People with plumbing know how

[Deneb]

I've got an issue with my faucet in the bathroom. I do not know if I'm calling these things the right names, so I'll describe.

I'm saying where the water comes out, is the spigot. The faucets are the handles that you turn to make the water come out.

That said. My hot water leaks in the bathroom. I know it's not the spigot, because if I turn off the hot water shut off valve, it no longer leaks. It leaks out of the spigot however, not the handle or anything.

I figured I would take a stab at taking it apart but I take this center screw out (long bastard too) and the handle comes off, then there is a plastic stem that the handle goes on to, and that's about as far as I get.

I asked a few people what it could be, and they said, it's usually a washer when it does that (IIRC what they said).

I would like to see if I can fix it.

Anyone have any know how, on how I can get further back than the plastic stem, and rip this bastard apart to fix it?

[finnman]

Re: People with plumbing know how

http://homerepair.about.com/od/fauce...ix_leak_cf.htm

[Deneb]

Re: People with plumbing know how

thanks

[lerxstcat]

Re: People with plumbing know how

It may be a washer, or the stem itself may be bad. I assume you're talking about the sink faucet as most laypersons don't know how to shut off the water to the tub and shower valve.

There are different size washers and stems for different faucets, they aren't standardized.
The best thing to do is turn off the hot water
stop under the sink, pull the stem (there's probably a hexagonal nut holding it onto the faucet body) and take it into a hardware store or plumbing supply house to match it up. If the stem is good but the washer is bad, they will know what washer to give you.

Of course, you can buy a washer assortment at
a Rite-Aid or other drugstore and have a pretty good chance of having the right washer in there. An individual washer at the supply house will be better, as you don't end up with all the other sizes you don't need. The thickness of the washer and its texture is as important as the diameter for it to work right.

Of course, when reinstalling the stem be careful not to crossthread it or you'll ruin the whole faucet, which consists of the whole left and right handles, and the spigot. hose are usually one cast bass assembly, so if you crossthread the hot you can't just replace the valve body on that side. I start them in with my fingers and only use a wrench after I've tightened it as much as I can with my fingers.

Whatever you do until you fix it, don't overtighten the handle trying to shut off the leak. If there's some kind of debris in there it could score the seat, or the valve body if it's a seatless faucet. The seat is in the valve body underneath the stem and washer. The washer will be secured to the underside of the stem by a small screw in most cases.

I'd advise not tackling this on a weekend, especially this Christmas weekend. If you should get in trouble and have to call a plumber, you will pay out the ying-yang on a weekend, especialy a holiday weekend. As for those who advertise no extra for nights and weekends, they charge the holiday rate all the time. After all though, if you have to work OT you want to be paid for it too, right? Most companies that offer after-hours emergency service, the crew rotates being on emergency call AFTER working a full day shift. So the guy you call out at 10:00PM probably worked from 7:30AM to 6:00PM already, and has to be back to work at 7:30AM again.

Sorry I digressed, but I've had lots of customers call at 8:00PM on a Friday night after hubby thought he could fix it, and broke it completely. Not saying I think you would,
but just mentioning some aspects a person not in the service and repair business might not think of.

[ABSOLUT CHARVEL]

Re: People with plumbing know how

I just know Sh!t runs down hill! I would have to just replace the whole faucet.

[lerxstcat]

Re: People with plumbing know how

That's a biotch if you don't own a basin wrench though.

[Deneb]

Re: People with plumbing know how

I should have said, it's for my shower. If I foul up the hot, I can replace just the hot [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I ripped it all the way apart, I got the handle, the stem nut, the stem, all the way back to the brass (I assume) of the fixture. I'm not a plumber by any means, I just try to learn how to do everything(note on the try) it just makes things easier when you've learned how to do things yourself.

Anyway, I got into there, I can't seem to find ANY washer, so I may not be looking for the right thing. At the end of the stem, there is this brass thing (doesn't look like a washer to me though) that has a solid section, and a section with a hole. Being the engineer that I am, I ascertain (sarcasm) (gets his geek glasses and lab coat) that when the hole is over the hole with the black looking rubber thing that when I rub it, gets black crap all over my hand (maybe this is the washer? Dug around, didn't pop out, figured I wouldn't mess with it until I had the washers in hand (then again I've got about 2000000 washers in the house)) the water is on. When the solid part is over the above mentioned black gets black crap on me thing, water is off.

I don't know if this still makes it a compression fitting so again let me say this again

I'M NOT A PLUMBER [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Just someone who likes to know how to fix their own crap.

Around the bottom of the step, where that brass thing is, it looks cracked, so what I'm thinking is water is getting through there.

When I get a chance, I'm going to take the whole thing apart again (more than likely tomorrow) and take the stem into Lowes and see if they have anything like it, or you get the idea.

