Why Does My Faucet Handle Turn Too Far? How to Adjust Faucet Handle Stops

Having your faucet handle turn too far when you‘re trying to get the perfect water temperature can be a real pain! But don‘t worry – with a few easy fixes, you can get your faucet rotating just right again in no time.

What‘s Causing the Problem?

Before we jump into solutions, let‘s first go over what could be causing your faucet handle to spin more than it should:

The Wrong Cartridge

The inner cartridge controls how far your handle can turn before shutting off water flow. If it‘s the wrong kind for your faucet, it may allow the handle to rotate too freely.

A Loose Handle

If the screw attaching your handle to the faucet comes loose, the handle can wobble and turn much farther than it should.

Too Much Water Pressure

High incoming water pressure makes it tough for the valves to fully close, forcing the handle to turn further to shut off the flow.

Mineral Buildup

Hard water deposits and limescale sticking to the cartridge and valves prevent them from fully sealing, again requiring extra handle rotation.

Worn Out Seals and Washers

Over time, the rubber gaskets and seals inside a faucet wear out. This lets the handle spin freely beyond its normal range.

A Leaky Stem Packing Nut

The packing nut around the stem keeps water from leaking out around the handle. If it‘s loose, increased pressure makes turning the handle smoothly very hard.

Now that you know why your faucet handle may be over-rotating, let‘s go through how to fix it up!

Getting Your Faucet Handle Spinning Just Right

Here are 8 tips to get your faucet handle turning just the right amount again:

1. Check the Handle Condition

Take the handle off and make sure it‘s straight, attaches securely and rotates smoothly without wobbling. Bent or worn handles can definitely cause over-spinning.

2. Clean Out Any Gunk

Mineral deposits or limescale in the cartridge and valves can prevent smooth handle operation. Remove the faucet pieces and scrub away any built up gunk with vinegar or a lime scale remover.

3. Swap in a New Cartridge

If cleaning doesn‘t solve over-rotation and the cartridge is worn out, get a replacement matched to your faucet model. The right cartridge means handles turns the perfect amount.

4. Turn Down the Pressure

Incoming water pressure above 80 PSI makes it really hard to fully close faucet valves. Install a pressure reducing valve if needed to bring pressure down to 55-60 PSI.

5. Re-seal the Stem Packing Nut

Tighten the nut around the rotating faucet stem, or re-pack it with plumber‘s putty to prevent water from leaking past. This leakage makes handles harder to turn.

6. Tighten the Handle Screw

Make sure the set screw or bolt holding the handle securely to the stem is fully tightened. This prevents unwanted wobbling as you turn the handle.

7. Add Handle Rotation Stops

Small physical stops placed under the handle keep it from turning past the off position. The lever hits the stops when turned as far as it should go.

8. Call a Plumber

If you‘ve tried other fixes and the handle still turns too far, have a professional inspect for issues like failing valves, over-pressure, and mismatched cartridges.

Systematically working through these areas will get your faucet handle spinning just right again in no time!

Adjusting 3 Common Faucet Types

The specific steps to take depend partially on the kind of faucet you have. Here is how to address over-spinning handles on 3 popular styles:

Compression Faucets

• Tighten packing nut around stem
• Replace rubber valve seats and springs
• Swap compression cartridge for new

Ball Faucets

• Clean limescale out of ball and seats
• Replace worn rubber valve seats and springs
• Swap ball and cam assembly for new

Cartridge Faucets

• Clean or replace entire cartridge
• Ensure cartridge type matches faucet
• Adjust cartridge handle stops

Now let‘s go over how to fix a common cause of over-spinning – a loose faucet handle.

Fixing a Loose Faucet Handle

Here‘s how to tighten up a wobbly faucet handle in just a few steps:

What You‘ll Need

• Adjustable wrench
• Flat head screwdriver

Instructions

1. Turn off hot and cold water supply lines. Turn faucet on to drain out any remaining water.

2. Use a screwdriver to pry off the small index cap on top of the handle (if present).

3. Under the cap is a screw holding the handle onto the stem. Remove the screw with your screwdriver.

4. With the screw gone, you can now wiggle the handle up and off the faucet assembly.

5. Check that the faucet stem is straight and the broach (spline) fits neatly into the handle socket.

6. Also inspect that the screw hole in the handle is straight with no damage.

7. Put the handle back on, tighten the screw down securely, and replace the index cap. But don‘t overtighten!

8. Turn the water supply lines back on and check for any leaks around the base of the handle.

9. If leaks persist, you may need to add more plumber‘s putty or get a new handle kit.

Getting that handle screw nice and snug prevents the loose wiggle that allows it to turn too far. Just what we want!

