How to Turn Off Sink Sprayer – Step by Step

Many kitchen sinks are equipped with sink sprayer. While they make it easy to rinse the sink or dishes without having to clean the rest of the kitchen, they are prone to problems. Their propensity for problems varies depending on the type of sink sprayer you have.

If your sink sprayer refuses to turn off and gives you an impromptu shower every time the water is turned on, or if you just want to know how to turn off sink sprayer, we’re here to help. Read on for a guide on how to turn off sink sprayer without further ado.

Types Of Sink sprayer

There are two main types of sink sprinkler: one that sits on the sink deck and another that is built into the tap. The type of sprinkler you have plays a key role in how you troubleshoot it. Why? Well, the answer comes down to the way they work.

With a sprayer on the sink deck, when you press the handle of the nozzle, the water has to flow from the main tap back into the sink sprayer. In order to do this, the tap uses what is called a diverter.

What Is A Sink Diverter?

For some sink sprayers, a faucet diverter is necessary. A diverter is a valve that reroutes water from the central spout to the spray head. Typically, this valve is at the bottom of the tap.

Over time, it will suffer wear and tear from the use of the spray head. It can be damaged, causing problems with the sprinkler head. For example, the sprayer head may leak, or water may flow only to the spray head. Alternatively, the sprayer will not work and water will only come out of the tap.

Whatever the cause, if the diverter is the culprit, it’s an easy fix. Valve replacements are generally not expensive, but it depends on your faucet (e.g. Moen, Delta, Kohler).

How to turn off sink sprayer

If you think you no longer need your sink sprayer, perhaps it is leaking too much water or you are not using it, you can turn it off. Replacing the entire sprayer assembly is relatively simple and you can usually buy replacements at your local home improvement shop.

How to turn off sink sprayer? The first thing to do is to turn off the water supply. If you want to take it off, you will need to use pliers to disconnect the hose from one end of the sprayer and then also from the tap end. Once you have disconnected the sprayer hose, dry the exposed male threads and wrap them with pipe connection tape.

Screw a threaded brass flapper cap onto the threads and tighten it with a pair of pliers. Then, loosen the mounting nut holding the sprayer under the sink. If you can’t reach it, a faceplate spanner will help you remove the nut. Remove the mounting nut from the hose and pull the sprayer holder and sprayer out of the hole in the sink.

Cover the hole with the sinkhole cover and you can then turn the water back on.

Fixing A Sink Sprayer That Won’t Turn Off

If your sink sprayer is stuck, then there are a couple of ways to go about fixing it. Firstly, turn off the water supply line to the sink via the shut-off valve underneath the sink. If it doesn’t have a valve, you will have to turn off the water to the whole house.

When you do this, make sure you let the rest of the house know. Then, go back to the tap and turn it to the “on” position to drain any excess water from the supply line.

Turn Off The Water Spray Button

Before you start fixing the diverter, make sure the culprit is not a stuck jet button. Here’s what you’ll need.

• Flathead screwdriver
• WD-40 or other penetrating oil

Wedge a flat-head screwdriver under the handle of the sprayer. Try pressing the sprayer’s button to turn off the water flow to the sprayer. If it refuses to move, apply a small amount of WD-40 or penetrating oil to the button.

Press the trigger a few times to allow it to move over the mechanism. If this seems to help loosen the sprayer and return it to its normal position, then you may have completed the repair. If this is the case, turn on the water supply and test the sprayer.

If this doesn’t work, the diverter may be the problem, so continue with the method below.

Troubleshooting Diverter Problems

If the spray head of the kitchen tap remains stuck or if the spray head itself vibrates, the problem is probably with the diverter. Before disconnecting the components and checking the tap, turn off the water supply to the sink again. Drain the water in the supply line. How to turn off sink sprayer?

Here’s what you’ll need for this method

• Allen key
• Adjustable pliers
• Needle-nose pliers
• Flathead screwdriver
• Vinegar
• Silicone tap grease
• Replacement diverter (if necessary)

First, loosen the handle fixing screw on the tap with an Allen key. Remove the handle to expose the faucet cover. Then, remove the faucet cover by turning it anti-clockwise with a pair of movable pliers. This will expose the cam of the tap.

Remove the cam and ball assembly from the tap. Then, remove the tap by gently rocking it back and forth while lifting it up. This will help prevent damage to the O-ring. Once you have gotten rid of this, locate the diverter on the front of the tap lever. Using a pair of needle-nose pliers, lift it out.

Note: If you have a two-handle tap, you do not need to remove the spigot. The diverter is normally located under the cover at the back of the tap. You should be able to remove it by turning it with a flat head screwdriver.

Soak the diverter in a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. You shouldn’t need too much, maybe just ¼ cup. Let it soak for a few hours. Once it’s clean, replace it with the body of the tap.

Apply silicone tap grease to the O-ring and put the spout back in place in the same way you used when removing it: gently rock it back and forth while pushing down. Reinstall the cam and ball assembly and then attach the tap cover, turning it counter-clockwise by hand until it fits snugly. Then, tighten it with a pair of movable pliers.

Replace the tap handle and reinstall the fixing screws using an Allen key. Turn the water supply valve back on. Test that your handwork is working properly and that there are no leaks.

If you find that the diverter is worn when you remove it, then it is usually best to replace it. Although you can clean the old one and put it back into the tap, you may end up with the same problem.