home clinic; fixing a faulty kitchen sink spray can be a simple matter

Bernard gladstonemay 1983 this is a digital version of an article from The Times Print Archive, before it starts online in 1996.
To keep these articles as they appear initially, the Times will not change, edit, or update them.
There are occasional copywriting errors or other problems during the digitization process.
Please send a report of such issues to archid_feedback @ nytimes. com.
Many kitchen sinks come with taps, and separate spray accessories are available at the bottom of the taps under the taps.
These are designed to transfer the water from the normal nozzle to the nozzle and push down the lever or valve on the nozzle, which is attached to the flexible hose so that it can be pulled out and moved inside the sink.
When this spray does not work properly, or when it can only work intermittently, most people mumble under their breath and simply stop using this accessory, think they can\'t do anything about the problem without calling the high man.
Price plumber or replace the faucet completely.
However, once you understand how the device works, the repair is usually very simple.
Replacement parts have a wide supply in many hardware stores as well as all pipeline supply stores when needed.
The mechanism that controls the flow of water is a small valve called valve.
As shown, it is located inside the faucet itself, usually directly at the bottom of the swinging mouth.
It can move up and down in its chamber like a piston, and is activated only by the water pressure on both sides of the piston.
Advertising when the nozzle is not in use, the pressure on both sides of the piston is equal, so the valve allows all the water to flow through it and out through the regular faucet mouth.
However, when the lever or valve is pressed to activate the spray, there is a pressure imbalance inside the diverter assembly (
The pressure on one side of the piston is greater than on the other)
This causes the piston to move down and close the opening leading to the outlet of the tap.
Then all the water flows through the hose that causes the nozzle (
In some cases, a small amount of water will continue to flow from the tap outlet).
AdvertisementIf when you press the spray bar or button, the water is not transferred to the spray head so that most of the water will still flow out of the outlet of the faucet, the first thing you should check is the filter
The inflator assembly at the end of the faucet outlet.
Dirt or sediment in this unit may produce the back
Make the pressure inside the faucet that valve does not work properly.
The easiest way to check this is to completely turn off the inflator (
Easy to loosen).
Then try the spray again with this close.
If the spray is working fine now, then you know the oxygen booster needs to be cleaned or replaced
It is likely that the small screen part of the interior is blocked by dirt, or that the sediment may have been blocked in small holes on the inner edge of the oxygen generator.
You can usually clean it by swiping it under a strong flow of water.
But if you can\'t make it clean, change it to a new one. When you test (
No oxygen generator)
Indicating that this is not the root of the problem, the next thing to check is the opening of the nozzle itself to see if it is blocked or damaged.
Normally the nozzle can be screwed down so you can clean it by reverse running water;
Otherwise, you can clean the hole outside with a round wooden toothpick.
If you can\'t clean it up, or if the head breaks or breaks and therefore leaks in use, then you should replace it with a new head.
The old one can be screwed from the end of the hose, and the new one can be screwed to its position.
Please click on the box to verify that you are not a robot.
The email address is invalid. Please re-enter.
You must select the newsletter you want to subscribe.
View all New York Times newsletters.
If both the faucet inflator and the nozzle are not the cause of the failure, the next item you should suspect is the hose under the sink that connects the main body of the faucet and the nozzle.
When you pull the nozzle out of the socket at the top of the sink, make sure it is not bundled or twisted and make sure the hose is not cracked or cracked at any time.
If so, buy a new one and replace it (
There are threaded fittings at each end of the hose, so it is not difficult to loosen).
When any steps taken so far do not solve the problem, you will know that the problem is in the valve component.
Turn off the water, unscrew the threaded ring at the bottom of the spout, and then lift the spout completely.
At the opening under the spout, you will see the bar that is divided into valve sticking straight up (see drawing).
Grab this with your finger, or with a small pair of pliers, and raise it directly;
Then take it to your local hardware store and buy a new match.
Please open the mouth temporarily before installing the new points valve (
No points in place valve)
Turn on the hot water for about a minute and remove any dirt that may be trapped inside.
Now, close the water, remove the spout again, and put the new split valve down (
Bar pointing up)
And change the swinging mouth in the original position.
Reply to email Q.
Our wooden kitchen cabinet was painted with a good paint a few years ago
High quality semi gloss enamel.
Cleaning makes the surface dim, so the cabinets need to be painted to restore the gloss.
Can we apply something on the new paint to help keep the look and feel so it\'s easier to maintain? -S. C. M.
Port Conn West. A.
You can put a layer of wax on the paint after about a week, but I should warn you that this will make it more difficult to re-paint next time.
Every point of the wax must be removed first, otherwise the new paint will not dry or attach properly. A high-
Glossy enamel maintains its gloss better than semi-gloss and is more durable.
You should also try to use a more gentle detergent when you wash the paint
A strong detergent attack is more aggressive than a mild detergent attack, while a detergent attack with a large amount of ammonia can be more serious than other cleaners. Q.
My Roses had black spot disease two years ago, so I sprayed them with a special disinfectant sold by the garden supply company to eliminate the disease.
Now, there are black spots on the Cedar side plates on the house, so I tried spraying with the same disinfectant, but this only works a bit and the problem seems to be spreading.
What advice do you have? -V. L.
Port Conn West. AdvertisementA.
I don\'t know about roses, but I know that the black spots on the House are undoubtedly moldy.
You can solve this problem with a solution scrub of a portion of liquid laundry bleach and four portions of water.
Protect your hands with rubber gloves.
Continue to scrub, dry, and then rinse the hose with plenty of water.
While this will eliminate mildew, it will not stop it from returning.
More sunlight will help, so trim the big shrubs and trees near the house. ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Questions about house repairs should be addressed to Bernard Gladstone of The New York Times, 229 West 43d Street, New York. Y. 10036.
This column will answer questions of general interest;
Unpublished letters cannot be answered separately.
A version of this article was printed on page 11011021 of the National edition on May 1, 1983 with the title: Family Clinic;
Fixing the kitchen sink spray in question can be a simple thing.