A Kohler kitchen faucet, like many other major brands, has a cartridge inside the faucet body that is like a valve. This valve is supposed to be sealed to prevent water from escaping into the spout. However, if this cartridge breaks or is damaged, water will leak through and it normally finds its way to the base of the faucet.
Cartridge Leaks and Why They Happen
Since the Kohler's cartridge is a sealed part containing two ceramic disks, it is the main reason your faucet leaks, no matter where the leak comes from. Usually water leaks through the cartridge and then down into the spout base, or it works through one of the handles and comes out of the bottom of the handle. Either way, the main reason the leak occurs is a faulty cartridge.
Faucet Design
The Kohler faucet design has a lot to do with why the leak appears in your base. If you notice on many single handle faucets, the spout is a solid cylinder with an opening at the top and bottom. Water is more likely to leak out of the bottom due to gravity, so it appears the water is coming out of the base. On double handle faucets, the cartridge is inside the handles, and the water simply leaks out of the cartridge and down towards the base of the handle, which is also where your faucet base is located.
Leaking Water
Even if your faucet is not leaking from the cartridge, it is likely the water will exit from the base just because of the way water travels. Water will typically follow the path of least resistance, but it will also travel along pipes, strings or any other length of material due to its liquid nature. So, water is likely to travel along the insides of the spout and down the interior of the cartridge until it reaches an exit point along the base of the faucet.
Other Leak Sources
Leaks occur in other parts of Kohler faucets including the sprayer head and faucet base. If your faucet is missing an O ring, it is likely your base will leak water. The sprayer head on a pullout faucet can leak if the connection is loose. Tightening the connection will stop this leak cold. You may also find leaks at the connections on your faucet supply tubes, if these connections are not tight. Turning the connections clockwise will usually stop the leak.
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