Solve a drooping faucet handle with a quick fix.
A kitchen faucet is a vital accessory. It helps clean dishes, make pasta and serves up water anytime you need a drink. However, there are many problems that crop up, especially after many months of use. One of those problems is the drooping handle. This occurs on single-handle faucets. It is a 10-minute fix to correct this problem which is aggravating more than anything else.
Single-Handle Faucet Design
Single-handle faucets use a ball valve design. A ball-shaped piece actually sits inside of the faucet head. There are two valves inside the ball. When turned to one side, the ball rotates, opening one of these valves. The water then flows through the faucet. Hot and cold water is controlled by these two valves. The handle droops because this valve is slowly falling. Since it is round, there is not enough friction to keep it in place.
Grease on Ball Valve
One reason the ball valve is slipping is due to excess lubrication on the inside of the valve itself. Silicone plumber's grease is usually the culprit. This is applied during installations. Too much lubrication causes the ball valve to slip and fall, which means the handle falls right along with it. Take the faucet handle off, remove the ball valve and clean it thoroughly to solve this problem.
Grease on Cartridge or Handle
The grease may also be on the ball valve's stem or cartridge stem (on cartridge-style single-handle faucets). In either case, this is the part the handle attaches to. It is a metal or plastic rod that sticks up from the faucet head. If grease works its way down into this part, it will start to slip and the handle will fall. Clean off this part with a rag or paper towel and reinstall the part to solve this problem.
Loose Handle Screws
Another problem is loose handle screws. The handle screws attach the handle to the ball valve stem. If these are loose, the handle will droop down. A good way to tell if this is the problem, and not grease on the ball valve or rod, is to wiggle the handle. If you hear it clinking against the ball valve rod, the screws are probably loose. It's very easy to fix this problem. Just tighten the screw with a screwdriver or Allen wrench.
General Suggestions
Always keep the faucet clean and free from water leaks. Hard water sediments corrode the parts in the faucet like the screws. This leads to premature handle droop. Use new parts whenever possible. Replace the screws, cartridge and ball valve if your handle continues to droop. Always use plumber's grease, never lubricants or petroleum greases, on your faucet. Plumber's grease is silicone-based, so it is better suited for wet environments.
