Issues with a pull-down hose on kitchen faucet

[y_p_w]

It's a no name faucet with a head can be pulled down/extended and that has a spray setting, and my parents asked me to look at why it was leaking. It's been leaking at the head (probably a bad ball-joint washer) for a while but they tolerated that because it just leaks a little into the sink. I don't know the exact brand other than it doesn't identify the manufacturer and my dad said it was specifically no any well-known name brand. However, it was this type with a pull-down head and a single handle at the base of the faucet.

https://www.kohler.com/en/products/...h-two-function-sprayhead-30469?skuId=30469-CP

However, more recently it started leaking under the sink. I looked under and it has two supply lines that go into the base. Not sure these are replaceable if needed, but those lines wern't leaking. It was leaking at the pull-down hose that attaches to another hose at the base through a snap fitting. I wasn't sure why there was this heavy donut attached to the bottom of the hose until I did some research and figured that these are there to weigh down the hose so that it retracts from the weighted donut. For a while I thought it might have a magnet in there.

However, the hose under the braid must have been previously leaking. My parents called in a handyman before to work on the sink, and it looks like it was previously patched with electrical tape. Or at least some kind of vinyl adhesive tape. Not sure how that was supposed to work since the hose is braided but it wasn't leaking for a while.

So my parents are going to see about replacing this and it's a bit above my pay grade to replace. However, I did have some self-fusing silicone tape, and I figured that might create a temporary fix. I did a lot of overlaps hoping that perhaps it could compress the braid a bit to try and minimize any leaking between the hose and the braid.

Wondering if maybe it would be worth trying to track down replacement parts. Not sure where to get a ball-joint washer that fits. I had a leaky shower head ball joint and I couldn't find anything that worked. I'm not even sure if the braided pull-down hose is replaceable of if it's captive.

 

[dishdude]

These are super easy to replace, all you have to do is connect two hoses and mount it to the counter. As long as you're agile enough to access behind the sink from laying on your back, you can replace it in 10 mins.

 

[dubber09]

If it's a Kohler, call them and get the part replacement for free, they are lifetime, I did it with mine.

 

[Nukeman7]

Reach out to Kohler customer service first. Most name brand faucets have a lifetime warranty on parts but not labor. I suspect they will ask you to send photos and they will send you a complete new faucet. I have had similar success with Moen faucets.

 

[AZjeff]

Dad said it isn't a name brand, Kohler link is an example of what it looks like.

And it's amazing how super easy it is to install one of these. Get a name brand.

 

[y_p_w]

These are super easy to replace, all you have to do is connect two hoses and mount it to the counter. As long as you're agile enough to access behind the sink from laying on your back, you can replace it in 10 mins.

Thanks. I started thinking about it, and yeah I think I can do it. It would probably also fix both issues, since there's a leak in the middle of the hose and the ball-joint washer might not be replaceable, but a new ball-joint and washer would be part of a replacement hose. The only issue would be getting a hose with the right brass fittings. The cheapest I can find that HD has is one for Moen, but that probably doesn't have the right fittings. This one has a specific plastic fitting. I'm guessing it's not universal. Some of these (especially from Groehe

https://www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Kitchen-Faucet-Replacement-Hose-202750/321300969

And for anyone mentioning it, it's not Kohler. I just wasn't sure exactly what brand (possibly HD house brand without anything on the exterior). I just wanted an example of the style of faucet.

But this one is a kit with a whole bunch of adapters. I'm not sure any of those adapters matches the fitting though. I also question whether or not the connectors ends will slide in through faucet's tube even without the adapters.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-Replacement-Kitchen-Pullout-Faucet-Spray-Hose-865010/318763591

 

[y_p_w]

Dad said it isn't a name brand, Kohler link is an example of what it looks like.

And it's amazing how super easy it is to install one of these. Get a name brand.

I think they'd rather not have me try and install an entire faucet and perhaps mess it up. However, looking at how it all works, I'm sure I could replace the hose, if I could just find the right part.

 

[dishdude]

I think they'd rather not have me try and install an entire faucet and perhaps mess it up. However, looking at how it all works, I'm sure I could replace the hose, if I could just find the right part.

The hoses come with the faucet and are proprietary, so unless it's a manufacturer with parts support you'll have a tough time finding them.

 

[y_p_w]

The hoses come with the faucet and are proprietary, so unless it's a manufacturer with parts support you'll have a tough time finding them.

HD claims to have one that's more or less universal, although none of their adapters looked like the right fitting and I question whether or not the connectors will work. But I was thinking maybe the hose is thinner and the connectors are narrow enough to go through.

 

[Nukeman7]

I think they'd rather not have me try and install an entire faucet and perhaps mess it up. However, looking at how it all works, I'm sure I could replace the hose, if I could just find the right part.

If you decide to take on the challenge, this WeWe brand faucet on Amazon is as good or better than any other brand name unit I have installed. Installed four of these faucets in kitchens for family and friends and each household raves about it's performance. I can install one of these faucets in 15 minutes flat as soon as the water supply is shut off. Heck of a steal at today's Lightning Deal price.

