New Faucet Restrictor?

[Throbthumbs]

Just installed a new Moen to replace the original 17 year old in the kitchen. There's quite noticable drop in pressure and volume.

After turning it on, the absolute first thing I think of in 5 seconds is, "Goddammit, I bet the gov't. has gone and choked off faucet flows for water conservation!"

Sure enough, after getting the Moen tech a few days later, she is real nice and says federal guidelines were instituted in '96 limiting flow to 2.2 gpm at 60 lbs. :roll: She says there is no restrictor orifice I can drill out, and that the flow is "built in" to the design.

My question: Is she right? Is there a straighforward manner to ream something out to allow more water out of my faucet?

[ndemge]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I know what you mean... I've still got an old faucet in my kitchen... my parents just got a new faucent and it takes a good 5 minutes just to fill the sink to was dishes.

[BPINC]

Pull the aerator and check, there is probably a restictor you can remove to increase flow.

[Throbthumbs]

Thanks for the feedback. The aerator removed provides the same deplorable volume and flow as installed. The restriction could be either cast into the spout neck, or, it could be in the diverter housing assembly that looks like a miniature football with flex quik-connect hoses going from supply to the sprayer and faucet.

The former would seem tougher to modify, but the latter holds promise if just a collet that can be popped out or drilled open. A curious symptom is the new sprayer has every bit as much pressure and flow (or possibly a little more) as the old one. This leads me to think the restrictor is specific to just the spout line(s).