Delta Touch Faucet Troubleshooting & How to Guide

Delta Touch20 Technology enables users to turn their faucet on and off with just a touch anywhere on the faucet’s body or handle. The company offers a wide variety of touch-activated faucets which are available in different styles and finishes. As impressive as the faucets are, they may experience issues from time to time. In such a situation, troubleshooting the unit first is recommended before considering ordering a replacement. If you are having problems with your Delta Touch faucet, here is an easy-to-follow troubleshooting and how-to guide to help you resolve some common issues with these units.

Why is My Delta Touch Faucet Not Working?

There could be several reasons why your faucet isn’t working.

If your faucet has sensitivity issues where there is intermittent or no operation, this can be due to several possible causes:

If you have a metal or granite sink, ensure proper insulation, isolation and confirm the faucet shank is clear of sink by minimum of 1/2″.
Confirm the sensor and battery wires are separate by minimum of 2“.
Confirm the sensor wire hook is tightly secured to mounting shank.
Ensure batteries are good and in proper orientation.
If using the Delta Faucet AC adapter, ensure the outlet is grounded and always on.

Will a Delta Touch Faucet Work Without Batteries?

When it is time to change batteries, the LED indicator light on the base of the faucet will start blinking red. If the batteries are not replaced in time, the faucet will still function with manual operation.

How Long Do Batteries Last in a Delta Touch Faucet?

Ordinary “AA” batteries will last up to two years with standard use. “C” batteries last up to 5 years.

How to Replace the Batteries in Your Delta Touch Faucet

To change the batteries in your Delta faucet, follow these instructions:

Locate the battery box under the sink and check all the batteries.
If your batteries are dead, remove the old batteries and replace them with new ones. Some models have a red light on the battery box which turns on when the batteries need to be replaced.
Open the battery box, remove old batteries, and insert new batteries. Check the alignment of the batteries according to the negative and positive poles.
Then close the battery box and make sure it locks up properly.
After you change the batteries and making sure they are correctly aligned, locate the reset button in the battery compartment or near it.
Push the reset button to reset your faucet functions. After that, test the faucet and the LED light to ensure they are working properly.

Delta Touch Faucet Dripping: Causes and Fixes

If water is dripping from the spout of your tub/shower faucet, the leak could be cause by the hot or cold valve.

To troubleshoot with the hot valve:

Shut off the hot water supply. If you can’t find the shut-off for your tub/shower valve, shut off the water to your house by using your water shut-off valve.
Remove the faucet handle. Depending on your handle type, you will need a Philips screwdriver or an Allen wrench.
Remove the chrome bonnet but using an adjusting wrench.
Remove stem extender.
Remove stem assembly by pulling straight out.
Remove the seats and springs.
Examine them for wear or debris and wipe out any debris in the depression where the seats and springs sit in the valve body.
Replace the seats and springs.
Replace the faucet to see of the drip has stopped.

If the drip persists, repeat the above steps on the cold valve.

If you have replaced the seats and springs and the problem continues, replace both stem assemblies.
If all of the above has not fixed your leak, and your valve is more than 10 or 15 years old, it is possible that the actual faucet body may have developed a leak. If so, you need to replace your tub/shower valve with a new one.

How to Install a Delta Touch Faucet

Mount the new faucet to the counter. Make sure to secure the mounting bracket to the sink. Install the faucet such that the light at the base is facing forward.
Install the included check valves on both hot and cold water supplies. Loop the supply lines, if possible, to avoid having to cut them. Finger-tighten both hot and cold sides. Tighten one additional turn with wrench. Use a second wrench to ensure you do not over tighten the check valves. Repeat for other side.
Make sure water supplies are closed. Move handle to full mix position. Place a bucket under faucet outlet tube. Slowly open both water supply stops to flush lines. This will prevent debris from being lodged in the hose and sprayer.
Close water supplies and faucet valve. Remove bucket and dry tube with a soft cloth.
Install clip provided with the faucet.
Pull down moderately to ensure both connections have been made. Make sure the wire extends away from solenoid. For proper functionality, do not tie, twist or bunch the wires.
Make sure the batteries are aligned properly, and be sure to align the +/- on the cap with the +/- on the box. Place the battery box on the cabinet floor or hang on the cabinet wall.
Turn on water supplies. Turn faucet valve on full.
Check for leaks. Retighten if necessary, but do not over tighten. If assembled correctly and there is still a leak, check the seals for damage and order appropriate replacements.

