Replace a Kitchen Sink Sprayer

Kitchen sink sprayers fail in predictable ways. The hose cracks near the connection point. The spray head gunks up beyond cleaning. The diverter valve inside your faucet stops redirecting water properly, leaving you with a dribbling sprayer and reduced main flow. Most people assume the whole faucet needs replacing, but the sprayer is a standalone assembly that disconnects in two places. You can have a new one installed before the dishes pile up. The replacement process is straightforward because manufacturers use consistent sizing. The spray head pulls straight out through the sink deck hole. Under the sink, one coupling attaches the hose to your faucet's diverter nipple. New sprayers come with their own hose already attached to the head, so you're really just swapping one complete assembly for another. The tricky part is working in the tight space under the sink and getting the coupling threads started without cross-threading.

1. Clear the workspace below. Remove everything from under the sink so you can work. Find where the sprayer hose connects to the faucet body. It's a brass or plastic coupling about halfway up the faucet assembly, separate from the main water supply lines. Place a bucket under this connection to catch residual water.
2. Unthread the old connection. Using an adjustable wrench or basin wrench, turn the coupling nut counterclockwise to loosen it. The coupling connects to a small nipple extending from the faucet body. Once loose, unthread it by hand and pull the hose free. Water will drip out, which is why the bucket matters.
3. Pull the spray head free. Go to the top of the sink and pull the spray head up through the deck hole. The hose will feed through from below. If there's a retaining nut under the deck holding the hose in place, unscrew it first. Older models just have a weight on the hose that drops down, which pulls free easily.
4. Inspect the faucet threads. With the old hose removed, look at the small threaded nipple on the faucet where the sprayer connected. Wipe it clean and inspect the threads for damage. If the threads are stripped, you'll need a new faucet, but this is rare. Check inside the nipple for debris that could restrict flow.
5. Feed the new hose through. From above the sink, feed the new hose down through the deck hole. The spray head stays on top. If your model has a mounting nut or escutcheon, slip it onto the hose before threading it down, then tighten it from below once the hose is through. Make sure any hose weight is positioned on the hose before you connect it.
6. Thread the new coupling. Under the sink, guide the coupling at the end of the new hose onto the faucet's diverter nipple. Start the threads by hand, turning clockwise, to make sure they catch properly. Once hand-tight, use a wrench to snug it down another half turn. Don't overtighten or you'll crack the coupling.
7. Run water and test. Turn on the faucet and let it run, then press the sprayer trigger. Water should redirect smoothly from the main spout to the sprayer. Check under the sink while the water runs and watch for drips at the coupling. If you see leaks, tighten the coupling slightly.
8. Fine-tune hose tension. Pull the spray head out to full extension and let it retract. The hose should pull back smoothly without kinking. Adjust the position of the hose weight so it hangs about six inches from the coupling. This keeps tension on the hose so it retracts properly after use.