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kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
We are at the Escapade in Tucson and hooked up to the city water.  Our kitchen faucet has extremely low flow coming out while the bathroom is fine. When we try just using the pump (as we mostly do) the pressure isn't any better.  We removed the end piece from the faucet to clean it but the flow isn't any better.
We have a 2011 midbath with the original faucet. Any ideas or tips on what to do?  Thanks!

Marti
Marti
2011 Blue MB
Seattle
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #1 –
If you have a pullout sprayer, detach that and see what flow is like. There may be a problem in there. There may also be another screen between sprayer and hose.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #2 –
Sense you have already tried cleaning the end piece. My guess would be the cartridge may have something plugging it causing low flow. That's what I would check next.
Lynn and Lori
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #3 –
We are soaking it in vinegar now. Thanks for your suggestions!
Marti
2011 Blue MB
Seattle
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #4 –
Quote from: Marti  - 
We are soaking it in vinegar now. Thanks for your suggestions!

If the vinegar doesn't work, you might try CLR. I believe Home Depot carries it.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #5 –
While I'm certain you made a visual check under the cabinet, is there a kink in the line ... twisted or jammed somehow?  Often times it's the simple things that are the repair.
 
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #6 –
You have a blockage somewhere in the faucet assembly.  Step by step, is the flow low for both cold and hot?  If so, it is not the connections of the feed lines to the faucet.  Next in the line is the cartridge.  Pull the cartridge out and examine it for any accumulation or deposits of calcium, or any sign of mechanical failure.  If you find nothing, the cartridge feeds down through a clip connection to the flex hose.  That connection point can become blocked. 

Finally, the faucet head itself has a low flow limiter in it a short distance above where it connects to the flex hose and a screen at the end.  Either point can become blocked.  This one is easy to check, and probably should be the first check because of its ease.  One caution here - the flow coming out of the flex hose could look strong when it really isn't.  The best way to check is with a container that holds one or two quarts of water.  Using the existing assembly, time how long it takes to fill the container.  Now disconnect the faucet head from the flex hose, point the flex hose into the container, and using the flex hose without the faucet, time it again.  If the problem is in the faucet head, you will see a BIG difference.  If you have a strong flow without the faucet head, you found the problem - the faucet head.  I have had the screen in the end of the faucet head accumulate calcium, and that can be cleaned pretty easily.  Simply unscrew it, clean any debris and re-assemble.  My flow limiter was blocked and I was unable to clear it.  I used a 3/32" drill bit and drilled out the center of the flow limiter.  Problem solved. 

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #7 –
Quote from: Kenneth Fears  - 
blocked. 
My flow limiter was blocked and I was unable to clear it.  I used a 3/32" drill bit and drilled out the center of the flow limiter.  Problem solved. 
A lot of kitchen faucets have been replaced just because the flow limiter was plugged with calcium.
Not sure why calcium build up is such a problem in RVs, compared to home use.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #8 –

"A lot of kitchen faucets have been replaced just because the flow limiter was plugged with calcium.
Not sure why calcium build up is such a problem in RVs, compared to home use.
Larry"

I think there are two possible reasons. The main one is we get water from so many different water supplies and from different areas of the country. Water at home usually comes from a single source.

The other thing I notice is the build up of white chunks of stuff, probably calcium, in our water heater. At least twice a year, I aggressively rinse our water heater with a rinse wand. Always amazed at the amount of stuff coming out and the white gunk remaining in the driveway. Is it a product of how hot the water heater heats the water or different  water supplies?

Steve K
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #9 –
Thanks for all your suggestions! We will try them and see what happens.  Ideally I'd like to get a new faucet installed that has a higher spout so I can fit large/tall pans under it. The vinegar soaking made a slight improvement so we will keep working on it.  You all are very helpful!
Marti
Marti
2011 Blue MB
Seattle
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #10 –
Quote from: Marti  - 
Thanks for all your suggestions! We will try them and see what happens.  Ideally I'd like to get a new faucet installed that has a higher spout so I can fit large/tall pans under it. The vinegar soaking made a slight improvement so we will keep working on it.  You all are very helpful!
Marti

Sounds like calcium build-up then. CLR is also available from Amazon which probably doesn't do you much good at the Escapade!
I use CLR at home with good results. Much of our water here is from ground wells and is quite hard.

Amazon.com: CLR Calcium Lime Rust Remover, Enhanced Formula, 28 fl oz (828...
As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #11 –
Quote from: Marti  - 
Ideally I'd like to get a new faucet installed that has a higher spout so I can fit large/tall pans under it.

Since it is a pull-out spout, what I did with ours is fashion an extension from a couple pieces of white PVC pipe that fits between the sprayer unit and the part it slips into. That sets the end almost to the center of the large sink, and higher, and looks just fine.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #12 –
This solution is not for everyone, and my own personal experience is limited, but we use a water softener to put water into the tank from whatever source is available, even when we fill from home before an excursion.  This kind of evens out the quality of the water that goes into the tank.  We ALWAYS use out of the tank and NEVER hook directly up to a campground's water source.

Yes, it is more work and it takes about an hour to slowly drip, drip, drip the water into the tank.  Not doable, of course, when dumping and filling from a common source, but works fine at one's own campground site - hook it up, set a timer, and read a book.  A tank of water can easily last us a week, and I cook all our meals in house from scratch.  Use of paper products and eating out would probably extend this time considerably.

I have read about, but never tried, various spray concoctions of vinegar and water that folks use to clean dishes/bodies when boondocking.  If such is in place, perhaps a judicious spritz on the faucet screens every few days would help to avoid build up in the first place.  Just a suggestion - I have no idea if this would work.

I keep a bottle of produce wash in a spritzer on my sink and use it to cleanse produce . . . but also it works quite well as an all-purpose cleaner for the stove and counter.  It seems to cut through the gunk that I seem to manage to spread everywhere when I cook.  I spritz some on, and then wipe away with a microfiber cloth.  A quick swish over the microwave gets the grease splatters there, as well as those that hang in the air and apply themselves to the surface of everything around the stove.

   Virtual hugs,

   Judie
Re: kitchen faucet - very low water pressure
Reply #13 –
Wow, great suggestions! Many thanks.

We almost always use the water pump rather than hooking up to campground or RV park water. But we were based for seven weeks at Far Horizons Tucson Village RV park and their water is great! It is from a well and not the same as the Tucson city water - much better quality! I do think the problem is in the faucet and calcium buildup. Thanks for the Amazon CLR link as I had forgotten to ask what CLR meant!

We are learning a lot at the Escapade and from this helpful forum!

Marti (from Seattle and enjoying our final few days in Tucson)
Marti
2011 Blue MB
Seattle