10 Sloan Sensor Faucet Troubleshooting Q&A’s

Chances are, you didn’t wind up at this article by accident. You are probably looking for help with your Sloan faucet. Well, you’ve come to the right place. We are very well versed in Sloan sensor faucets and how to fix them. Sloan sensor faucet troubleshooting is something we do for our customers every day. Read on to review the top 10 questions and answers we receive about Sloan sensor faucets. You’ll also find links throughout the answers to lots of other articles about various Sloan sensor faucet models and topics. 

One thing to keep in mind when troubleshooting Sloan sensor faucets is that there is often more than one potential answer to a problem. So in this Sloan sensor faucet troubleshooting guide, you’ll find that many of the common questions listed have more than one answer. We will always give the most likely answer first, then work down to the least likely answer. The most common problems that occur in a Sloan sensor faucet (in order) are:

1. low or bad batteries
2. the solenoid
3. the sensor
4. the control module

Shown above are an example battery pack, solenoid, sensor, and control module. These are example items only and may not apply to your model faucet. 

Top 10 Sloan Sensor Faucet Troubleshooting FAQs

1. Why is there a red light blinking on my faucet?
   On battery operated faucets, a flashing red LED light indicates that the batteries are low. Solution: Replace the batteries. Review your faucet model’s Parts Breakdown to find the right batteries for your Sloan faucet model.
   
   
2. Why isn’t water coming out of my faucet?
   If the solenoid is producing an audible click sound and water is not coming out of the faucet, then:
   A. The water supply stops may be closed. Solution: Open water supply stops.
   B. The water stop strainer may be fully clogged. Solution: Remove, clean, then reinstall water stop strainer. Replace the stop strainer if needed.
   If the solenoid is NOT producing an audible click sound, and water is not coming out of the faucet, then:
   A. For battery operated models, the batteries may be dead. Solution: Replace batteries.
   B. For power supplied models, the power supply may have failed. Solution: Check power supply. Reconnect or replace if needed.
   If no LED lights illuminate:
   A. There may not be electricity reaching the faucet. Solution: Make sure the main power is turned on. Check all transformer, sensor, solenoid, and cable connections. Make sure the transformer supplies 24 Volts. If no voltage is detected, then replace the transformer. 
   B. There is an electrical system malfunction. Solution: Reset the electrical system by unplugging the sensor connection, disconnecting the power to circuit for 10 seconds, then reconnecting power to circuit. For more information, review your faucet model’s troubleshooting guide to learn what to do for different LED light indications after reconnecting the power. 
   
   
3. Why is my Sloan sensor faucet beeping?
   If your sensor faucet is producing an audible beep, then your solenoid valve may not be working properly. The solenoid may need to be replaced. 
   
   
4. Why isn’t the sensor working on my faucet?
   This question is very similar to question #1 on this list, ‘Why isn’t water coming out of my faucet?’ Review the various scenarios listed there to see if one of those reasons is why your sensor isn’t working. Other reasons your sensor may not be working:
   A. If you just installed your faucet for the first time, check to make sure that you removed the adhesive label that covers the sensor. Make sure there is no residue or dirt on the sensor either, which could also cause the sensor to stop working.
   B. Some Sloan faucets have a "Permanent Off" button that can accidentally become activated. This function is present on some faucet models, including EAF model faucets. It’s activated by a button on the faucet throat. Press this button once to turn off the ‘Permanent Off’ function. 
   
   
5. How do I adjust the sensor on my Sloan faucet?
   The procedure for adjusting the sensor on your Sloan faucet varies depending on which model you have. We go over this in great detail in our Optima Faucet Sensor Troubleshooting Guide, providing step-by-step directions for EAF (i.q.-cliq), EBF, and ETF faucets. 
   
   
6. Why is the valve on my faucet making an erratic noise?
   When a buzzing or hammering sound occurs when operating the faucet, that signifies a problem with the solenoid. These erratic valve noises can be caused by a couple of different factors:
   • A big difference in pressure between the inlet and outlet
   • High-pressure water traveling through a pipe with too small of a diameter
   These problems will need to be fixed in order to stop the solenoid from emitting these hammering or buzzing sounds.
   
   
7. Why does my sensor faucet only deliver a slow flow or dribble of water when the sensor is activated?
   A slow flow of water can be caused by:
   A. Partially closed water supply stops. Solution: Completely open water supply stops.
   B. A partially clogged water stop strainer. Solution: Remove, clean, then reinstall water stop strainer. Replace the stop strainer if needed.
   C. The faucet’s aerator is clogged. Solution: Remove, clean, then reinstall faucet aerator strainer. Replace the aerator if needed. 
   D. The solenoid is worn or not working properly. Solution: Rebuild with a solenoid repair kit, or replace the solenoid. Review our solenoid specific articles for more information about solenoid replacement: Optima Faucet Solenoid Replacement Guide or BASYS Faucet Solenoid Replacement Identification. 
   E. A defective faucet. You may need to replace your faucet. Contact our support team for more help. 
   
   
8. Why does my faucet keep running?
   Your faucet may keep running because the valve is defective. This is the same as the question ‘Why won’t the sensor on my faucet turn off?’ You may need to replace your faucet. Review your faucet models troubleshooting guide for model-specific information. Contact our support team for more help. 
   
   
9. Why is my sensor faucet leaking?
   We answer this in our Solenoid Troubleshooting Article. When valves fail to close properly, then the faucet can leak. This can be caused by a variety of reasons. Many areas within the faucet will need to be checked, including the connections, components, and diaphragm. If the culprit is not found, then the solenoid might simply need to be replaced. If you need to replace your solenoid, read our Optima Solenoid Replacement Guide or BASYS Solenoid Replacement Guide.
   
   
10. Why is my sensor faucet activating by itself?
    These mysterious activations are known as ‘false triggers.’ They can occur when the sensor range is too long, and the faucet sensor is registering the sink as a user. Solution: Decrease the sensor range by adjusting the sensor. Other factors besides sensor range that can cause this issue are bright lights, highly reflective surfaces, and sunlight. 
    
    

Did we answer your question? If not, you can read other blog articles that share sensor faucet troubleshooting information. In addition, you can send us a message through our contact form, or give us a call at 800-442-6622. Our phone hours are 8AM-4PM EST, Monday through Friday.

Sloan Sensor Faucet Articles:

• Solenoid Replacement Identification Chart For Sloan BASYS Faucets
• ​​Sloan Optima Solenoid Replacement Guide
• Solenoid Troubleshooting Sloan Faucets
• Sloan Bluetooth Optima Faucets
• Sloan Optimix Faucets with Anti-Scald Technology
• Sloan Sensor Faucet Guide: 9 Factors to Consider
• Sloan Control Module Options for Faucets
• Optima Faucet Sensor Troubleshooting Guide