I have been having a problem with my kitchen faucet. Over the past couple of years, I have replaced my faucet 4 times because it keeps losing pressure down to a trickle. I live in the Joplin, MO area where we did lose a lot of pressure due to the tornado that came through here, but as far as I know, everyone else got their pressure back. I want to know if there is something I can do to the faucet itself to check and see if maybe it’s clogged up. I have checked and cleaned the screen that unscrews on the output side, but it really seems like it’s something that’s deeper inside that I can’t get to. I currently have a Moen faucet and it wasn’t one of the cheap ones, but I’m beside myself as to WHY it has lost so much pressure.
Am I going to have to call a plumber to check it out or is it something I can do myself? I tried to get the handle off to get inside like I would change the cylinder that is on the inside and can’t find out how to release the handle. Do I need to get to the set screw or is there another way to get the handle off? I know this all sounds lame, but sometimes I think it’s cheaper to go ahead and get a new faucet than it is to pay a plumber — which is something that doesn’t happen very fast around here with all the NEW building that’s going on to replace the houses that were lost or damaged.
Thanks for reading this. I hope I’ve made sense and there is something you can tell me that will help.
Billie Patterson
Since this is happening with multiple faucets, I suspect the faucet may not be the cause. Do you know if you have especially hard water? If so, there may be a mineral build up occurring in the facet or elsewhere leading to that point that is causing this to happen. I passed on your question to a rep at Moen and they provided the following response:
“Various factors may cause “low flow” from a faucet- Top causes include debris in the aerator, cartridge, and supply lines. The debris could potentially be coming from deposits accumulating in the hot water tank, a buildup of debris in pipes/fittings and/or just flowing from the water lines leading to your home.
If you have already taken off and cleaned the aerator then the source of the blockage could be somewhere in the faucet (anywhere from the supply lines to the spout). If there is a blockage the location may vary depending on whether or not you have a pull-out style faucet as opposed to a standard faucet style. Your plumber should be able to check for blockages in the your faucet or you may also contact Moen Consumer services for phone assistance regarding the issue.
Please feel free to call 1-800-BUY MOEN (289-6636). Moen Consumer Services is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am until 8:00pm (eastern time) and Saturdays from 9:00am until 5:30pm.