My turn for plumbing today

rrlund · Dec 7, 2011

Self explainatory ain't it? I was headed out to the barn to bed cattle and the wife came out and said she didn't have water in the kitchen all of a sudden. Expensive single lever faucet went bad somehow. Had water everywhere else. Couldn't get it apart to see what went wrong in the ball. Ended up having to use a pickle fork for tie rod ends and a pair of channel locks to get big nut off underneath to get the whole thing out. Then I had to saw off the lines at the bottom of the unit to get it all the way out.
Trip to the hardware store,$96 for the one like the old one with the faucet that pulls out for a sprayer. And wouldn't you know it,all plastic. Had to be put in the sink before the lines could be hooked up and I bunged up the plastic fitting on both sides trying to reach up from underneath and get them started. Got pizzed off and threw my glasses and broke them. Finally after about 2 hours of doinkin around,it's in there,but I'm sore from laying on the edge of the baseboard and reaching up.

Some days,you just wish you'd gotten in the truck and gone for a drive or something.

rustyfarmall · Dec 7, 2011

Most plumbing fixtures of today are not designed to be repaired. They are pretty much like everything else in today's "throw away" mentality. I always try to keep a few plumbing parts on hand, but if I don't have what is needed, I just close the shut-off valves under the sink and we do without that particualr sink until I can get to town for the replacement parts.

Brad Buchanan · Dec 7, 2011

Now that gave me a good laugh this afternoon!!

There is nothing I dread more than plumbing issues. working under a sink in an enclosure is uncomfortable and my favorite is when smegma-like debris fall into my eye.

Brad

Anonymous-0 · Dec 7, 2011

I hate working in tight places...... Those type are throwaway cheap (unless you buy a big brand that you don't want to afford parts for) here so not worth trying to fix... Wife's hinting toward the motion sensor ones for the bathroom sink. So far I manage to change the subject...

fixerupper · Dec 7, 2011

My sympathies go out to you!!! Momma aint happy when the water quits. We have all been there, including throwing glasses (BTDT). I shy away from working on cars for the same reason. You have to do it just 'this way' and twist it just 'that way' in a compartment that's too small for a dog to fit into. Take the boots off after another one of the many trips to the shop for another tool? Well, in my case it's "I went through the agony of fixing your sink, you can wash the floor after I'm done".Jim

PJH · Dec 7, 2011

The last sink faucets I worked on, I wondered if pulling the whole sink out would be easier. Probably just involve a whole different set of similar, or worse problems. The older I get, the less I like being under a sink or under a car dash. My bifocals don't work when I look up. Speaking of which - sorry about your broken glasses.

dabees · Dec 7, 2011

If plumbing fittings and fixtures were standerized similar to electrical,it would go a long way in ficilitating repair/replacement.
It may bring some comfort to those who do thier own repair to know that plumbers often jerey rig and leave you with problems waiting to happen. How do I know this? I have watched plumbers use compression,flexiable,clamped and other fittings inside walls and under slabs instead of permanent methods. Were not my buildings. My job was to stand by to lock/unlock doors and advise plumbers of locations of stops ect. Never saw electricians do anything short of permanent safe repair/install. My apoligies to plumbers who consistently do quility work. My employer was all about bids and such so you might say they got what they paid for even if it was far from cheap.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 7, 2011

Tip of the day. When you replace a faucet, take it apart and coat all threads with plumbers grease. If you ever have to take it apart, you will be thankful you did. I just worked on a faucet I installed in 1985. Didn't have to invent any new words. It was very easy to remove. Do the same when installing a toilet too. Especially the bolts that hold it down.

John T · Dec 7, 2011

Dont ya hate workin under a dern sink grrrrrrrr

My problem of yesterday went well today. Buddy drives his backhoe over,,,,,,, we dug around close to where the probe indicated the underground pipe leak was yesterday,,,,,,found the pipe then turned water on to see where the leak was,,,,,,,,indicated it was still downstream from where we had our first hole,,,,,,,,dig just 3 feet more and found the leak wooooooo hooooooooo it was an easy repair,,,,,,,turned water back on NO MORE LEAKS AND PUMP BUILT UP N SHUT OFF AND STAYED OFF. It didnt take much over an hour.

The game plan is next summer to hook on to city water and run all new heavy duty lines to the house and barn and shop. Ive had and fought farm home water well systems for 40 years but am gonna go modern in my senior years...

John T

James Williams · Dec 7, 2011

Ive done plumbing years ago,but if your not up to date your lacking experience.Same thing happened to me 1 mounth ago,I called my coworker who is a certified plumber and he had the proper tools to dismantle the valves,Home Depot had all the replacment peices ,in a few minutes every thing was as good as new.Total cost of less than 20.00

jimmy

Paul from MI · Dec 7, 2011

Been there, done that! My 6'3", 250# body doesn't fit a sink cabinet at all, and atrhitis hasn't helped. I put in a new Delta one lever faucet in the latest sink in the kitchen. Got to dripping, and someone finally thought a bit when they designed it. You can replace all the working parts from above. Couldn't be simpler, just one allen wrench and a crescent wrench.

rrlund · Dec 7, 2011

The old one was supposed to come apart like that to overhaul it. The darned thing was an expensive one,all brass and copper,but,I tried to get the top off with a pair of channel locks,then two pair,then one pair and a pipewrench,then two pipewrenches. I couldn't get that thing apart for nothing.

Then the BIG train wreck came just before supper. There were about half a dozen plates in the sink,I told her to get those out of the way,get the glasses out of the drainer,all that stuff. She did,fine and dandy. Well,she picked up the stack of plates to put them back in and wash them and dropped the whole stack on the floor. Broke all but one,including one that didn't even belong to us. The neighbor lady had brought some cake down on it. Looked real fancy too. Just glad she did it,not me.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 7, 2011

Wish I was a fly on the wall, that seems like a fun day.

Anonymous-0 · Dec 7, 2011

A lot can happen in two hrs 22.1.
A GRRRRRR to a WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO.

rrlund · Dec 7, 2011

I had to go outside and do something when she dropped those plates. She was NOT happy.

onefarmer · Dec 7, 2011

Instead of throwing you glasses, sounds like you had one plate left.. "But honey you did the others, just finishing for you." Remember to duck.

rrlund · Dec 7, 2011

I'm wondering now if it was an accident. Guess what's on her Christmas list hanging on the refrigerator now?

Paul from MI · Dec 7, 2011

I would never have that kind of luck. If I even walk by a plate it'll break. That said, I hope your neighbor lady forgives you for breaking the cake plate and brings you more.

rlp in Co. · Dec 7, 2011

Will you like drinking fluoride? and clorox?

Bob D. ( LA) · Dec 8, 2011

Sounds like me a year ago. Kitchen faucet broke. Shut water off at shut off valves below sink and stopped Niagra falls. Went to town and got new faucet. Spent 6 hours getting old faucet out. Was just about redy to go for dynamite.LOL In another hour had new faucet installed and tools all carried back to barn. Someone else cleaned up mess. I was tired and quit.

My turn for plumbing today

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

New User

Similar threads