The retractable sprayer hoses on Delta faucets are one of the best reasons to buy the brand. But, what happens when you have to clean or replace it?
If you want to disconnect the sprayer hose from your Delta faucet, you’ll have to shut off the water supply to the kitchen. From there, you can easily unsnap the sprayer from the faucet using the built-in clip, take the sprayer apart, and remove it.
Main Topics
Understanding How a Sprayer Hose Works
A Delta Faucet sprayer hose connects to the water line via the same water connection as the faucet. Understanding this connection and how the mechanics work will give you a better understanding of how to take it apart.
The water supply lines, which feed the faucet and the sprayer, are connected to the faucet. So, how do you use a sprayer?
The faucet links to the sprayer by means of a tube or hose. In most cases, this is flexible and may even extend and retract. But, when the sprayer is on, the water that would normally go through the faucet goes through the sprayer instead. In fact, unless your water pressure is very high and you have a specialty sprayer, you can’t use both at once.
Why? The faucet contains a gadget known as a diverter, which is activated by pressing the handle on the sprayer. This (normally plastic) slider functions much like a railway switch, effectively changing the direction of water flow from the faucet to the sprayer hose.
In addition, you can naturally get a lot of problems from this connection. If the hose connection to the faucet is loose, it will leak. If the diverter is damaged, your faucet and your sprayer will both suffer. And, if one connection is clogged, it can cause problems for both.
3 Types of Sink Sprayer Connectors
Almost all Delta sprayer hoses are snap-in, meaning you’ll normally only have to consider one type. However, if you have a different faucet or an older Delta faucet, you might have a different connector.
Quick Connect or Snap In
Quick Connect adapters simply slide into place and snap in with a metal clip. These clips allow you to simply push a hose into place and it is securely attached. To remove the hose from Delta Faucet Snap In connectors, you’ll have to press the clip. This offers an easy and relatively sturdy way to connect sink sprayers without any technical know-how. However, the connection isn’t as strong as a threaded connection. This means it may be more prone to leaks or damage. Which might also be why you want to take it apart now.
Threaded
Threaded connectors feature a two-part connector. In the case of a faucet with a built-in thread adaptor, it’s also very secure. Here, you screw one end of the adaptor onto the threaded pipe in the faucet. The other end screws onto the sprayer hose. While you’ll still have to use P.T.F.E. tape to ensure the bond is watertight, this is a very secure fastening and it’s unlikely to have issues. However, it might be too loose, the tape might be clogged, or it might have been poorly installed. In this case, it might leak.
Threaded adapters are also normally made of metal, where snap-in connectors can be plastic or metal.
Spout Adapter
While Delta doesn’t normally sell faucet adapters for sprayer hoses, you might have one anyway. These adapters screw over the top of standard faucets. This allows you to connect a diverter or a sprayer hose directly to the faucet. That’s true even if it doesn’t have a built-in connection. However, these are highly likely to have problems. For example, all water from the faucet moves through one connection. This increases the chances of lime and sediment buildup. In addition, adapters are more likely to be poorly installed or to develop leaks. This means you may want to eventually remove your adaptor to replace or improve the installation.
How to Remove Spray Hose from Delta Faucet
If you have a Delta faucet, removing the built-in spray hose is relatively easy. In fact, chances are, you can remove it in just a few minutes with very little tooling.
You will need:
A bucket that fits under the kitchen sink plumbing (a large pan will do)
An adjustable wrench
Shut Off the Kitchen Water Supply
It’s always important to shut off the water before working with the plumbing. Here, you can choose to shut off the water mains for the full house. You might also have a local water supply for the kitchen sink. In this case, you normally have a lever to turn off the water supply directly to the sink. This is preferable if you have the shutoff valve. Why? If you shut off water mains for the full house, you might also have to turn off your boiler or hot water heater. You also won’t be able to use the toilets until you finish, so be sure to fill up a bucket or two of water if you think it might take a while.
Drain the Water
It’s important to drain as much water out of the lines as possible. If you’ve turned off water to your sink, run the faucet and the sprayer. Leave them open and allow them to drip. If you’ve also turned off your whole house, make sure you drain faucets on any floors above the sink. Don’t bother to flush the toilets. However, you may have to turn your boiler off and drain any hot water in the pipes.
Detach the Sprayer Hose
All Delta faucets use a Snap-On connection. This is normally located beneath the counter and connects the sprayer hose to the outlet tube.
Open your cabinet doors and look for the tube. You may want a flashlight or headlight if your cabinets are particularly dark. However, it’s unlikely this is necessary. Locate the outlet tube where the sprayer tube is connected. It’s always a good idea to double check that this is the sprayer hose. For example, if you tug on it, does the sprayer hose move up top?
