rings and the diverter to a home improvement center or plumbing supply store to buy exact replacements.
Step 7: Secure the O-rings that came with your new diverter and the O-rings for the faucet body with petroleum jelly. Place the larger O-ring onto the faucet body and the smaller O-ring onto the diverter.
Step 8: Squeeze the new diverter into the opening on the kitchen faucet body until the tip of the diverter is on the same level as the faucet body.
Step 9: Reinstall the faucet spout on the faucet body, insert the handle and tighten the screw.
How to Fix a Kitchen Faucet Diverter
Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet Diverter
Step 1: Locate the cold and hot water supply valves under the sink and rotate them clockwise. Turn on the faucet to make sure no water is flowing to the unit.
Step 2: Locate the set screw on the base of your faucet handle and loosen it with a small Phillips screwdriver. Remove the handle from the faucet to have access to the faucet cap.
Step 3: Put a rag on top of the cap behind the faucet spout. Using tongue-and-groove pliers, turn the cap counterclockwise. Remove the cap to allow access to the cam, packing, and ball assembly. Start by removing the cam from the faucet body, lift the packing, and then the ball assembly.
Step 4: Rotate the spout back and forth as you apply upward forth to remove it from the faucet body. This will expose the faucet diverter at the front of the faucet body.
Step 5: Insert a flathead screwdriver behind the diverter into the faucet body. Apply some force on the back of your faucet diverter using the flathead screwdriver to remove it from the faucet body. Immerse the diverter in a mixture of water and white vinegar for about two hours.
Step 6: Insert the clean diverter back into its position. Reinstall the spout, ball assembly, and packing. Place the cam over the ball assembly and packing, pushing down the cam to cover it.
Step 7: Screw the cap back onto your faucet. Replace the faucet handle and tighten the set screw to secure it. Turn on the supply valve to supply water to the faucet.
Two-Handled Kitchen Faucet Diverter
Step 1: Locate the cold and hot water supply valves under the sink and rotate them clockwise. Turn on the faucet to make sure the water supply is off.
Step 2: Locate the set screw on the base of your faucet handle and loosen it with a small Phillips screwdriver. Remove the handle from the faucet to have access to the faucet cap.
Step 3: Insert a nickel or a butter knife into the opening at the top of the diverter. Rotate the diverter counterclockwise to remove it from the faucet body.
Step 4: Soak the diverter in a mixture of water and white vinegar for about two hours.
Step 5: Wrap the clean diverter threads with at least two layers of thread-seal tape and insert it into its place. Tighten the diverter using a nickel or butter knife.
Step 6: Reinstall the faucet cap on the faucet body. Cover the cap with a rag, and then tighten it using pliers. Turn on the supply valve to supply water to the faucet.
How to Unblock a Diverter Valve in Kitchen Faucet
Step 1: Shut off the hot and cold valves under the sink. If the valves don't have a shutoff, shut off the main valve that supplies water to your fixture. Turn on the faucet to allow the water remaining in the lines to drain out.
Step 2: Locate the set screw at the lower part of the faucet handle. In some faucets, the screw is covered with a decorative cap that you can pull off. Loosen the screw using a hex or Allen wrench and remove the handle.
Step 3: Turn the faucet bonnet or dome-shaped covering counterclockwise to loosen it. You should do this by hand, and if not, cover the bonnet with a cloth to avoid scratches and turn it using a pair of pliers. Move the spout back and forth as you pull up to remove it. You will locate the faucet diverter at the front of the faucet body, though it is at the back on some faucets.
Step 4: Use needless-nose pliers to remove the kitchen faucet diverter valve from the faucet body. Immerse the diverter in a mixture of water and white vinegar for about two hours to break down the mineral deposits. Carefully clean the part where the diverter sits on the faucet body using a small brush to clear any blockages or deposits from the area.
Step 5: Replace the clean diverter in the faucet, pushing it in with your finger. Apply the silicone faucet grease on the rubber O-rings on the faucet body, then slide the spout onto the faucet. Tighten the bonnet and replace the handle. Do not forget to tighten the set screw and secure it with the decorative cap.
Step 6: Turn back the shutoff valves on. Turn the faucet on to check if it works properly.
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Robert Syengo is an experienced web writer with a home improvement history that includes toilet remodeling and appliance installation. He enjoys writing and learning about electronics, gardens, design, remodeling and repair.