Our kitchen faucet suddenly went down to a slow trickle after making a noise (described by the last user of the sink as a "pop" sound). Other taps in the house work just fine, so we know the issue is localized. I tried removing the faucet head and filter, and the flow is still at a trickle, so I know this isn't due to a clogged filter or a faulty wand.
To the best of my understanding, the next step in diagnosing this is to disassemble the faucet to remove and inspect the cartridge for damage. However, I'm stuck at the step where I am supposed to remove the curved cartridge cover. It seems to have threads which suggests the ability to unscrew it, but it won't budge with the torque I can give it bare-handed. I've heard a strap wrench suggested, but that's not a tool I have, and I wonder whether it might slip off of the curved surface. I also heard penetrating lubricant suggested, but even if I had some on-hand, I would still need a good way to grip this cover.
Before I go out and buy a new faucet, is there anything else I should try? I'm trying to balance the urgency of having a working kitchen sink against my probability of a successful repair as an amateur - and against the guaranteed fix of just replacing the entire faucet.
