Faucets are used for many things and it is one of the most important fixtures in a kitchen.
This is the reason, we need our kitchen faucet to work properly and if by chance the kitchen faucet suddenly stops working, it can disrupt your household and daily routine.
If your kitchen faucet is not working properly or suddenly stopped working, it’s important to identify the issue and resolve it immediately. Remember that if you delay the task, the condition of the faucet will get worse.
Now there will be a question in your mind what should I do if my kitchen faucet suddenly stops working?
If a kitchen faucet suddenly stopped working, the reason could be a water supply issue, a blocked aerator, a damaged cartridge, a frozen pipe, rust, or a clogged pipe.
To fix the issue first, you need to check other faucets in the house. If they are working fine, turn off the water supply valve and check the faucet cartridge. It might be a reason.
The faucet cartridge is a significant issue but there are many reasons that can stop your kitchen faucet to work properly.
In this article, we are going to discuss why your kitchen faucet suddenly stopped working and what could be the solution for it.
Reasons Why Your Kitchen Faucet Suddenly Stopped Working
Water Supply Issue
Your kitchen faucet can stop working due to a water supply issue. The first thing you need to do is check the other faucets in the house if they are working or not.
If your other taps are running properly, you can assume that only one tap is having a problem. But if you are facing the issue with all faucets then it can be a deep plumbing concern.
The other possible reason could be that the area you live in is dealing with a water supply problem. You can also ask your neighbors to see if they are facing a similar problem.
If your neighbors have the same issue, the problem is with the water supplier and main water line. This is a rare case but it is still something that needs to be kept in mind.
However, you should consistently check the water supply to confirm that water is flowing as it is supposed to.
This can be done by checking other faucets in the house and you should also inspect the linked faucets that are connected to the same piping.
This will confirm whether it is a big or small issue in the house. There are more chances, it is not going to be a water supply issue but it is the fastest way to check the possibility.
Damaged Cartridge
If there is no water coming out of the faucet, it might be a cartridge that needs to be replaced. If your faucet is too old there could be a situation where the cartridge breaks down which will stop the flow of water.
However, you should replace the cartridge every few years so that the faucet can work in the long run. If you had not changed the cartridge for decades then it could be the main issue.
Here we mentioned the step-by-step process to replace a cartridge from the kitchen faucet. So follow these steps to fix it.
Step 1: Turn Off The Water Supply Valve
First of all, turn off the water supply valve under the kitchen sink. There will be two valves for hot and cold water. Shut off both valves by rotating them in a clockwise direction.
If you don’t have shut-off valves under the sink then turn off the main water supply line of the house. Now turn on the faucet handle to drain the remaining water from the pipe.
Step 2: Cover The Sink Drain
Make sure to cover the sink drain with a piece of cloth or towel. Because when you are working with your faucet there could be small parts that can fall into the sink drain. So it is a mandatory step that you have to take care of it.
Step 3: Remove The Faucet Handle
You will notice a cap on the faucet handle. Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the protective cap from the faucet handle.
Under the cap, there will be a screw. To remove the screw you will need either a Philips head screw or an Allen key.
Step 4: Remove The Cartridge
After removing the faucet handle, you will get access to the cartridge. First, remove the cartridge nut with a wrench. Once the nut is off, remove the cartridge.
If you need extra leverage, use pliers to pull the cartridge from the faucet handle. Place all the pieces in the correct order so you easily put them back together after you complete the task.
Step 5: Replace The Cartridge
Now install the new cartridge in the same way as you removed it. After that reinstall the faucet handle. Once you are done with the installation part turn on the water and check the work.
Blocked Aerator
The aerator could be a reason, your kitchen faucet suddenly stopped working. You will find the aerator at the front of the kitchen faucet.
If your faucet is too old this issue could be seen and you will notice the debris build up inside the aerator.
That’s why it is important to check all the parts of the kitchen faucet before going for a replacement. If the aerator is clogged or damaged, the water will stop flowing through the faucet.
If this is the case, follow these steps to fix the issue.
Step 1: Plug Into The Sink Drain
Before you start the work, plug into the sink drain. Because when you are working with the faucet there will be small parts that can fall into the sink drain.
So it is important to cover the sink drain with a drain cover or a piece of cloth.
Step 2: Remove The Aerator
Now use your hand and twist the aerator in an anticlockwise direction to remove it from the faucet head.
However, if you can’t remove it with your hand, you can use pliers. But remember that if you are using pliers, wrap the aerator with some plastic tape to avoid scratches.
Step 3: Check The Faucet Before Replacing The Aerator
Turn on the faucet without the aerator, if water is coming through the faucet that means the aerator is the reason your kitchen faucet suddenly stopped working.
Once you identify the problem, you can move to the next step.
Step 4: Disassemble And Clean The Aerator
Now disassemble the aerator and clean it with a toothbrush. If the deposit is overspread around the aerator, you should leave the aerator in vinegar solution for the whole night.
Step 5: Replace The Aerator
If the aerator is not working after putting it in the vinegar solution, you should replace the aerator with a new one.
Clogged Pipe
When a water pipe is clogged, no water will flow out of the faucet. So you need to take a look at the pipe.
If the pipe connected to the faucet is clogged, there could be a possible situation where the pipe can burst and water will spill inside the walls, which will damage the wall.
The pipe can be clogged due to sediment buildup. The other reason for clogged pipes could be heavy metal deposits and lime.
If this is the case, you need to call a plumber to identify the issue as they will check each part of the pipe and will clear the clog.
Check For Rust
Rust could be a reason, why your faucet suddenly stopped working. If you can see the rust outside the faucet, it is a sure signal that the internal parts of the faucet are already rusted due to the growth of rust.
Rust can even come from daily wear and tear on the faucet. Rust can also create a blockage that will stop the flow of water. If you see any rust, you should replace your faucet with a new one.
Frozen Pipes
If you are living in a cold or subzero area, the frozen pipe could be the reason your kitchen faucet is not working. A frozen pipe will freeze the water and no water will come out from the faucet.
First, you need to check the pipe connected to the faucet. If it is frozen, you can try to unfreeze it using a hairdryer. Once you unfreeze the pipe, the faucet will start working again.
Conclusion
These are the main factors your kitchen faucet suddenly stopped working.
If your faucet suddenly stops working, there could be many reasons such as water supply issue, damaged cartridge, blocked aerator, frozen pipe, rust, or a clogged pipe.
The first thing you need to do is check other faucets in the house to confirm whether the problem is with one faucet or across all faucets.
After that open the faucet to inspect the cartridge. You should also check the aerator while doing this.
There could be many reasons for the blocked kitchen faucet, that’s why you need to take your time during the inspection stage.