I had low water pressure from both the hot and cold sides of a Delta kitchen faucet with a sprayer that's only a year old. I removed sprayer handle and found a lot of broken up black pieces (looking like course black sand but plastic). I cleared it and got great pressure again.

I also replaced the faucet valve cartridge as I had the manufacture send me one under warranty. I inspected the old cartridge for failed gaskets but found none. The black o-ring was intact, and the the three orangish-red gaskets on the bottom of the old cartridge were intact as well.

Where did the debris come from?

I have a solid brass dual shutoff valve so maybe from there? Not sure if they have black, internal seals on them. Debris from where previous plumber didn't flush the sprayer by first removing the sprayer as not to contaminate the sprayer? Debris from another part of the house making it's way here? I'm so curious!



Edited 1 times.

The source of debris can be from your water utility working on the system in your street, or rubber gasket seals on valve stems breaking down from wear, or your water heater sediment, or possibly sediment from a well. These would be most common. Possibilities are also from foreign manufacturers parts that may break down. Hope that helps. I normally clean my screens on my faucets every 3 months or so. Your water conditions may vary.

Thanks.

I've seen water heater sentiment and other earthly things in aerators and screens, but these really were a small collection of very small plastic "balls", course sand-size, almost like tire tread material. So it might have been from packing at the dual valves as you suggested. No other faucets in the house were affected. Anyway, I've got full pressure and I'll continue to pray to the Plumbing Gods for continued pressure.



Edited 2 times.