A guide to sink sprayer leaks

There can be many causes for puddles and drips around the kitchen sink, and a leaky sink sprayer might just be it. Sink sprayers don’t last forever, so it’s important to regularly check them for leaks. Ensuring they are in working order can conserve water, lower the utility bill, and prevent water damage in your home.

Inspect for leaks
If you suspect your sink sprayer is having problems, you need to find out where the source of the leak is. Pull the sprayer all the way out, fully exposing the hose. Turn the faucet on, and see if you can find where the water is leaking from. The potential spots for leaks on a sink sprayer are the sprayer head, the point where the coupling connects the head to the hose, somewhere along the hose, and where it connects to the faucet under the sink. Depending on where the leak is located, you might be able to repair it yourself.

Repairing the leak
When the leak is coming from where the water exits the head of the sprayer or where the head connects to the hose, first try tightening the connection between the sprayer head and hose by twisting the coupling. If you turn on the faucet after this and see that there’s still a leak, there might be a problem with the washers inside the coupling. Remove the sprayer head and make sure the washers are pushed all the way down. Test the sink sprayer again to determine if the washers need replacement or if they just weren’t properly positioned. If you need new washers, they can be purchased at most hardware stores.

Water under the sink could indicate a leak coming from where the hose connects to the faucet. If the hose fits to the faucet with a threaded connection, you might be able to fix the leak with a little tightening. You can do this with your hands and finish it off with a wrench. Do not disconnect the hose from the faucet unless you turn off the sink’s water supply first.

Replacing the sink sprayer
The sprayer head and the hose usually need to be replaced instead of fixed if one of them is the source of the leak. You’ll know the problem is in the sprayer head if the washers work fine and are properly positioned, and there are no leaks in the hose. In this case, you can purchase a sprayer head at the hardware store that is compatible with your hose. Hoses are a different story, though. They usually aren’t sold separately, so you’ll have to replace both the hose and the sprayer head if there’s a leak in it.

If you need help determining the source of leaks in your home, contact American Leak Detection. Their professionals can find the leak before it causes water damage.