A glass rinser that will not spray, or only dribbles, is usually caused by a closed or partly closed water supply valve, spray jets clogged with scale or fruit pulp, or a push-down valve that sticks. One that keeps spraying or leaks when no glass is on it usually has a worn seal or spring in the valve.
Glass rinsers sit in the bartender’s station, often built into a mixology station like the ones in our cocktail station range, and get pressed hundreds of times a night. This guide covers how a typical push-down rinser works and what to check, in order, before calling a plumber.
How a push-down glass rinser works
Most bar glass rinsers are push-down types: you turn a glass upside down and press it onto the rinser head, which opens a valve and sends water up through several small jets into the glass. When the glass lifts, a spring closes the valve. The rinser needs a water supply line and a drain, because the rinse water falls into the basin around it. (Whether yours needs a separate drain line depends on the model; see our article on whether a glass rinser needs a drain.)
On the stations we sell, the rinser is part of the unit. The UMS-2218 mixology station has a removable drainboard with an integrated glass rinser, alongside a 14 x 10 x 7 inch sink bowl and a dipper well. Our 18 and 22 inch underbar mixology stations offer the rinser as an option, with a swing faucet and drain kit included.
Rinser does not spray at all
- Check the supply valve under the bar. It may have been closed to stop a leak or during cleaning. Open it fully.
- Check that the rest of the station has water. If the bar faucet is also dry, the problem is upstream: a shutoff, a building valve or a kinked line.
- Press the rinser head straight down. Pressing at an angle may not open the valve fully.
- If water reaches the valve but nothing comes out, the valve may be stuck or the jets fully blocked. See below.
Weak or uneven spray
- Clogged jets: lime scale and fruit pulp build up in the small spray holes. With the supply off, remove the head per the maker’s instructions, soak it in a descaler or vinegar, and clear the holes with a soft brush or a toothpick. Do not enlarge the holes.
- Debris in the inlet: after plumbing work, grit can lodge in the inlet of the valve. Flush the line before refitting.
- Low pressure: if the bar faucet is also weak, check the stop valve and the line for kinks, then the building supply.
Rinser sprays without a glass or leaks
- A worn seal or O-ring in the valve lets water past when it should be closed. Replace the seal or the valve cartridge with the maker’s part.
- A weak or broken spring does not close the valve fully.
- Sugar and syrup residue can make the plunger stick down. Clean the head and valve area at the end of each shift.
Water pooling around the rinser
If the spray works but water collects in the basin or on the drainboard, the drain is the issue: a blocked strainer, a clogged drain line, or a station that is not level. The UMS-2218 has adjustable bullet feet for leveling, and the 25759 station lists adjustable leveling feet. Clear the drain and level the station so rinse water runs to it.
Daily care
- At closing, remove the rinser head or drainboard if it is removable and wash, rinse and sanitize it with the other bar tools.
- Wipe syrup and fruit off the head during service so it does not dry on.
- Descale on a regular schedule if your water is hard (common practice).
- Check under the bar for drips at the supply connection.
What a glass rinser does not do
A rinser gives a glass a quick rinse at the station. It does not wash or sanitize. Glasses still go through the bar’s warewashing sink or a glass washer between customers, washed, rinsed and sanitized, then air dried. See our bar sinks and commercial bar equipment.
Backflow and plumbing
A rinser connected to the potable water supply, sitting over a basin, may need backflow protection under your plumbing code. Have a licensed plumber make the water and drain connections and confirm what your inspector requires. Replacement faucets for the station are in our commercial sink faucets.
What to buy
If the head is cracked, the valve keeps leaking after a new seal, or parts are no longer available, replacing the station or the rinser assembly is often the better fix. Freight with liftgate delivery to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price on our site, and as non-powered items our stations have a 14 day return window from delivery. The UMS-2218 is currently on backorder (ships in 2 to 4 weeks per its page).
Frequently asked questions
Why is my glass rinser not spraying?
Usually a closed supply valve, clogged spray jets or a stuck valve. Check the valve under the bar first.
Why does my glass rinser keep running?
A worn seal or weak spring in the valve, or syrup holding the plunger down. Clean it, then replace the seal if it still runs.
Does a glass rinser sanitize glasses?
No. It only rinses. Glasses must still be washed, rinsed and sanitized between customers.
Your local health department and plumbing inspector have the final say on bar equipment.