My Delta Kitchen Faucet Handle is Loose – How To Fix It

Having a loose kitchen faucet handle is a problem all households will experience. No matter how high-end your faucet is, it will eventually break down and cause various problems and extra costs. That is why we’ve researched the easiest way to fix your loose Delta faucet handle and other tips to maintain your kitchen faucet.

To fix your loose Delta faucet handle, you will generally need to do the following:

  • Get the hex wrench that comes with your Delta faucet.
  • Retighten the set screw in your faucet handle using the hex wrench.
  • If it doesn’t tighten immediately, try loosening the set screw and make sure they are properly lined up.
  • Once the set screws are lined up correctly, retighten the set screws to the faucet handle, and your problem should get solved.

All delta faucets have their corresponding hex wrench, which you will use to re-tighten your faucet handles. However, if you lost yours, a single-handle faucet uses a ⅛-inch wrench, while a double-handle uses a 3/32-inch wrench.

That was a lot of information to take in at once, but we will provide you with more details and tips on how to fix various types of Delta faucet handles. Keep reading to find out!

Determining Your Faucet Type

Finding out what type of Delta faucet handle you have before trying to fix it is essential to know the appropriate tools and steps you will need when fixing it.

Kitchen water mixer. Water tap made of chrome material

Most Delta faucets are either single-handle or double-handle which will need repair requirements specific for each type. 

Single-handle faucets include pull-down, pull-out, and static faucets with only one handle controlling water temperature and pressure. Meanwhile, double-handle faucets have separate handles for controlling hot and cold water.

Reasons Why Your Delta Faucet Handle Is Loose

There can be various reasons why your Delta faucet handle became loose and learning these reasons can help you avoid having to repeatedly fix your faucet.

Metal faucet in a kitchen, My Delta Kitchen Faucet Handle is Loose - How To Fix It

Incorrect Installation

A reason why your faucet handle is loose may be because of incorrect components used when it was installed. Wrong-sized piping, screws, or other parts could cause faucet malfunctions.

Read: "How Long Does A Kitchen Faucet Last?"

Loose Set Screws

The most probable cause for your loose faucet handle is the loose set screws that are found inside the handle. These may cause your faucet to become shaky and lead to water leaks and other irregularities.

Loose Faucet Base

A loose faucet base can cause your loose faucet handle. With the base becoming loose, the rest of the faucet can be affected, leading to multiple problems such as leaking water and — you guessed it — loose handles.

Read: "How to Tighten A Loose Kitchen Faucet Base."

Worn-out O-ring

Some faucets have O-rings that help keep the faucet handle in place. The O-rings may get worn out after years of usage, leading to a loose handle. When this happens, a replacement might be required to completely fix your faucet handle.

How To Fix Your Loose Delta Faucet Handle

Plumber repairing water tap in kitchen, closeup

To fix your loose Delta faucet handle, there is a step-by-step process that we recommend you follow to avoid any problems and accidents during the process.

Set Up The Area

Clear out your area of any objects that could hinder you in retightening the handle. Next, temporarily cut off the water supply to your faucet to prevent potential flooding if something goes wrong during the fixing process.

Preparing The Tools

After setting up the area for fixing, prepare the tools that you will need. As mentioned at the start of this article, the most important tool you need is a ⅛-inch hex wrench for single-handle faucets and a 3/32-inch hex wrench for the double-handle type.

See this Delta RP1974 wrench on Amazon.

A hex wrench is included when you buy your faucet. You can also prepare a flat screwdriver or a tiny knife in case you need to open your faucet handle.

By checking your Delta model, you can select a replacement hex wrench.

See this Delta RP60924 wrench and set screw set on Amazon.

Locating The Set Screw

Beautiful white sink near window in modern kitchen

Inside the faucet handle, there is a set screw that controls the tightness or looseness of the handle. Delta faucets can have traditional or decorative handles. Traditional handles have set screws at the top or below the head while the set screw in decorative handles is located inside the cap.

You can use a flat screwdriver or tiny knife to open the cap of the decorative handle and find the hole hiding the set screw.

Tightening The Faucet Handle

After locating the set screw, use the appropriate hex wrench and tighten the set screw by twisting it clockwise until tight enough. However, don’t make it too tight that it will become challenging to operate.

If you feel like it’s still loose even after tightening it, try loosening the set screw by twisting your hex wrench counterclockwise. Afterward, check if the set screw is properly lined up, then retighten the screw until tight.

Reassemble your faucet, check for leaking, and make the necessary adjustments before turning on your water supply. If your faucet handle is no longer shaky and loose, congratulations, you have successfully fixed your faucet!

Can You Replace The Delta Knob With A Lever?

Yes, you can replace your Delta knob with a lever handle. However, you need to make sure that the lever will be compatible with your Delta faucet to ensure a perfect fit.

If you have a non-DIAMOND Seal Technology model, you can convert the single-handle sink, tub, or shower faucets to a lever handle. Still, you will need to replace the ball valve in the faucet for the lever to operate properly.

On the other hand, if you own a DIAMOND Seal Technology model, you will not need to replace the ball valve. You can simply remove the knob handle and replace it with a lever. You can refer to the faucet’s parts diagram to find the lever handle appropriate for that faucet.

How Do I Get My Free Delta Faucet Parts?

According to the Delta website, you can get a free faucet parts replacement as long as it is during the warranty period.

You may call their Customer Service number 1-800-345-DELTA (3358) and talk with a representative about replacement parts under warranty. You must provide proof of purchase, such as your original receipt, and have an acceptable reason why the faucet parts should be replaced.

All Delta faucet parts are warranted to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of 5 years.

How Do You Remove A Delta Faucet?

Close-up plumber hands holds a new faucet for installing into the kitchen sink, plumbing work or renovation

To remove a Delta faucet, start by turning off the water supply to your faucet. Then, if your faucet has screw-on retaining plates, get a Phillips screwdriver and unscrew all the plates. Once all the plates are off, you should be able to remove your faucet.

There are also faucets that are held by brass or steel retaining nuts instead of screw-on retaining plates. In this case, you will need a basin wrench and loosen the nuts from under the sink. Once you remove the nuts, you can remove the faucet.

In Closing

Hiring a plumber to fix your Delta faucet handle can be too expensive for something that you can easily fix. That is why we made this article to help you save time and money by providing you with a comprehensive guide on how to fix a loose faucet handle.

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