Fix Low Water Pressure in Your Kitchen Faucet In Minutes

If you’ve noticed a decline in your kitchen faucet’s water pressure, don’t start shopping for new faucets just yet. Chances are it’s just a build up of sediment and scale that’s reducing the flow of water through the faucet. Most kitchen faucets with a retractable spray head have a strainer inside them that catches any sediment or debris that’s flowing through the faucet. As that debris builds up, it can clog the kitchen faucet, lowering its water pressure. While this plumbing issue is annoying, it doesn't require a plumber's expertise or even any special tools to fix it. You can fix this problem in minutes. 

Related: That Black Slime On Your Faucet Isn't Mold

Before You Get Started

Check the water pressure at other faucets in the house to make sure this isn’t a house wide issue. If water pressure is low in more than one fixture, you’re likely dealing with a larger problem and will need the expertise of a plumber to diagnose the issue. 

How to FIx A Slow Kitchen Faucet

There are several problems that could be causing low water pressure at your kitchen faucet. Start with the easiest fix first. 

Check the Supply Lines

Start by checking the supply lines under the sink. Sometimes cleaning products and other supplies stored in the sink cabinet can push up against these lines, kinking them. Also check the valves on each supply line to make sure they are completely open. 

Clear the Faucet’s Filter

Most of the time a slow sink faucet is due to a clogged screen inside the faucet head. You'll need to open the faucet head to check it:

• Start by putting a stopper in the garbage disposal opening. You don’t want the washers or screens to fall out of the faucet and end up in the garbage disposal. 
• Unscrew the faucet head from the hose using an adjustable wrench. 
• After you’ve unscrewed the faucet head, you’ll see the screen. Clean out any sediment stuck in the screen then screw the head back onto the hose and check the water pressure. 

Soak the Sprayer Head

Scale can build up on the tip of the sprayer, slowing water flow and altering the spray pattern. Soaking the sprayer head can somtimes solve the issue:

• Place the nozzle in a bag with white vinegar and allow it to soak for about 15 minutes to dissolve the scale. Don’t soak the nozzle for longer than about 15 to 30 minutes. Vinegar is highly acidic and can damage the faucet’s plastic and rubber parts if allowed to soak for too long. 
• Reinstall the sprayer head and check the water pressure. 

Replace the Aerator

Sometimes cleaning out the screen and soaking the sprayer head isn’t enough. Sediment can make it past the screen to the aerator at the tip of the sprayer. When that happens, you'll need to replace the aerator to restore water pressure. Major faucet manufacturers like Moen, Kohler, and Delta, make special keys for removing the aerators. You can purchase a key and replacement aerators that are compatible with your brand typically for about $10 on Amazon. 

• Place the compatible aerator key in the tip of the faucet. The “teeth” of the key will fit into the indentations in the aerator.
• Turn the key counterclockwise to remove the aerator. 
• Replace the aerator with a new one using the key to tighten it into place. 
• Turn on the water and check the water pressure.