Yes, a kitchen faucet can fail from wear, mineral scale, high pressure, or defective parts.
A kitchen tap is a hard-working fixture. Day after day it turns, sprays, pivots, and holds back pressurized water. Like any mechanical part, it can wear, clog, or break. This guide shows the common signs, why they happen, and the fixes that save time and money.
What Going Bad Looks Like
Leaks from the spout. Drips or a beaded droplet after shutoff point to a worn cartridge or debris lodged on the sealing surfaces.
Water at the base. A wet deck beneath the handle or around the spout usually traces back to a failed O-ring or loose retaining nut.
Low flow or sputter. Debris in the aerator, scale in the diverter, or a clog at supply lines can throttle flow. Air in the lines after plumbing work can make the stream spit.
Handle trouble. Stiff motion, grinding, or a handle that won’t line up often means mineral scale on the stem or a failing cartridge.
Sprayer issues. A pull-down head that hangs, a weak spray, or cross-leaks between stream and spray modes point to a sticky diverter or a tired hose.
Noise. Whistling, chatter, or a jackhammer sound comes from scale on internal parts or high water pressure that makes valves oscillate.
Finish wear. Pitting, green crust, or flaking speaks to hard water and harsh cleaners. It doesn’t stop the water, but it signals rough conditions inside too.
Touchless quirks. Random starts, laggy response, or dead taps usually trace to dirty sensors, low batteries, or a loose control cable.
Quick Symptom Map
Use the table below to match a symptom to likely causes and a first check. It keeps the early steps simple.
| Symptom | Likely Causes | First Check Or Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Drip at spout | Worn cartridge, debris on seat | Clean aerator, then replace cartridge |
| Water at base | Bad O-ring, loose nut | Tighten retaining parts; replace O-rings |
| Low flow | Clogged aerator, scale in hose or diverter | Soak aerator; flush lines; descale sprayer |
| Handle hard to turn | Scale on stem, damaged cartridge | Lube with plumber’s grease; swap cartridge |
| Sprayer weak | Sticky diverter, kinked hose | Cycle sprayer modes; inspect and replace hose |
| Rattle or whine | High pressure, loose washers | Test pressure; add or set a regulator |
| Temperature swings | Cartridge failure, debris in mixing ports | Flush; replace mixing cartridge |
| Touchless misfires | Dirty sensor, low batteries, misaligned cable | Clean lens; replace cells; reseat cable |
Why Kitchen Faucets Go Bad Over Time
Most failures come from friction, heat, and water chemistry. Scale from hard water builds on moving parts. Grit from supply lines or a failing water heater scours seals. Dry O-rings crack. High pressure hammers valves and speeds wear.
Materials matter too. Solid brass bodies with ceramic cartridges last longer than thin alloys with soft seals. Hoses with braided stainless sleeves shrug off bends better than vinyl alone. A quality spray head handles frequent docking without wiggling loose.
Pressure plays a big part. When static pressure climbs, every open-close cycle batters seals. Aim for static pressure under 80 psi; many homes run near 60 psi. A simple gauge at an outdoor spigot shows where you stand.
Flow limits set the pace of wear as well. Current federal rules for kitchen faucets cap flow at 2.2 gpm at 60 psi. Lower flow doesn’t cure leaks, but it trims total water that passes through the valve each day.
Safety rules also matter. Products that meet NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 limit leaching of lead and other contaminants. If your tap lacks proof of compliance, or you spot a listed recall, replacement becomes a health choice, not just a comfort choice.
How To Diagnose In Ten Minutes
Start clean. Unscrew the aerator and soak the parts in white vinegar for 15 minutes, then brush and reassemble. Flow returns for many homes right there.
Check pressure. Attach a gauge to a hose spigot with all taps closed. Read the number with no water running. Under 80 psi is the target; near 60 psi is common for fixtures. If it’s higher, set or add a pressure-reducing valve. If it’s low across the house, call the utility.
Rule out supply valves. Make sure the hot and cold stops under the sink are fully open. If turning a stop changes flow or adds noise, the stop itself may be clogged.
Separate the sprayer. If you have a pull-down, run water with the head removed and a bucket underneath. Strong flow without the head points to scale in the head or the small screen.
Test the cartridge. Shut water off, pop the handle, and inspect the cartridge for cracks or heavy scale. If the faucet leaks only at certain handle positions, the cartridge is near the end. Match the model and replace it; most take a 10–20 minute swap.
Look for debris. After any plumbing work, flush the lines before reconnecting the aerator or sprayer. Tiny solder beads and mineral flakes love to lodge in the first screen they meet.