 

[y_p_w]

If you decide to take on the challenge, this WeWe brand faucet on Amazon is as good or better than any other brand name unit I have installed. Installed four of these faucets in kitchens for family and friends and each household raves about it's performance. I can install one of these faucets in 15 minutes flat as soon as the water supply is shut off. Heck of a steal at today's Lightning Deal price.

View attachment 248781

Not sure if that's going to work. The sink has a weird cutout and that plate looks like it wouldn't fit. The sink is notched and has a detergent dispenser installed maybe 2 inches to the left of the sink. Does the plate have to be installed? Or is it a separate piece?

Never mind. I looked it up and found someone installing one without the plate. I think I can do it myself. I had a look at the sink when I did the temp fix of the hose, and the current faucet uses a brass nut and not a screw on sleeve like this one from Amazon. It might be a pain to get a wrench in to remove the original, but if it's beyond my capabilities, my mom says that she'll just pay someone else to do the work.



Update: I ordered one. I've got Prime now since Amazon seems to randomly offer me free or cheap Prime every once in a while and they're saying this can be delivered in the morning.

 

[CarLuver]

bought mom a $30 amazon one and installed it . works and feels just like expensive stuff. do it yourself , it how one learns

 

[Nukeman7]

Never mind. I looked it up and found someone installing one without the plate. I think I can do it myself. I had a look at the sink when I did the temp fix of the hose, and the current faucet uses a brass nut and not a screw on sleeve like this one from Amazon. It might be a pain to get a wrench in to remove the original, but if it's beyond my capabilities, my mom says that she'll just pay someone else to do the work.

You might need to get one of these multi-function faucet wrenches to easily unthread the large brass nut on the current faucet. It makes the job a lot easier when working under the sink in close quarters.

 

[joekingcorvette]

We had a German brand of this type and it was guaranteed for life. We went to the local supplier and they said the parts were no longer available therefore no warranty. It was an almond colored unit and very nice. Anyway spend less money and get a throw away since when these faucets get older you cannot get parts. My favorite faucet maker is called MOEN. They have treated us with the best customer service you can imagine. We had a couple expensive faucets go bad in our master bathroom and they literally bent over backwards to help us. IMO MOEN is one of the best as far as warranty and customer service . Do not buy those expensive German or other brands that look nice but only last for so long. Buy MOEN or something similar.

 

[y_p_w]

You might need to get one of these multi-function faucet wrenches to easily unthread the large brass nut on the current faucet. It makes the job a lot easier when working under the sink in close quarters.

View attachment 248786

Thanks again. I'm at their place right now and had a look at the current faucets. I think a Kohler bathroom faucet (they bought it at Costco) uses a long/thin hex nut if that needs to be replaced. But the Hansgrohe faucets they have seem to use a weird type of nut - maybe a wide/shallow hex? There's so much junk in the sink vanity that I can't really get my head inside unless I take everything out.

Spending $10 and tax on this is better than the aggravation of trying to get a crescent wrench in there where there's little space to work with.

 

[Leo99]

These are super easy to replace, all you have to do is connect two hoses and mount it to the counter. As long as you're agile enough to access behind the sink from laying on your back, you can replace it in 10 mins.

Depends on the faucet. My new Moen was pretty easy to install by a DIYer.

 

[y_p_w]

As far as the Wewe faucet goes, I read some of the comments in the YouTube video of the installation. Some say it works fine while others said they installed one and it leaked. I suppose the issue would be consistency. But if it doesn't leak I think my parents will be happy. And worst case I think I can just put the old one back in with a new hose. Everything else about it seems to be fine other than assorted scale buildup and stains over the years on the plastic head.

 

[Nukeman7]

As far as the Wewe faucet goes, I read some of the comments in the YouTube video of the installation. Some say it works fine while others said they installed one and it leaked. I suppose the issue would be consistency. But if it doesn't leak I think my parents will be happy. And worst case I think I can just put the old one back in with a new hose. Everything else about it seems to be fine other than assorted scale buildup and stains over the years on the plastic head.

The leaks are mostly due to improper installation. Pay attention to the instructions when connecting the hot & cold water supply lines to the shut off supply valves. You only want to tighten them enough to snug down the built-in rubber gasket, not any more. I did not read the instructions closely during the first one I installed at my parents house and over-tightened it where it leaked a few drops. The leak stopped after I backed off the coupling nuts 1/8 turn. You don't want to torque it down as much as a common brass compression fitting.

 

[burbguy82]

@y_p_w

What have you decided to do?

If you decided to replace the faucet, there are 3 brands to consider:

Delta
Moen
Kohler

And for ease of repair later, warranty etc, they are the only brands.

 

[Donald]

I have replaced a few. There are many different ends. I ordered several to find the right one.

Typically the piece that rotates where it's pressed into a ball pulls out. You can push it back together but a little tug to hard and it will pull out again.