Delta Touch Faucet Turns On by Itself: Causes & Fixes

If your faucet was manufactured before February 2009, the grounding clips may not be properly installed. Make sure they haven’t been bumped off with use and that they are in the proper place and secured with tape. Also check for proper grounding.

Note that grounding is not required on faucets with Touch₂O Technology manufactured after February 2009. If your Faucet does not have a green ground wire, it may not require grounding.

The spout may be in electrical contact with the sink. Make sure the spout insulating components are in place.

With Lavatory products it is required that the popup is changed to the supplied non conducive popup. Also ensure that spout sense wire and LED wire are not making intermittent contact with metal parts under the sink. If the problem persists, adhere LED wire, battery wire and spout sense wire to the back of the cabinet.

Other troubleshooting instructions for this problem:

If the faucet activates when other appliances operate, replace the solenoid with the most recent version.
Confirm the sensor wire hook is tightly secured to mounting shank.
If using the Delta Faucet AC adapter, ensure the outlet is grounded.

How to Reset a Delta Touch Faucet

After you replace the batteries on your faucet and making sure they are correctly aligned, you need to locate the reset button. It is located on the battery compartment or near it. Push the reset button to reset your faucet. After that, test the faucet and the LED light to see if everything works properly.

Some faucets don’t have the reset button. In that case, you just need to replace the batteries, making sure they are aligned properly.

Push the reset button to reset your kitchen faucet functions. After that, test the faucet.

Delta Touch Faucet Maintenance Tips and Tricks

How to flush a new faucet

During the first few days you use your faucet, a small amount of debris may be flushed out of your pipe system. In addition, particles of solder copper chips, plumber’s tape and other installation materials can get caught up in aerators and showerheads. Occasionally, a chip might damage the valve seat that provides the watertight seal. The tips below will help you avoid problems. It is a good idea to follow these procedures each time the water has been turned off for repairs in your home.

To flush a kitchen or lavatory faucet:

Remove aerator and black sealing gasket above it.
Turn faucet handle(s) to full on hot and cold mixed position(s) and flush lines for two minutes before turning off water with handle(s).
Replace aerator.

To flush a tub/shower faucet:

Remove the showerhead if applicable.
Turn handle(s) to full on hot and cold mixed position(s).
Flush spout two minutes without moving handle(s).
If you have a showerhead, divert water to it and flush for two minutes. Be safe! Make sure cold water flows first and that the rotational handle limit stop is properly set.
Replace showerhead.

If the problem persists, flush the faucet and lines using the following instructions:

Turn off water supply to both hot and cold.
Remove all internal components.
Turn water supplies back on and let run for 30-60 seconds. For kitchen and lavatory faucets turn a bucket or a similar large container upside down over the faucet to deflect the water into the sink.
Turn water supplies off again.
Reassemble the faucet.
Turn water supplies back on.

How to clean or maintain the finish on your faucet

Always blot dry any water from the faucet surface. Allowing water to evaporate on the surface can lead to build up of mineral deposits.
Cleaning with a damp non-abrasive sponge and buffing it dry with a clean soft cloth should keep your product looking beautiful.
To remove water spots, use warm water and a soft, damp cloth.
Hard water stains may be removed using a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Make sure you rinse the surface thoroughly with water afterward.

How to clean and/or remove mineral deposits from your shower head

On Touch-Clean shower heads, wipe the face of the shower head spray holes to loosen and break away deposits.
For more difficult deposits on non-Touch Clean shower heads, soak the item in a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water. This solution will help remove any deposits while not harming the finish.
How to remove mineral deposits from your aerator
Remove the aerator, soak it in vinegar overnight, then flash with water.
For stubborn deposits, rub with a toothbrush.