Empty under the cupboard and fit a bucket or pan under the outlet. Then, find the clip attaching the sprayer hose to the tube. Unclip it. If there’s a small screw on the O-ring around the connector, loosen it slightly. You’ll want to make sure you put the clip in a secure place, unless you don’t want to use this sprayer hose again.
Press down and pull the connection to remove it. You might also have a weighted “pull-out” connection. You should pull this to remove it, then remove the weight.
Identify which Delta Sprayer You Have and Remove the Head
Delta sells three types of Sprayer heads. The next step will depend on which type you have.
Single-handle faucet with a pull-out sprayer
Single-handle faucet with a separate sprayer coiled to the side
Two-handle faucet with a detached sprayer with its own slot in the sink
Pullout Faucet
Delta’s pullout faucet is their most popular model and the one you most likely have. To remove it, slightly pull the sprayer head away from the faucet and secure it. You may do so by creating a loop in the hose or by having someone hold it for you. Alternatively, clipping it to the faucet will work in a pinch.
Check whether you have a pin connection or a nut at the base of the sprayer head. Then, either use the button release to free the head, or use the adjustable wrench. If you’ve been using the faucet for some time, lime deposits may cause either one to stick. Make sure you tighten the wrench enough to avoid stripping the bolt if it is stuck. If it won’t budge, soak the head in a deliming solution such as vinegar and water, a professional solution, or baking soda and water for about 30 minutes before attempting.
Other Faucets
Delta’s other two faucet types both use a slide nut to hold the sprayer head in place. To remove this, simply pull the sprayer hose out enough to see the nut. Slide it anti-clockwise. If it’s stuck, use the deliming solution to clear up any buildup first.
Remove the Hose
You should now be able to simply pull the sprayer hose out of the sink. It might stick or roll up one side. Make sure you straighten any kinks out. In addition, if you’ve rolled extra hose up under the counter, you want to pull the hose out from underneath.
That’s it, you’ve successfully removed your hose. You can now replace it, clean it, or manage any repairs as necessary.
Put the Hose Back or Plug the Connection
Unfortunately, if you have a Delta faucet with a built-in sprayer, you’ll have to put a hose back. If you prefer not to have one, you can use a plug to fill the connector hole. Delta often supplies these with hoses new in the box. Alternatively, you can contact Delta customer support to order one.
Otherwise, you’ll have to attach the hoses to keep water from leaking when you turn the kitchen supply back on. Here, you’ll normally want to start by connecting the hose to the sprayer head, running the hose back through the existing holes, and then re-attaching it below the counter. You will want to use P.T.F.E. tape on some connections. In addition, if you have a weighted connection or a clip, be sure to replace those when you put the faucet back.
Related Queries
If your kitchen sprayer is having problems, it can result in a massive water leak. The following FAQ can help in your quest to fix or resolve those problems.
What is a Quick Connect Faucet?
A Quick Connect sprayer hose on your faucet is one that attaches quickly, with a minimum of work. For example, most old-fashioned hoses use threaded connectors. These take time and tools to tighten. You might have to use an adjustable wrench or more than one to properly fit the hoses. A Quick Connect sprayer hose normally snaps on. It might use a weight or a clip, or both, to ensure the connection stays secure. But, you can normally install it in a matter of a few minutes, without bothering with tools or tape. In most cases, you’ll also have to slightly tighten a small screw on the O-Ring connector. Otherwise, there’s little work involved.
How to Know if Your faucet is a Quick Connect or Not?
If you have a Delta Quick Connect faucet, it’s relatively easy to identify. Here, you’ll have a pin or an O-ring with a small screw connecting the sprayer hose to the faucet. If you don’t have a Quick Connect sprayer hose, you’ll have a threaded connection. This is larger, normally made of brass, and must be unscrewed to be removed. That’s essentially very simple. However, if you still aren’t sure, you can still look up your faucet model to verify.
Why Does My Kitchen Sink Hose Leak?
Sprayer hoses can leak for a variety of reasons. The most common are loose connectors and kinks or breaks in the hose itself. For example, if mineral buildup has worked its way into threaded connections, the connections might leak. If the connection is loose or slightly crooked, the connection will leak. Similarly, if you have a pin or clip-on connector that has come loose, it will leak.
Your sprayer hose will also leak if it’s been damaged. For example, if it was badly twisted and the seal on the inside broke. Or, if there’s actually rust or physical damage to the outside of the line. These problems are unlikely but can occur after several years of use.
Finally, you might have unusual damage such as clogs in the hose, a damaged diverter, or physical damage to the faucet. And, sometimes, kitchen sink hoses leak because the water pressure is too high. In this case, you’ll simply have to take the connections apart, add P.T.F.E. tape and put them back together to improve the water tightness of the seals.
Conclusion
There are plenty of reasons you might want to take the sprayer hose off your Delta faucet. Luckily, it’s also relatively easy to do so. Hopefully this guide helps you resolve whatever issues you were having.
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