Where is Diverter Valve on A Kitchen Faucet – How It Works

2021/11/02 ClassificationFaucet Guide 23830

Quick Answer

The diverter valve on a kitchen faucet is usually inside the faucet body behind the spout, or under the handle where the spray hose connects. It switches water between the main spout and the side sprayer or pull-down spray head.

Where Is the Diverter Valve on a Kitchen Faucet?

The diverter valve on a kitchen faucet is usually located inside the faucet body, behind the spout, or under the handle. If your kitchen faucet has a side sprayer, the diverter is a small valve that switches water between the main spout and the sprayer. On pull-down and pull-out faucets, the diverter is built into the spray head or the hose connection.

To find the diverter, remove the handle and look for a small valve body with a rubber or plastic stem inside the faucet. On some faucets, the diverter sits under the spout and can be unscrewed after removing the spout. If you need to replace it, take the old diverter to a hardware store to match the size.

How a Kitchen Faucet Diverter Works

A kitchen faucet diverter works by using water pressure. When the sprayer is off, water flows normally through the spout. When you press the sprayer trigger, the pressure changes and the diverter seals off the spout path, forcing water through the sprayer hose instead. A worn diverter is a common cause of low sprayer pressure or water dripping from the spout while the sprayer is running.

Types of Kitchen Faucet Diverters

Kitchen faucets use a few different diverter designs. A side-sprayer faucet has a small diverter valve inside the faucet body that switches water to the sprayer. A pull-down or pull-out faucet has the diverter built into the spray head or the hose connection. A pot filler or a faucet with a separate filtered-water tap may use a different valve system entirely.

How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet Diverter

To replace a diverter, turn off the water, then remove the faucet handle and the spout if needed. Locate the diverter, which is usually a small round valve with a rubber stem. Pull the old diverter out with needle-nose pliers, clean the valve body, and press the new diverter into place. Reassemble the faucet and test the sprayer.

If the new diverter does not fit, take the old one to a hardware store or order a replacement by the faucet model number. A diverter that is the wrong size can cause low sprayer pressure or water to leak from the spout while the sprayer is running.

Troubleshooting a Kitchen Faucet Diverter

If the sprayer has weak pressure, the diverter may be clogged or worn. If water flows from both the spout and the sprayer, the diverter is not sealing. If the sprayer does not switch back to the spout, the diverter spring may be broken. In most cases, replacing the small diverter valve fixes the problem without replacing the whole faucet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the diverter valve on a pull-down kitchen faucet?

On most pull-down faucets it sits inside the faucet body or in the hose connection under the handle, and it redirects water to the spray head when you press the trigger.

How do I know if the diverter valve is bad?

A bad diverter often causes the spray head to lose pressure, both the spout and spray to run at the same time, or the faucet to keep dripping after use.

Can I replace a kitchen faucet diverter myself?

Yes, on many faucets you can remove the spout or handle assembly to reach the diverter, then swap in a matching replacement without replacing the whole faucet.