Kitchen faucet: did I mess it up?

mikew

The water pressure from the kitchen faucet I installed about 5 years ago had lowered to almost a dribble over the years. I determined the part I think is a backflow preventer is bad. Removing it brought the pressure back up to greatness.

This is part of the faucet assembly, located directly under the neck of the spigot, where it attaches where the nut holds it to the sink. It's a small brass tube which threads into the piece into which the hot and cold lines from the separate handles go to the spigot. Top of the tube is pressed into a sheet metal collar that contains pieces that, it appears, are to let water go up to the spigot, but not drain down. I took it apart, thinking it might be clogged, and of course messed it up enough it won't go back together properly...

Am I courting future issues if I just leave that part out? I have no idea what the faucet manufacturer even is (not marked anywhere I can find). Thanks for any insight!

Mike Swearingen

I am just guessing, but this may be a diverter for a sink sprayer. If you don't have one, don't worry about it if it isn't leaking.
Mike

mikew

You are right, it was the sprayer diverter. Never considered how that worked. I was so happy to have pressure I didn't check it, but just ran up and did so. The sprayer works with sufficient force, but now much water still comes from the spigot. I can live with that, but if I ever figure out who made the thing I'll try to find a replacement part. Thanks. I feared the replies would be "OH NO you removed the fargelson valve and now your water heater will implode and for goodness sake don't sit on the toilet when flushing as it may hurl you into the ceiling..."

Mike Swearingen

Take the diverter out and to a professional plumbing supply store (not a big box) to try to find a matching diverter.
Good luck!
Mike