Expected Lifespan And What Affects It
Most modern kitchen taps run for a decade or more with light care. Heavy use, hard water, and high pressure shorten that span. If a faucet leaks in more than one spot after a new cartridge and hoses, the body or spout bearings are worn and a swap makes sense.
Repair Or Replace: Make A Call With Facts
Some fixes are fast and cheap: aerators, O-rings, spray heads, and cartridges. Others add up: multiple hoses, diverter, handle kits, plus your time. Use the table later in the article to stack the decision.
Set a basic rule. If parts exceed half the price of a comparable new tap, and the body shows wear or pits, pick replacement. If the body is sound and this is the first leak in years, repair wins.
| Situation | Best Move | Why It Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Drip only, body solid, first time | Replace cartridge and aerator | Low cost, fast, restores shutoff |
| Weak spray after new water work | Flush lines, clean screens | Debris is common after repairs |
| High static pressure over 80 psi | Install or set a PRV | Reduces wear and noisy pipes |
| Recurring base leak with wobble | Replace faucet | Spout bearings or body worn |
| Touchless dead after new batteries | Clean sensor lens, check cable | Grime and loose plugs are common |
| Old unit with pitted finish and scale | Replace faucet and hoses | Hidden wear will keep surfacing |
Pick Parts And Models That Last
Cartridges. Grab the exact part number from the manual or the old part. Aftermarket clones can fit loosely and wear early.
Hoses. Choose braided stainless with metal connectors and a check valve at the sprayer if your model supports it.
Spray head. Metal shells resist dings. A dual-mode head with a simple diverter button tends to outlast heads loaded with tiny switches.
Finish. PVD coatings shrug off scratches better than lacquered coatings. Brushed stainless hides fingerprints best.
Mounting. A rigid deck plate and solid nuts keep the body tight. Plastic nuts creep and come loose.
Standards. Look for labeling that confirms NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 compliance. For water-efficiency context and pressure targets, see the EPA resource linked in this guide.
Safety Check: Lead Recalls And What To Do
In 2025 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported multiple low-priced taps sold online that could leach unsafe lead. If yours matches a listed model, stop using it for drinking water and follow the refund and disposal steps in the notice. See the official CPSC recall notice.
While you wait on a replacement, flush the line for 15 seconds before use and use cold water for cooking; hot water can pull more metals from plumbing. If children or pregnant people live in the home, use filtered water certified for lead reduction until a compliant tap is installed.
Preventive Care That Pays Off
Wipe the spray face weekly so nozzles stay clear. A soft toothbrush keeps the stream even.
Grease the moving parts during cartridge changes. Food-grade plumber’s grease on O-rings cuts friction and extends life.
Swap supply hoses when you change the faucet or every 5–7 years in hard water areas.
Set pressure once and forget it. A pressure-reducing valve at the main keeps stress off every valve and seal in the house.
Add a simple sediment filter if your supply brings grit. Even a small cartridge before the kitchen branch helps.
Keep cleaners gentle. Skip abrasives and strong acids; they scar finishes and expose the metal beneath.
Parts And Tools Checklist
Have these ready: adjustable wrench, hex keys, screwdrivers, needle-nose pliers, plumber’s grease, white vinegar, towel, small bucket, Teflon tape, exact replacement parts, and a hose-bib pressure gauge.
Swap Plan For A Standard Single-Handle
Shut water at the stops. Lift the cap, loosen the set screw, and remove the handle. Take off the cover and retaining nut. Note alignment, pull the cartridge, clean the cavity, set the new one, and reassemble. Open the stops slowly, purge air, and check for leaks.
Touchless Models: Extra Checks
Install fresh batteries, clean the sensor window, seat the sensor cable, and test the manual override. If the solenoid clicks with no flow, rinse the small filter at the control box and check for scale.
Water Quality Moves That Help
Hard water lays scale. A softener or scale inhibitor slows buildup. A small under-sink filter that catches grit protects the valve. Change cartridges on schedule so the filter doesn’t mimic a clog.
DIY Steps With Care
Turn water off at the stops and test by opening the handle before any disassembly. Place a towel in the sink so small parts don’t chip porcelain or vanish down the drain. Take photos as you go. They help during reassembly.
Use the right lube. Only silicone-based plumber’s grease belongs on O-rings and threads near drinking water.
Torque by feel. Snug is good; reefing on small screws snaps handles and stems.
If a part sticks, don’t pry on the finish. Heat from a hair dryer softens scale and frees threads.
When To Call A Pro
Bring in a licensed plumber when the shutoffs won’t close, the handle stem is seized in the body, the deck flexes, or you see corrosion on supply lines. Call sooner if water shows under the cabinet or the counter is delicate stone.
A pro can also measure pressure at several points, confirm code items, and swap a regulator or angle stops while protecting finishes.