Cleaning products to avoid

Avoid industrial cleaners and abrasive cleaners, such as those used for toilet bowls, green ScotchBrite heavy duty scrub sponges, Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner, and Lysol Basin Tub, Soft Scrub, and Tile Cleaner.
Avoid products that state on the label that they remove tarnish and rust, and those containing hydrofluoric, hydrochloric, and/or phosphoric acids and caustic agents.
Avoid harsh abrasives or polishes.
Avoid bleach-based cleaners.

Delta Touch Kitchen Faucet Troubleshooting

If your Delta Kitchen faucet exhibits very low flow:
Remove and clean aerator with a 50% mixture of white household vinegar and water. Some models require a wrench to remove aerator.
If low flow persists, unscrew hose from spray head and clean debris from screen. The screen is located just inside the sprayer fitting. (Not all spray heads have a screen)
If low flow persists, remove and clean debris filter inside solenoid valve inlet. Use needle nose pliers or tweezers to remove and reinstall filter.

Make sure you reinstall aerator to the spray head and screen in solenoid. Failure to reinstall these parts could damage internal parts.

If the faucet leaks from under handle or from spout outlet:
Insert a small screwdriver into slot in button and remove.
Loosen set screw inside of handle. Remove the handle,
Remove the bonnet by rotating counterclockwise. Bonnet may be stiff due to O-ring, but should rotate by hand. Remove bonnet nut by rotating counterclockwise with a wrench.
Remove cartridge by pulling directly back on stem.
Replace cartridge and reassemble. Make sure the bonnet nut is securely tightened with a wrench.

LED Light Codes & Their Meaning

If the LED is:

Solid Blue- Solenoid valve is open, water temperature is less than 80^oF (27^oC).
Solid Magenta- Solenoid valve is open, water temperature is between 80^oF (27^oC) and 110^oF (43^oC).
Solid Red- Solenoid valve is open, water temperature is greater than 110^oF (43^oC).
3 red flashes before solenoid opens or closes- Replace batteries.

Solenoid Troubleshooting (3 Red Light Flashes)

If your spout flashes a red light three times and then keeps repeating this:
Replace the batteries. If low battery indication is on after installing new batteries, please check that batteries are loaded in the proper direction in the battery box.
If the spout still flashes a red light, replace the solenoid and electronics kit.
If your spout displays the proper light, but no water is coming out of the spout:
Verify the handle is in the “on” position.
Verify the water supplies are turned to the “on” position.
Move handle to the “off” position. Unscrew hose from spray head and check for any debris in the spray head inlet. Move handle to the “on” position to verify water is reaching the sprayer. Replace spray head.
Move the handle to the “off” position. Remove the hose from the solenoid and move handle to the “on” position to check for flow coming from the solenoid. Reconnect hose to solenoid.
With handle in the “off” position, remove the hose from the faucet to the solenoid. Move handle to the “on” position to check if water is going through the manual valve and reaching the solenoid. If water is getting to the solenoid, but it is not getting through the solenoid, replace the solenoid and electronics kit.
If your LED base indicator is not displaying any lights:
Check to make sure the spout connector is attached to the spout and the wire from the solenoid/electronics kit. If it is disconnected, or loose reattach and check for proper orientation.
Replace batteries.
If it is attached and the light still does not display on the indicator at the base of the spout, replace electronic base or spout assembly.

Check this too: Best kitchen faucets for hard water

Delta Bathroom Sink Faucet Low Flow Troubleshooting

If your bathroom sink faucet exhibits low flow, try the following troubleshooting steps:

If the faucet has a removable aerator, remove and clean the aerator with a 50% mixture of white household vinegar and water. Some models require a wrench to remove aerator. Or, if the faucet has a flow regulator under cartridge, remove and clean the regulator with a 50% mixture of white household vinegar and water.
If low flow persists, remove and clean the blue filter inside solenoid valve inlet. Use needle nose pliers or tweezers to remove and reinstall filter.