Thanks again guys.

Kind of also convenient...there's a puddle under my hot water tank. I did a little research, I guess they are glass lined or something to the extent of, and when they are bad they leak bad. Mine isn't leaking out of the pressure release valve, and it's not leaking from the pipes...when you listen, you hear a drip and a sizzle...they say it's a tell tale sign. I took a look at that, it's only a gas line, and 2 other connections to make, so I'll probably end up replacing my hot water heater over the weekend [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[mariner99]

Re: People with plumbing know how

Basic laws of plumbing...

1. If you replace part A, part B will break when you install part A.

2. When you replace part B, part D will get lost.

3. Part C is permanently attached to part D and must be replaced at the same time as part D.

4. When you replace part C/D, part E will disintegrate.

5. You need parts F, G and H to replace part E.

8. Your local hardware store will be closed when you discover that you need to replace part E, and will be out of stock on part G.

6. Parts A, B, C, D, E, F. G and H cost more than an entire new faucet.

7. A new faucet costs less than hiring a plumber...until you factor in the cost of gas used running back and forth to the hardware store, and replacement of items damaged by flooding.

8. The most cost-effective way to deal with a leaking faucet is.., find a new place to live!

[RacerX]

Re: People with plumbing know how

[img]/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif[/img]

[dg]

Re: People with plumbing know how

Sounds like the right idea to take the whole assembly with you. If Lowes doesn't have exactly what you need, look for a plumbing supply place that deals with retail customers. That's where I usually go, because they tend to be more helpful, carry a much larger variety of parts, & don't charge all that much more than the big hardware places. Also, it does sound like you'd better do something right away about that water heater. Our neighbor just ruined about $3000 worth of new laminate floor because she thought she could just wait a little longer after she noticed a little drip. The tank failed & everything was under water in a big hurry.

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: People with plumbing know how

[ QUOTE ]
8. Your local hardware store will be closed when you discover that you need to replace part E, and will be out of stock on part G.

[/ QUOTE ]

And that leads to the inevitable banging on the neighbor's door in a panic holding your butt cheeks together.

Matt

[etaeniura]

Re: People with plumbing know how

i had that problem with my kitchen faucet, and the thing was so old and cruddy that I spent the 40 bucks on a new one and installed it in like 20 minutes. I have never done a shower though....

[lerxstcat]

Re: People with plumbing know how

Sounds like the stem is cracked from wha you said; take it into Loews and they'll likely have the part. If not, a plumbing suppier as the other guy said. Look them up in your phone book and call ahead, and mention that you aren't a contractor, to make sure they'll serve you. Many won't. The rubber is a washer or O-ring of some sort, and the fact it's rubbing off on you means it's deteriorating. Since the stem sounds cracked anyway, that point is moot; just get the whole stem.

[lerxstcat]

Re: People with plumbing know how

Oh yeah! When you go to replace the water heater, drain the water out first! Sounds like a no-brainer but lots of people don't think of that. A 40-gallon water heater wil have 320 lbs of liquid sloshing around in it, in addition to the weight of the watr heater itself. Just attach a garden hose to the drain bibb (looks like a hose bibb) and run te hose outside. Also, have someone help you move the old one out and the new one in, and when you have the old one out test the vent with a mach, or incense stick, something that you can see the smoke being drawn up through the vent. Best time to check is when changing the heater, and if it's not venting right you can have carbon monoxide building up in the house. It's colorless and odorless, you just go to sleep and never wake up. Take a minute to check the vent, they get clogged by birds' nests and whatnot sometimes. Also get some yellow gas teflon tape to reseal the gas connetor, and check it with sapy water; if you see bubbles, the flex may have cracks in it. It is as old as the water heater. You might want to get the water and gas flexes while you're there, Loews will take 'em back if they haven't been installed, and if you DO need them you're not stuck overnight if Loews is closed when you go back. Measure them, they're not all one size.

Is this your house, or a rental? I'd guess yours, since this would all be the landlord's job if not, but just wondering.

[Deneb]

Re: People with plumbing know how

yeah, it's for my home. Damn lerx you sure know a lot of crap about plumbing! Yeah, I got in there and dug out that washer, it broke [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] and the assortment I bought didn't have one in it (45 washers, and not the right one), so I've got to take it to Lowes.

Also, when I tried to put the old on back in (so my girl can get a shower tomorrow) I had a HELL of a time getting it in. I couldn't get the spring in, then the washer on it, are there any tips on making this go a little easier? I plan on going to lowes with the washer, and stem and just pretty much rebuilding the whole damn thing. For now, I have a shut off right before ALL of my faucets in the house, so it's not like water is going everywhere, but it's really freakin annoying to have to turn on and off the water, before I can turn it on [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]