Delta Faucet Handle Won’t Come Off – The Ultimate Guide

Delta is a popular brand of faucets that is known for its quality and durability. But when it doesn’t work properly, it becomes annoying to use it.

If there is any issue with the Delta faucet, you won’t get a proper flow of water. To repair the issue, many times you need to remove the faucet handle. But if the handle is stuck, the Delta faucet handle won’t come off. It happens especially with old faucets due to corrosion, rust, or buildup.

Here is a step-by-step guide to removing the stuck Delta faucet handle. After removing the handle, you can replace, repair, or clean it. Let’s start to remove the handle in an easy way without damaging the Delta faucet.

Why Delta Faucet Handle Won’t Come Off?

Delta faucets are popular for their quality and durability but over time, even the best faucets can experience issues. When your Delta faucet handle won’t come off it becomes a frustrating and annoying situation because you want to repair the faucet but can’t do it.

One possible reason for this situation is mineral buildup inside the faucet handle. The buildup makes it difficult to move the handle. Buildup accumulates inside all free space of the handle. If you are leaving in a hard water area, buildup will be common in every faucet in that area.

Like any other faucet, in the Delta faucet, the handle is tightened by the screw. This screw holds the handle in its place and allows it to move handle easily. But with time, the screw may get rusted or corroded and can’t make a proper grip. A rusted screw makes the handle removal process more complicated.

In some cases, the handle may seize up due to corrosion. This can occur if water has gotten into the handle and caused the metal to rust. When this happens, the movement of the handle may be restricted, making it difficult or impossible to remove the handle.

There may be a hidden screw into the Delta faucet handle. The screw may be hidden below a cap or underside of the handle. So, it is not visible directly, and without removing it, you try to remove the handle and it won’t come off. it’s worth double-checking to see if there is a hidden screw that you may have missed.

Delta Faucet Handle Removal Tools

Here are some tools that are required to remove a Delta faucet handle. These tools are available in most houses, if not you can buy them from any local nearby hardware store.

• Adjustable wrench
• Flathead screwdriver
• Hammer
• Soft cloth
• Vinegar
• Penetrating oil
• Replacement parts (if necessary)

How To Remove a Stuck Delta Faucet Handle That Won’t Come Off?

A stuck handle of the Delta faucet won’t come off easily. It becomes challenging to repair or replace it.

Before starting the process, turn off the water supply of the faucet. This can be done by turning off the valve under the sink or the main valve of the house.

If there is a decorative cap on your Delta faucet, remove the cap to see the screw. After removing the decorative cap, you can access the screw.

Now you need to use a wrench to loosen the screw of the handle. Turn the wrench counterclockwise to remove the screw.

Try to pull the handle outside. But it is stuck so it won’t come off. First, cover the handle area with the cloth and then tap the hammer on it. This may loosen the handle. It will also help to loosen the buildup inside the faucet.

If it doesn’t work, take penetrating oil and spray it on the handle and leave it for a few minutes. Penetrating oil will loosen any corrosion and buildup inside the faucet. Clean the loosened corrosion with a brush. Now try to pull the handle out. With little effort, it will come out.

Proper Maintenance of The Faucet

If you want your faucet runs smoothly as long as possible without any issue, you should do proper maintenance of the faucet.

This includes regular cleaning and inspections of the faucet from time to time. Proper maintenance plays an important role to remove any part of the faucet.

Regular cleaning of the Delta single handle faucet is essential. For this, use a damp cloth to remove any grime or buildup from the faucet. With regular cleaning, the chances of buildup and rust are less. In cleaning, you wipe down the water from the faucet so buildup and rust won’t occur, and the handle will come off easily.

Inspects the faucet regularly to check for any sign of damage, cracks, or rust, which can cause difficulty to remove the handle later on.

Tips For Removing a Stubborn Delta Faucet Handle

Here are 5 important tips that will make Delta faucet handle removal easy.

1. Use the correct tools. To remove a stuck Delta faucet handle, having the right tools are essential. Check the manufactures instructions to find out the right tools for the process.
2. Before starting the process, you should apply lubricant to the faucet handle. It will loosen any rust or corrosion that may be preventing the handle from coming off.
3. If the handle is made of plastic, don’t put much pressure on it. Extra pressure may break the handle.
4. When you tap the handle with a hammer, you should gently tap it on the handle.
5. You can also try a handle faucet puller to remove the stuck handle.

How Do I Know Which Delta Faucet Cartridge I Need?

When your Delta faucet handle comes out, you can replace its cartridge if it is damaged. All Delta faucets don’t have the same cartridge.

To identify which cartridge is needed for your Delta faucet, you need to find out the Delta faucet model you have. On the faucet, you can find the model number. When you find the faucet model number go to Delta official website and find the right cartridge according to the faucet model.

If you don’t find the model number, still you can find out the right cartridge. For this, take the old cartridge with you and go to any plumbing store and match it with the correct replacement cartridge. If you use the wrong cartridge, you may face a leakage issue,s or the handle won’t fit properly.

Avoid These Mistakes While Removing The Delta Faucet Handle

While removing the Delta faucet handle, it is important to avoid some common mistakes. These mistakes will make the process more complicated and even cause damage to the faucet.

Don’t forget to turn off the water supply. It will prevent any water from flowing out when you try to remove the Delta handle.

When the Delta faucet handle won’t come out, people apply extensive force on the handle, and as a result, the handle may break down or become damaged. So, always be gentle in the whole process.

If you don’t use the above-listed tools, the process won’t be easy for you. With the wrong tools, you will damage the handle parts.

Removing a stuck faucet handle is a frustrating task. You need to be patient while removing the handle. Don’t rush through the process. In a hurry, you will make mistakes and the process become lengthy.

FAQs

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James Lewis

James Lewis is a seasoned plumber and faucet enthusiast who shares his expertise on Faucetsavvy.com. With over 15 years of experience in the plumbing industry, he’s passionate about helping homeowners find the perfect faucet for their needs. He’s also dedicated to empowering DIY enthusiasts with the plumbing knowledge and skills needed to repair and maintain their faucets.