How to Disable Touch Feature on Kitchen Faucet

Disabling Touch Feature on Kitchen Faucet can be a challenge for some homeowners, especially those who prefer the simplicity and familiarity of traditional manual faucets. Fortunately, there are ways to bypass or disable the touch feature on a kitchen faucet to make it more user-friendly. In this blog post, we will explore some of the techniques and tools that can help you disable the touch feature on your kitchen faucet so that you can enjoy the convenience and comfort of a manual faucet.

How Does a Touch Faucets Work

Touch faucets utilize capacitive sensing to detect the electrical charge from the human body. This signal triggers the faucet to turn on or off the water flow. Typically, sensors are connected to the handle or spout of the faucet, and they can be found in both single-handle and two-handed models.

When the faucet is turned on, a small electrical current flows through the spout or handle, creating an electric field. The human body is conductive, so when a person touches the faucet, they complete the circuit, and the electrical charge is detected by the sensor. This signal is then transmitted to a solenoid valve, which controls the flow of water.

How Does a Touchless Faucets Work

Touchless faucets are equipped with presence sensors that detect the presence of a hand under the spout and turn on the water flow. These sensors use a small infrared light that is mounted next to an infrared detector. When a hand is brought close to the faucet, the infrared light reflects off the skin and is detected by the infrared detector, which signals the solenoid valve to open and release water.

In addition to infrared sensors, some touchless faucets may also feature ultrasonic sensors that emit sound waves to detect the presence of a hand. To know more about how touchless Faucets work click here

What’s The  Main Difference: Touch Vs. Touchless

The main difference between touch and touchless faucets is the way they are activated. Touch faucets require physical contact with a part of the body to turn the water flow on or off, while touchless faucets use sensors that detect motion, sound, or heat to activate the water flow without touching the faucet.

Touchless faucets are more convenient and hygienic, as they do not require any physical contact between the user’s hands, and can be powered by either an AC connection or batteries. However, some people may find them difficult to operate due to the lack of physical interaction. Touch faucets, on the other hand, require physical touch to activate, but are easier to use for some people who prefer the tactile feedback of a physical handle

How To Disable The Touch Feature On A Moen Kitchen Faucet

To disable the motion sensor on your Moen kitchen faucet, start by turning the faucet handle to the on position, which is pulled out away from the faucet. Then, place your hands over both of the sensors for five seconds. After five seconds, the blue light on the lower front sensor will blink once, indicating that the lower sensor is now disabled. Once that’s done, simply turn off the handle by pressing it in towards the faucet.

If holding your hands over both sensors for five seconds doesn’t work, make sure that all of the screws on the control box beneath the sink are properly tightened before turning on the water supply. 

To turn the motion sensor back on, simply follow the same steps and wait for the lights to blink, indicating that the sensors are active. With these simple steps, you can easily disable or enable the motion sensor on your Moen kitchen faucet to suit your needs.

Related: How to Install Moen Touchless Faucet

How To Disable The Touch Feature On A Delta Kitchen Faucet

If you want to turn off the motion sensor in your Delta kitchen faucet, there are a few different methods you can use. One way is to hold your hands over both sensors for ten seconds until the blue light on the lower front sensor blinks twice. This indicates that the sensors have been disabled.

Another method is to turn the handle to the on position and hold your hands over both sensors. This will also disable the sensors. You can also disconnect the sensor hook(s) from the spout and/or valve shank and remove the batteries to turn off the motion sensor.

If none of those options work, you can turn on the faucet using the handle and then place your hands on the sensors for at least five seconds. This should disable the sensors and allow you to use the faucet manually. It’s important to note that disabling the motion sensor will prevent the faucet from automatically turning on and off, so you will need to use the handle to control the flow of water.

How To Disable The Touch Feature On A Kohler Kitchen Faucet

Disabling the touch feature on a Kohler kitchen faucet is a straightforward process. There are several methods you can use to disable the sensor, depending on the type of faucet you have.

One option is to remove the battery. To do this, locate the battery pack and remove the batteries. This will disable the touch feature, and the faucet will operate manually.

Another option is to pull the plug. Find the plug beneath the sink, then remove it. This will disable the sensor, and your faucet will operate manually.

If your Kohler faucet has a valve box under the sink, you can turn off the touch feature by using a coin to turn off the valve box. Locate the valve box, then use a coin to turn the switch counterclockwise. This will disable the sensor, and the faucet will operate manually.

Some Kohler faucets have an override switch located in the handle of the faucet. If your faucet has this feature, locate the switch and turn it off. This will disengage the sensor, and the faucet will operate manually.

Other Methods For Disabling The Touch Feature On Kitchen Faucets

There are several alternative methods for disabling the touch feature on kitchen faucets. Here is a detailed explanation of each method:

1.Remove the battery

One of the easiest ways to disable the touch feature is to remove the battery. Locate the battery pack on your faucet, which is usually located under the sink, then lift the lid and remove the battery. This will disable the touch feature and turn your faucet into a regular manual one.

2. Pull the plug

Some touch faucets draw power directly from a plug in the wall, so another way to disable the touch feature is to simply pull the plug. If your touch faucet has a plug, locate it, and pull it out of the wall socket. This will turn off the faucet’s power and disable the touch feature.

3. Turn off the valve panel

Most touch faucets have control boxes beneath the sink. If your faucet has a valve box, there should be a manual override option, whether it’s in the form of a switch, slit switch, or a knob to turn. Flip the switch, turn the slit switch, or rotate the knob. This will allow you to bypass the touch feature and turn your faucet into a manual one.

4. Remove the solenoid

If you would like, you can remove the solenoid from your faucet. However, this process can be complex, so it’s not a go-to method. For example, you’ll need to shut off the water supply to the sink, then remove the blue removable clips attached to the solenoid. 

After you remove the solenoid, connect the sprayer hose to the faucet outlet, which will allow your faucet to work with the lever handle, completely bypassing the touch mechanism.

6. Choose a different brand or model

If you’re in the market for a new kitchen sink faucet and don’t want the touch feature, consider choosing a specific brand or model that doesn’t have the touch feature. Some brands and models come without the touch feature, which eliminates the need for disabling it.

7. Use a high school science trick

A quick and easy trick to disable the touch feature on a touch-sensitive faucet is to switch your showerhead over to a spray setting and turn off the water. This will cause the faucet to revert to a manual tap, allowing you to use it normally without triggering the touch feature. However, this is not a permanent solution and may not work for all touch faucets.

How do I make my touchless faucet work manually?

To make a touchless faucet work manually, the sensors controlling the mechanism must be disabled. There are a few ways to do this. One method is to disconnect the battery pack or remove the batteries, which will disable the touchless feature and work as a manual faucet.

Another method is to hold your hands over both of the sensors for at least five seconds or place both hands on the sensors for around ten seconds, which will deactivate the sensors. Most touchless and touch-on faucets also have a manual sensor override mode that allows them to be operated manually in case of emergency. It’s important to note that these methods may vary depending on the brand and model of your touchless faucet.

FAQ

Where is the sensor on a touchless faucet?

The sensor on a touchless faucet is typically located at the lip or base of the spout, and it uses infrared motion sensor technology to detect movement and activate the water flow.

Do touchless faucets turn off automatically?

Yes, touchless faucets turn off automatically. The Wave Sensor usually has a two-minute safety shutoff feature and the Ready Sensor will shut off after one minute