Adding Handle Rotation Limit Stops

If other adjustments don‘t stop over-spinning, installing physical handle stops provides a foolproof solution.

Here‘s how to add them:

1. Remove the current loose handle and turn off the water lines.

2. Install hot and cold handle stops on the central broach stem. These act as physical blockers.

3. Replace the faucet handle so it can now only turn until it hits the stops.

4. Turn the water back on and test the new limited handle rotation.

5. Adjust the stop positions as needed to find the perfect amount of handle turn radius.

The installation process varies a bit between faucet models, so check the included instructions. But it‘s a straightforward fix!

Replacing Worn Out Cartridges and Valves

If cleaning doesn‘t fix your over-spinning faucet handle, replacing the cartridge or valves is likely needed. Here are the basic steps:

You‘ll Need:

• Faucet cartridge kit
• Adjustable wrench
• Flathead screwdriver
• Plumber‘s putty

Steps:

1. Shut off the hot and cold water supply lines.

2. Open up the faucet handles to drain out any water and relieve pressure.

3. Remove any retainer clips or screws with your screwdriver.

4. Use pliers to pull the old cartridge straight up and out.

5. Inspect the interior faucet components for damage.

6. Drop in the new cartridge, replacing any seals or O-rings in the process.

7. Use plumber‘s putty to seal the new cartridge if needed.

8. Re-install any retaining clips and screws to hold it in place.

9. Turn the water back on and test the faucet!

The exact steps can vary based on your faucet brand, so look up the process for your specific model. But this gives you a general idea of what to do.

Adjusting Water Pressure

If your home‘s water pressure is too high, it makes closing faucet valves completely very difficult – forcing handles to turn too far.

Anything over 80 PSI can lead to this issue. Here‘s how to install a pressure reducing valve to help:

What You‘ll Need:

• Pressure reducing valve (PRV)
• Adjustable wrench
• Thread seal tape

Steps:

1. Locate the main water supply line shutoff valve and turn off the water.

2. Find the pipe just before the water meter or just after the main shutoff.

3. Use a tubing cutter to cut out a short section of the pipe.

4. Install the pressure reducing valve and thread seal tape on the cut pipe ends.

5. Slowly turn the main water back on and adjust the PRV until pressure reads 55-60 PSI.

6. Attach a pressure gauge to an outside hose faucet and double check the pressure.

7. Turn off the water and check all connections for leaks.

Getting consistent 55-60 PSI water pressure makes closing faucet valves much easier! Call a plumber if you‘re unsure of how to install a PRV.

Readjusting a Loose Stem Packing Nut

The packing nut around the rotating faucet stem keeps water from leaking out around the handle. If it‘s loose, the added pressure makes turning the handle normally very difficult.

Here‘s how to tighten it back up:

You‘ll Need:

• Adjustable wrench
• Plumber‘s putty or pipe thread sealant

Steps:

1. Turn off the hot and cold water supply lines and open the faucet to relieve any pressure.

2. Locate the stem packing nut around the base of the faucet stem.

3. Tighten down the nut 1/4 turn at a time until it‘s completely snug.

4. If it‘s still a bit loose, add some plumber‘s putty or liquid thread sealant to re-seal the connection.

5. Tighten the packing nut fully until you‘ve got a watertight seal again.

6. Turn the water back on and check for any leaks.

7. Avoid overtightening the nut, as this can damage the faucet stem.

Getting that packing nut nice and snug again will prevent excess water pressure from building up inside the faucet.

In Summary

I hope this gives you a better understanding of why your faucet may be over-rotating and how to fix it! The key things to remember are:

• Clean out any gunked up valves and cartridges
• Replace worn out rubber washers, O-rings, and cartridges
• Tighten loose handles and stem packing nuts
• Add physical handle stops
• Adjust high incoming water pressure

Take it step-by-step, and you‘ll have that faucet handle spinning just right in no time. Let me know if you have any other plumbing issues – I‘m always happy to help!