Kitchen faucet slow to start

Recently, when we turn on our kitchen sink nothing will happen, but will eventually dispense water at what seems to be normal pressure after turning it on and off a few times (usually about 3-5 seconds). The faucet is a Kohler with a single handle that pulls up to turn on the water and moves right to left for hot or cold water. Is the problem a corroded (blocked) pipe or the faucet?

 

Welcome to the forums. Have you cleaned out the strainer on the end of the faucet arm? In addition, it may be time to rebuild the inner workings of the faucet itself. It is rather simple, just remember to cut off the water under the sink first.

 

I have the same problem as davibrew but with a two-handle kitchen faucet. It does not matter whether it is the cold or hot side turned on. What makes my problem so strange is that I have tapped into the hot water side above the shutoff valve to run a bar faucet out of the fourth sink hole to run a portable dishwasher. When I turn it on it runs full force. I have pulled the strainer and ran the faucet without it and it still acts the same starting with a dribble and slowly building to pressure. I have in the past replaced each valve assembly so it seems strange that this faucet acts this way. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Are there washers in your faucet?

 

O-rings with nylon?/metal valve units.

 

Turn off the water shut off stops under your kitchen sink cabinet.

Then open both kitchen faucet handles to make sure the shut off stops are doing their job. Yes?

Then remove the cold water cartridge inside the faucet.

Now place a drinking glass over the open cartridge hole in your faucet and then have someone turn back on the cold water stop in the kitchen sink cabinet while you have the water spray up into your upside downglass, so you can see how the volume is. It should almost try to blast the glass out of your hand. I recommend using one of those big plastic glasses and hang on tight and try to steer the water towards the sink. Be ready to yell to the helper to shut the water back off quickly.

You can repeat the test with hot water side.

 

Sounds interesting. I'll get back to you.

Thanks

 

Soooo. I tried that and the pressure is the same on either side (individually) like before. I have noticed that when I have opened the valve (does not matter which but it is the first one I open) there is a "thunk" noise. What is under the knurled/threaded 'cap' the holds the 'arm' onto the unit? Could there be a problem there? I do have a "New Wave" Enviro Products 10-stage water filter that connects between the fawcet and it's strainer. Ring any bells?

 

If you have a filter it rings a lot fo bells. Is it new? If it is not..when is last time you changed the filter?

 

I tried to edit my last post but for some reason it would not let me. I tried to add that I have disconnected the filter durring all of the attempts to rectify the problem. To answer your question, I changed the filter 4 months ago and we do not use it much anyway. Usually for drinking water and ice cubes. But water does pass through the diverter the rest of the time. This unit between the faucet and the strainer does reduce flow and we have had the filter hooked up for about 5 years. Could the diverter have an accumulative affect on the faucet over time?

 

When I turn my kitchen faucet on (hot or cold), the water comes out ok, but when I turn it all the way on......the pressure drops. I didn't want to have to replace the whole faucet if I can fix the problem. Any suggestions to my problem?

 

Michelle, what type faucet do you have? Single lever, separate knobs, model ?

 

It has separate knobs for the hot and cold and has a spray nozzle. I have no idea what model or kind it is. I am sure it has been in the house for a few years though.

 

The "stops" on your handles may have worn down, or broken. Take a handle off and look underneath to see if the molded stop is broken. Post back.

 

Hmmm, I'm gonna piggy back this thread. I installed a new Peerless kitchen faucet a couple weeks ago and I get a double thunk sound when I turn on either the hot or cold side. Pressure seems a little week as well. (its a two handle plus a sprayer faucet) the faucet itself is a high rise model so to speak. (tall hook shape)

If I remove the strainer at the end of the faucet I still get the thump sound but pressure is better. Its actually the aerator, so without it, pressure is greater.

Any ideas what is causing the thump sound when water is turned on?

 

Yup. I get that same 'thunk' sound too. That is what I was posting earlier.

 

Thanks for all the input. Turned out my problem was the diverter valve for the hose extension. Just got a new one, popped it in, and problem solved!