The pull-down sprayer won't retract
There's a small weight clamped to the hose under the sink that pulls the spray head back into place. When the weight slips, or the hose catches on something stored in the cabinet, the head hangs out. Clear the cabinet, check that the hose has a free path, and see whether the weight is still in the right spot. If the hose is kinked or worn, it needs replacing.
The spray head leaks or the button sticks
Spray heads have small internal seals and a diverter that switches between stream and spray. Scale builds up in both. Soaking the head in white vinegar sometimes frees a sticky button. If the head leaks from the body or won't hold its mode, replacing the head is the usual fix, and most brands sell them separately.
Water under the sink when the sprayer is running
That points to the hose or its quick-connect fitting. The hose flexes every time the head is pulled out, and it eventually cracks near a fitting. Shut off the valves under the sink until it's repaired, and see how to find an under-sink leak.
A touchless faucet stopped responding
Work through the simple things first:
- Replace the batteries in the control box under the sink, or check the adapter is plugged in.
- Check the wire from the sensor to the control box is seated.
- Wipe the sensor window. A film of grease is enough to confuse it.
- Try the manual handle. Most touchless faucets still work by hand, which buys you time.
If none of that helps, the sensor or the solenoid valve may have failed. Both can usually be replaced without replacing the whole faucet.
The faucet leaks around the base when it's running
Kitchen faucets swivel constantly, so the O-rings at the base of the spout wear faster than in a bathroom. Water pooling around the base while the water is on usually means those rings need replacing.
Weak or uneven spray
Start with the aerator or the spray head, since the holes scale over. If cleaning doesn't restore the flow, the cartridge or the diverter may be partly blocked. Low water pressure at a faucet walks through the rest.
A handle that's stiff, loose or hard to control
Kitchen handles take more use than any other in the house. Stiffness usually means the cartridge is worn or scaled. A wobbly handle is often a set screw. Neither is a big repair, but a stiff handle that gets forced is how cartridges break.
When to replace instead
If the finish is peeling, the body is corroded, or the hose and cartridge have both been replaced already, a new faucet is usually the better spend. Many homes in Sultan's newer neighborhoods came with builder-grade kitchen faucets that start showing these problems within a few years. See kitchen faucet repair and replacement and faucet installation.