Why does our kitchen faucet consistently spit, sputter, and produce rusty water when we rarely use the cold water, even after replacing it?
Asked by Beau Evans 
3 months ago
Last Updated: June 21, 2024
So, our kitchen faucet is acting up – it spits and sputters whenever we try to use the cold water. Sometimes it even comes out a bit rusty, which is not ideal. We don’t really use the cold water that much, maybe like three times a week. I have a feeling it’s because air is somehow getting into the line, but I can’t figure out how that’s happening. The weird thing is, none of the other faucets in the house are doing this. My husband finally caved and bought a new faucet, thinking that would solve the issue… but, alas, it’s still doing the same thing. 😬
Seems like there might be a leak in the line leading to the sink. You could follow the pipes back to locate a damp spot.
Do you really think air is getting into a pressurized line? Come on.
Your positive attitude is truly appreciated! Offering helpful advice goes a long way. Comments like yours can sometimes make people hesitant to ask questions. In a similar situation at my friend’s house, the issue was traced back to a small leak at a fitting, which was promptly replaced by the repair person. While there could be other causes, unhelpful responses like yours only add confusion.
For those using a well, it’s important to consider the presence of gases such as Methane, sulfur, or carbon dioxide in the well. While water can leak from a water line, it’s unlikely for air to leak into a water line.
When you turn on all taps at once, be aware that an air bubble might have gotten trapped in a pipe section after the system was shut down for repairs. If you notice sputtering as the water flows, keep running it until it stops and then turn the taps off. If the issue doesn’t come back, then the job is done. If you have a well, it’s a good idea to hire a well expert to test for gases like methane, which can be explosive.
So the rust-colored water is only coming from this one tap? What type of plumbing does your house have? Lead, galvanized, etc? And are you on city water or well water?
Mentioned that only one sink has an issue with sputtering, the rest are fine. The house has a mix of copper pipes and pex, and there’s a well on the property.
Haha, I see what you’re saying. Air can leak in, but not exactly how you might think. If the faucet is off and there’s a leak in the pipe, water will come out. But if the faucet is on, it can create a vacuum that might pull in a little air. Just like trying to drink through a straw with a hole in it. Did the plumber replace the knobs too? And is there a dishwasher connected to that line? Or maybe an old washing machine? It might sound strange, but I’ve seen it happen. And yeah, someone mentioned well water. That could explain it. Is that tap the first one the water reaches inside your house? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to figure it out.
It’s impossible to have a vacuum in a pressurized line like a water or air line, since vacuum and pressure are opposites. A vacuum can only exist in a line with zero pressure
Haha I’m not a plumber, I work with electrical stuff. But I had a similar issue with my sink before, just without the rust. I managed to find and fix the leak, then everything was back to normal. The straw analogy is the best way I can think of to explain it.
Make sure to bleed the entire system.
If you see rust, it’s possible there’s a hole in your water line which could be damaging the wall. You’ll need to drain the line and check the pressure while comparing it to the hot water line to check for a hole.